Semi-weekly herald., 1908-06-22
Col. David Fitem Night. Edit
COL. NIGHTS HIGH GRADING.

Papa twhose flag is black-Tom. do
you know am beginning TO feel that
my life is failure. At different times
have had things coming my way,
Dut Durango does not take kindly to
my efforts to bleed the people.
Tom, the Nee Too"-Yes, I fully
agree with you. In day or two
another pay roll will be coming up and
you have not succeeded In knocking
out cent although you have been
very busy knocking. You have not
got the money out of the bankers we
counted on. You are not doing as well
IN this instance as you did with the
bankers in the town you were in be-
fore coming to Durango. By the way,
how did you work the bankers In
Hardscrabble?
Papa. otherwise known as Col. Da-
vid Fftem Night-Well. you see,
had not been in Hardscrabble long
when the bankers took offense at some
thing ] said about the town being
dead one and advising people to send
to Sears. Roebuck & Company, and
they ordered their ads out. It's not
often merchants dare do such a thing
because they know my power for evil,
but the Hardscrabble bankers did lust
the same. And what was worse. many
OF the merchants really applauded the
act, and then started in to show them
what 1t meant to cross Col. Night.
! started a TRADE against the bank
ers and privately advised people to
take their money out Of the banks. one
especially One of the the bankers
had been indicted by the government
on some trumped up charges. and that
answered my purpose to make peo-
pie believe my story. When started
In the bank had nearly 100000 In
cash on hand. but you know people
are easily alarmed and It was not
long before there was a steady drain.
Tom-Yes. colonel. remember, but
did you not realize that by assisting
In closing bank 1t works a hard
snip on lot Of innocent people. You
remember in the Hardscrabble bank
there were a lot Of small depositors
who had earned a few dollars by
hard work and they were the ones
who suffered most
Papu-Hardship! What do l care
for hardships of depositors, so ac-
complish my point. And the town.
Well, was bound to show them that
1t would not do to thwart me In any
thing and the best way is to have a
bank failure. So the TRADE kept up.
Finally the bank closed. A committee
went over the books and gave out a
report that the assets OF the bank
were In good shape, but | soon con-
vinced the public the committee did
not know anything about the value OF
the assets. You see IL the assets of n
bank are found In good condition the
people do not become alarmed, and
this was contrary to my purpose. SO
each day the Muck Rake In glaring
headlines told how the bankers had
robbed every one and that they had
gotten away with the funds, etc. 1t
was my opportunity to get even with
them for daring to take out their ads.
The depositors held a meeting and
resoluted that the expenses Of re-
ceiver should be kept down and hand
ed the judge list of acceptable men
for the place, but the Judge ignored
them and appointed a man not at all
satisfactory to me.
Tom quitting the finishing touch on
the office spittoon)-How did you
come out?
Papa-Easy Just opened up on
lne Judge for appointing a man whom
| referred TO as being equally guilty"
and kept 1t up several days. You see
the committee had reported good
showing and II looked as though a
receiver had been appointed who
would not listen to me, but after ten
| days or two weeks my knocking be-
| gan to have an effect. You see the
receiver became afraid Of me. He
knew l was posted on his record. |
had previously referred to him, calling
him many mean names and the way
he did business, and he had sworn
TO never have anything to do with me,
but am CRATE man in bringing peo-
pie around. The receiver made q re-
port which was to my hearts desire.
1t enabled me to lambast the bankers
more and more and excite the deposi'
tors who were nytAg about vtih1l