The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1908-01-23
Gambling and Financial Panic.

OdmDIlng ana Financial Panic.
| have said many times that of all
horrors sanctioned by God and carried
out by man on this earth, war is the
most horrible to me, and yet hope the
day may come when arbitration will
settle all questions and put an end to
wars. or all evils l detest the most,
and that 10 sanctioned and even encour-
aged by intelligent, moral people, it is
GAMBLING. Not merely the dens and
the little petty gambling by men and
boys in box cars and back alleys, but on
the board Of trade in Chicago and in
Wall street, New York, and by men in
high society, in church and state, and
many of them in government employ.
This is gamblers and SPECTATORS
panic and it is affecting the farmer and
the whole western people the most.
Gambling on the board of trade and on
Wall street should be curbed and re-
stricted and the financial system and
banking system should be adjusted and
reorganized.
My old-time friend, ]. L. McCaull, of
Minneapolis, said to me last June, s'No,
we can't have panic in the west s
long as the west raises good crops and
the western banks have plenty of
money. New York may have it but it
can't tie up the west" But it did come
west hard and sudden, yet Iowa and
most western states had more money in
banks than ever before.
A good neighbor friend of mine here
says we should not question the duty
and doings of Uncle SANS employees.
Now think it is not only our right but
our moral duty to investigate the pro-
ceedings Of our state and United States
officials.
Our secretaries of the treasury.
Gage, Shaw and Cortelyou, have foster
ed and backed the New York thanks
with government money. Did they pet
and back our little banks out west at
the same ratio? No. Now bank need
no more "bust" if they loan their own
and depositors' money and stake good
security, than conservative farmer or
merchant that does solid legitimate
business. l wish all the bankers of this
state and others would bank on the
same rules laid down by our former De-
catur county boy, Grant McPherrin, of
Clearfield. | wish more people could
have heard V. r. McGinnis at the
Farmers Institute and Teachers Meet
ing at Weldon December 10Th on Educa-
tion. Touching on education, self con-
troll and government control, from par
ent to teacher to the child, and from
childhood to manhood, were points that
were extraordinarily good and justly
worthy the consideration Of every true
American parent.
Yes, 1 believe we should agitate the
reform in gambling and the financial
system and should petition our con-
gressmen and governor to do. their duty.
Solomon said it was hard toitell which
we're the more foolish-to give to the
rich or to rob the poor. Now, as self
preservation is the first law of nature,
SO is agitation and investigation the
first law Of mind over matter, SO also
should manly, moral stamina and Amer
lean liberty be the first law of right
over might for the common American
people. l wish every honorable man
and woman would teach this reform in
their homes and that every teacher
would teach self government and civil
government in the school, and that
every preacher would preach it from
the pulpit, that we might have reac-
ton for the right out OF this Wall
street gamblers panic.
A. H. METER.
| Weldon, Jan. 49,.