Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-08-04
A Bad Case Of Hysteri..

There is a young man In Grlnneil
named r. NJ. Haines, who likes to keep
himself before the public. frequently
he goes to Dies Moines for the sole
purpose of being interviewed by the
reporters. Here is his latest effort from
the Grinnell Herald of Tuesday.
"A PROTEST.
Eds. Herald: Were the only results
that have followed the untruthful. ana
sensational stories with regard to the
condition of affairs of the First Ma
tional bank that have appeared from
day to day In the Marshalltown Times
Republican ana Des Moines Register
and Leader to bring into disrepute
that institution and its board of direc-
tors, to Willy the memory of the dead
and outrage the feelings OF the friends
and relatives who survive, i should not
feel called upon to write this article.
The standing OF the bank itself effects
me not at all; the board of directors
can take care OF their own interests;
the memory OF the dead rests on
Foundation more secure than that Of
post mortuary rating by contemplate
yellow Journalism and silent contempt
were tho more fitting attitude of the
friends Of hs,deceased.
1t Is because the financial standing OF
avery business man and business insti-
tuition OF the city is being reoklessly
attacked. because as attorney for
Bradstreets my mail is flooded with
letters OF inquiry indicating that the
credit standing OF our town Is being
brought into suspicion as a result of
the statement that a hundred men are
facing financial ruin" that offer this
article by way of warning and protest.
'tOnly this morning I received re-
quest for telegraphic confirmation or
denial OF report that one of our very
strongest business firms has suspended
which report is directly traceable to
some Of the reports above mentioned.
! vet this firm does not transact any OF
its business at the First National
bank.
aThe manager of Bradstreets for
Iowa has often told me that the bust
ness men Of Grinnell have distinct
commercial advantage In rating be-
cause OF the fact that they are Grim
nell business men. the town having
built up reputation for solid. conser-
vative. rational business methods. This
should be preserved. No man should
wish to destroy 1t, and no man should
be permitted to weaken 1T in order
10 crafty his brutal and spiteful
nature. Yours truly, r. NJ. HAINES."
The T-R desires to offer word in
reply, merely to expose the silly ma
{ ture Of the attack. SO far as this paper
SIS concerned. Our regular correspond
L emit at Grinnell Is Mr.. Henry Field, q
Iman who would wantonly attack no
I, man, The dispatch in the T.-R. or
Tuesday last was prepared every word
sof II, except the last paragraph by d.
w. Norris, at our request 1t is fair
TO presume that his business interests
are as important as those OF the At
forney for Bradstreets" and 1t is wholly
unlikely that he would try to injure the
business interests OF Grinnell. 1t was
fair, temperate and kind, and absolute
~ true and Mr.. Norris requested US
10 leave off scare" head lines, which
we did.
In that dispatch Mr.. Norris referred
10 irregularities and complicated
book entries, refraining from even use
ing the word false" He said not a
word about forgeries, OF which he then
had positive knowledge, and this Is
the way he 'recklessly attacked" the
financial standing of Grinnell institu-
lions and brought into disrepute" the
directors Of the bank and scared de-
positors. We now quote from that
dispatch.
There will be a serious short
age, but it Will not be large enough
to affect depontors, the directors
even hope that what now appears
to be a deficit maybe explained
away by the examiner. The direct.
ors are men of known probity anl.
character. They are men who will
surrender every dollar they have IN
the world. rather than wrong any
creditor The two other banks
here were in no way involved, as
there were no dependent rela
tons between them at all, and
these banks are both in superb con-
dition."
For this Mr.. Norris was savagely at
tackled by at least one director and he
received letters meant to be cutting
and sarcastic. We will add that Mr..
Norris was so careful that before send
ing said dispatch he submitted 1t to at
least three careful men. No mentionl
was made of the heavy correspondence
OF the attorney for Bradstreets" be-
cause 1t didn't seem necessary On
the following morning Mr.. Norris re-
fused positively to give further infor-
!stion and Wednesdays dispatch was