Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1899-02-16


Yponsibliity Of many men having the
financial interests of others in charge
has been more evident than in these last
few years. The bankruptcy of banks
and disappearance of administrators
with the funds of large estates. and the
disordered accounts of United States
officials have sometimes made a pes
thence of crime that solemnizes every
thoughtful man and woman and leads
every philanthropist and Christian to
ask: What shall be done TO stay the
plague?
n There is ever and anon a monsoon of
swindle abroad, typhoon, sirocco.
] sometimes ask myself if it would not
be better for men making wills to be-
queath the property directly to the ex-
ecutors and officers of the court and APP
point the widows and orphans COM
mittee to see that the former got all
that did not belong to them. The simple
fact is that there are large number
-oNmen sailing yachts and driving fast
horses and members of expensive club
houses and controlling country seats
who are not worth dollar if they re-
turn to Others their just rights. Under
some sudden reverse they fail, and
with afflicted air seem TO retire from
the world, and seem almost ready for
monastic life. when in two or three
years they blossom out again, having
compromised with heircreditors-th
is, paid them nothing but regret-and
the only difference between the second
chapter of prosperity and the first is
that their pictures are Murillos instead
OF Kensetts, and their horses 60 mile
in 20 seconds less than their predeces-
sors, and instead of one country seat
They have three. | have watched and
have noticed that nine oui OF ten of
those who fail in what is called high
life have more means after than be-
fore the failure, and in many OF the
cases failure is only a stratagem to es-
cape the payment of honest debts anu
put the world off the track while they
practice a large swindle. There is
something woefully wrong in the fact
that these things are possible.
First of all, charge the blame on
careless, Indifferent bank directors and
boards having in charge great financial
institutions. 1t ought not TO be posi-
BILE for president or cashier or prom
linen. officer of banking institution to
swindIe il year after year without de-
lection / will undertake to say that
If these frauds are carried on for two
or three years without detection either
the directors are partners in the IN
fanny and pocket part of the THEFT or
they are guilty of culpable neglect OF
duiy. for which God will hold them as
resnonsible as He holds the acknowl-
edged defrauders. What right have
prominent business men 10 allow thelr
names TO be published as directo. ID
financial institution. so tnat unsCphis-
ticated people are thereby induced 10
deposit their money in or buy the scrip
thereof, when they. the published d.
rectors. are doing nothing for the safe
~ of the institution? 1t is case OF
deception most reprehensible.
Many people with surplus of
rrouev not needed for immediate use.
although it may be a little further on
ipdispe nsable, are without frlenos
,competent to advise them. and they are
Guided solely by the character OF the
men whose names are associated Win
the institution When the crash came
and with me overthrow of the banks
went the small earnings and limited
fortunes of widows and orphans and
the helplessly aged. the directors stood
Win jdiotic stare. and TO the inquiry OF
,he ffenzied depositors and STOCK
bo,sprs who had lost their all an TO
49,. arraigpment of an indignant pub