The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1914-03-26
Cooperative
Continued from page ID

Ing "ltnOut pay One is the manager
of little sawmill, previously, school
teacher; another is an intelligent ex.
member of the Royal Irish constabu-
larry; one operates successfully
large rented farm; one is a raiser of
blooded horses; one is sharp-tongued
but, at heart, good natured farmer,
who is evidently a believer in discreet
kindness concealed under apparent
harshness; one is a clerk in a mer-
camille establishment. The secretary
is a retired school teacher with good
working knowledge of accounting and
business methods.
How They Work.
The inspector had previously looked
over all the books and accounts and
had made memoranda of transactions
which needed explanation and of de-
linquencies calling for comment
Some of the cases called will serve as
illustrations of the character of the
loans made as well as of the method
of inspection employed. They are il
Illustrative also of the attitude of the
committee toward the borrower.
John O'Brien had taken four years
in which to repay loan of II pounds.
The books showed that Immediately
upon the repayment of this first loan
another loan had been made to him.
To the inspector the second loan
seemed loan to enable the borrower
to repay the previous loan, and con
sequently unwise and contrary to the
rules. The committee showed how
ever, that the mans slowness in re-
paying the first loan was due to sick
ness and hard luck.
Then the interesting fact appeared
that the second loan was given to en-
able the borrower to send a bright,
fourteen-year-old son to school, for
the purpose of better qualifying him
as a wage Garner. The plan had sue
ceeded The boy had been at school
eight months, had done WE'LL had Sc
cured position, and was now so sit
uated that he could assist, and was
assisting, in the repayment of the
loan. The inspector, on understand
ing the purpose of the second loan,
Endorsed it as a perfectly legitimate
one, and sanctioned the action of the
committee.
Marrying Money.
AS to another case one of the mem
bers said: He's all right; he is go
ing to be married, and it's a fine girl
he gets and bit of money, about rs
pounds she'll bring him, too, and that
will help to pull him through and
make the payments"
OF another delinquent a member
said "a sister was long time all
ing, and after a long sickness she
died, poor child. He's fine boy, hon
est as the day is long. He's decent
fellow. We can't crowd him. He's
had a hard time. He's doing all he
can, and will pay as sure as the sun
rises"
Buying Pigs.
Of another case the inspector said:
Here's a guard on the train who bor-
rowed money from us for the pur-
chase of pigs. He hasn't time to tend
hogs, has he?" Back came the reply;
Sure, any of us that has wife and
home can keep pigs if he wants to.
It's as easy to keep pigs as it is to
keep a home at all" 1t appeared,
however, tbst no pigs had been
bought by tie train guard; that rel
alive had bought pigs, presumably
with the money borrowed. There was
no danger at all as to the repayment
of the loan, the sureties being good
Fraud had been practiced, however,
and the committee we're not at all |
complacent about their part in the I
matter, feeling they had been too easy
In making the loan. This particular
brakeman would have poor chance
If he ever asked for another loan. And
$50 the committee proceeded sympa-
Ithetically considering each indiyidu-
ial case, deciding each upon its own
merits, irrespective of what are con-
sidered in America to be general
banking rules. 1t must be borne IN
mind that the cases referred to were
a few slinquents among very large
number which were promptly settled
What Money Is Used For.
Many of the loans had been for
the purchase of seeds and manures IN
inc previous spring. OO1-C - -
members had purchased pigs; some
times COW was secured. One had
bought a horse, one had built COW
shed. On the whole the rule that
loans could be made only for pro-
ductive and economic use was well oo-
served.
TITS hard to crowd the boys. SAID
one Of the members. "Ah, that's the
trouble with US Irish" replied the inr
spector But good business means
good business, although it is hard to
be harsh at all" South of Ireland
Compartments were not altogether
convinced that harshness was WIS
dom. and the answer came back DID
you ever know Of harshness to be any
good at all7'
SONS Hsrshness Necessary
TIE inspector who, in our previous
66Hvsfsat ton with him, had seemed
the most easy tempered young man,
developed O considerable severity
when appearing before the committee
He kept insisting that the delinquent
debtors must be dealt with more