The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-10-02

solve. me Wsmoie IEoUples ana OUT e.t4uS
the Bank Guaranty idea.
DO you know what It amounts to2
When any dishonest banker steals
money from a deposttor, the honest
banker win be compelled to pay II
back.
Isn't that splendid, magnificent,
farseeIng statesmanhsip2 Isn't 1t
perfectly simple? Doesn't it settle
the whole problem of dishonesty?
II a bank president steals. let the
honest banker pay back the money.
Honest bankers have plenty of mon
ey. What could be simpler?
Why not; in fact, go further and
be really logica12 If you have a
Bank Guaranty in your political plat
form, why not a Burglar Guaranty?
II burglar steals anything. why not
let the honest citizens in town pay
the value of the thing stolen?
wouldn't that be simpler than keep
ing up an efficient police force?
Bryan actually proposes to you peo-
pie than honest men shall be COM
PEELED to repay to depositors any
money stolen by dishonest national
bankers.
Mind you, this magnificent idea
doesn't apply to savings banks OF to
Building and loan companies or to
STATE banks. If you were savings
bank depositor you would not get any
guaranty or any repayment in case
your money were stolen.
This guaranty idea would be pleas
ant enough for national bank depos-
TORS, perhaps.
But does that strike you as sanity
In government? Do you think 1T a
very brilliant idea to make Of honest
bankers a free insurance concern, in
surfing national bank depositors
against loss?
It be better to advocate earn
vent dishonesty in national banks?
Wouldn't it be better o advocate earn
-estly the establishment everywhere of
national savings banks, deposits sub
ject to immediate withdrawal at any
time? This would give all the citi-
zens OF the nation absolute security
for their savings. 1t would give ey-
cry one absolute convenience, since
each post Office would be national
savings bank.
Do you suppose that the bank guar
anty idea is anything more than the
subjects beyond Its grasp?
whom the long run-would pay
that bank guaranty money: Would
it not be the business men that use
national banks as a basis of credit?
Compel the national banks to es-
tablish a guaranty fund and compel
honest, conservative banks to make
good the thieving of others. Win not
those that apply to the banks for
loans have to make up that guaran-
tee out Of interest payments?
Is it brilliant, statesmanIlke idea
to penaltze honest men to make up
for the sins of the dishonest?
Look at it another way. You are
in the habit of paying your bills
grocer's, butchers and other bills.
Some men do not pay their bills.
They cheat the dealer. as dishonest
bankers cheat the depositor.
Suppose Bryan came along with al
grocer's and butchers guaranty
scheme. a benevolent plan which
would make youFt the honest buyer.
combine with other honest men to-
make good the bad debts of the dis
honest men. And suppose Bryan said
to you: mo more troubles in COM
merce, I have grand idea. You
honest men that pay your bills shall
be compelled to pay the debts of the
dishonest that dodge, and all will be
happy"
Would you not laugh at such man
and say to him:
plan. if you know how, to make
thieves reform. Don't waste time
trying to hold honest men responsible
for thieves"
Either honorable bankers are legit-
innate, respectable men, entitled to
decent treatment, or they are not.
If they are decent men, they should
be treated decently and sanely. III
they are not honest, they should be
suppressed.
1t is simply another sample of Mr..
Bryan's ready-made remedies, pro-
duct of mind that has not Thought
or studied, and that takes up and
puts down ideas quite happy and con-
tented about itself, life a marmoset
picking up and putting down empty
peanut shells in the zoo.