The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-12-27
FARMERS AND BANKERS RUINED
az MANIPULATioNs OF
THE OCTOPUS.
Eleven Cases Of Suicide Attributed to
the Oppression Of the Cruel
Combination.

CHICAGO, Dec. 27.-Because of the
manipulation of the livestock market
by the beef trust, forty-three Iowa
banks have collapsed within the past
biennial period. which is covered in
the forthcoming report Of the state
auditor, and eleven bank officials have
committed suicide because Of financial
embarrassment resulting from the same
cause.
Computing the aggregate loss sus-
tanned by Iowa farmers by reason of
the artificial decline in the value Of
cattle, the leading cattlemen declare
they have been robbed of more than
s12 900 900. Each week adds to the list
of failures and it is impossible to say
when the tide will be stemmed.
The auditor contends that a reforma-
ton of the banking system alone will
reduce the number of failures. Despite
the fact that this years corn crop was
the largest ever known and conditions
times are unusually hard among the
farmers and the bankers are closely
pinched Never before were so many
precautions taken in loaning money
and collections are exceedingly diff
cult.
An incomplete list of the failures
has been compiled by William Cox,
head of the banking department in the
auditors office. The state has no SUI
pervision over national banks. Data
relating to those is difficult to obtain.
State and savings institutions. alone
are regulated by the state. Follow
ing is the list compiled by Mr.. Cox:
Failures for 1908.
Bucks Grove-H. S. Green's bank,
private.
Dow City-H. S. Green's bank, pri-
vate.
Grinnell-Citizens' Bank, private.
Trust Company.
Pisgah-Bank of Pisgah, private.
Curlew-Bank of Curlew, private.
Gaza-Bank of GAIA, private.
| Little Sioux-Little Sioux Bank, pri-
vate
/ Tiffin-Corn Exchange Bank, private.
Emerson-Farmers' Bank, private.
Sheldon-Sheldon State Bank
Ireton-Bank of Ireton, private.
Germania-State Bank.
Colfax-Bank of Colfax, private.
Royal-Bank of Royal, private.
Ireton-F. H. McGeever's Bank,
private.
Providence-O E. Miller & Sons
Bank, private.
Linn Grove-H. w. Mains Bank, pri-
vate
Failures of 1904.
ST. CharIes-Citizens' Bank, private
Victor-Iowa County Bank, private.
Mount Ayer-Citizens' Bank, private.
Sigourney-Sigourney Savings Bank.
Holstein-E. H. McCutcheon & Co.
Bank, private.
Corning-Corning State Savings
Bank.
Pella-People's Savings Bank.
Coin-Bank of Coin, private.
Garden Grove-Farmers' Bank, pri-
vate.
MISUNDERSTANDING Bank, private
Pleasanton-Royal Richardson & Co.
Bank, private.
Dixon-Bank of Dixon, private
New Liberty-New Liberty Savings
Bank.
ImOgene-CitiZens' Bank, private.
Birmingham-E. V. Skinner & Co.
Bank, private.
Olin-Bank of DIN. private
| 1t is impossible to give an accurate
list of the suicides. Among them,
however, may be noted the following:
Partial List of Suicides.
| Grinnell National Bank-Cashier H.
c. Spencer and his son, assistant
cashier.
Bank of Colfax-Cashier George D.
Wood.
Citizens Bank of st. Charles
Cashier Charles Wood
Corning State Bank-Cashier F. L.
Larue.
Slgourney Savings Bank-Cashier
G. D. Utterdeek.
Linn Grove-Cashier H. w. Main.
Lone Tree-Cashier