Evening times-Republican., 1911-06-10
COMPROMISE LEGISLAT1ON.
TParkerSburs Eclipse1

cal interests to play politics in passing
measures of public good. more string
ent laws could be enacted for the reg
ulation of "rea sorable and unreason-
able trusts. The Sherman anti-t trust
law might be strengthened so that 1t
would be of some practical value TO
the people. Tariff laws might be en-
acted that would be just to the pro-
lucer, the consumer. and the Working
man. Conservation laws might have
enough force behind them 10 conserve.
SO long as the majority Of the laws
are passed on the compromise plan
and not because it is right to pass
them, SO long viii the people wait for
the justice that is due them at the
hands of the iawmakng body and the
courts. We have politics to burn in
this country and with every man jock
eying 10 secure fall out OF his COM
race that his own political welfare
might he enhanced the only relief in
sight is for the people TO institute
thorough housec,eaning.
POSTAL BANKS IN THE CITIES.
tDes Moines Register and Leaderl.
Win the extension of the postal
savings bank system 10 the cities
there ought to come a real test of its
value.
In the smaller towns where it has
been established il has not made a
very pretentious record In the few
short months OF its trial. The deposits
in some communities are Amazingly
small, and on the whole they are rath-
er below expectations. That Is in
large measure due TO the fact thai the
banks in the smaller towns are close
to the people and have an intimate re-
!at!onship with them. The bankers and
bank employees are we'll known person
ally to men. women and children IN
town ard thru the country around. IT
is very natural that under those cir
cumstances the people should be slow
to deposit their savings in the postal
banks
But in the large cities the situation
IS altogether different. There the
banks are not so close TO the great
mass OF people. On the other hand,
there Is a gulf between them that Is
trouble The mass Of men and women
IN such cities never think OF making
deposit CT their scant earnings In the
bank which occupies an imposing ten
or fifteen or twenty story structure,
ornate with carvings and decorations
The average city wage Garner feels
that such an institution is not for him
but for the rich. He is mistaken. but
that does not alter the fact. So he
keeps his little savings IN a sack
somewhere instead Of depos!t,ng it.
It is more than likely that the pos
tai bank will make a strong appeal to
those non-ha hiking people of the large
cities It is likely that it will impress
them as being an institution designed
for their needs. 1t is likely that these
men and women VINO have felt that
ba nks are not for them and their min
or business Will now feel that the
postoffice banks are for them and VIII
patronize them. The city field IS
tremendously better for the postal
bank and Il is safe TO predict that its
success there VIII be cor-espondins1y
larger.
INVEST VS.. SPECULATION.
New Sharon Star].
At time when money is plentifuf
and much capital is idle, as at present,
two corrective measures present them
selves: The country can put It's money
INTO solid investments or it can engage
in e vast speculative movement. Either
is apt, for time at least, to produce
that condition commonly called pros
perity.
Economists declare, however, that
this country needs greater agricultural
development. Its manufactures already
are equal to the requirements OF the
population, but the actual output OF
farm products is below what II ought
to be.
This theory is in line with the gen.
orally accepted belief that the farm 's
the basis of our national prosperity.
More intensive farming, therefore, IS
the object to be attained Conserva-
tioDists have shown clearly that our
waste Of soil is enormous. The time
has passed when the farmer. having
worked the life out Of one tract. can
ford to move to another state and
begin over on new land.
Some people have claimed that the
general buying Of automobiles by FAR
mers Is g. menace to business cond1-
tions. AS a matter of fact every far
nler who IS able to buy an automobile
and pay for It without burdening him.
self makes a real investment, 80 when
the farmer puts his money into pow
er pump to displace the old windmill.
a planter, traction engine ana gang
plow, a better house to live IN. a new
barn. blooded stock, better seed or any
other thing that will increase the pro-
ductiveness Of his farm or make his
home better, more satisfying place
to live in, he Is actually investing his
money in way that Will pay uivi-
dends to him and to his community
When the farmer who owns quar-
ter-sect.on Of good land gets the idea
that It Is not good enough for him and
puts his surplus into some distant land
promotion scheme in Canada or else
where he draws from the resources OF
his own community and engages IN
speculation that is Just as risky as the
ticker and blackboard type.
Tho farmer is chosen as an example
because he is the foundation OF our
economic structure. The same choice
between investment and speculation
presents itself to the city dweller. He
is Just as dependent on the welfare OF
his community as IL the farmer. Lo-
ca! prosperity is all he asks. and II IL
dependent largely on his willingness
TO wade IN ana help his neighhnrs
nOmea /