Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1914-03-12

Foynes, County Limerick, Ireland
We have just been In the presence OF
Ihe best board Of bankers that We ever
saw. They are all what the Wall
street clerk would call "rubes;" they
are "hay.seeds." They are farmers
who. as you know. must not be con-
fused with agriculturists. When we
think of American banks and bankers
we think of the buildings which have
the finest fronts In town and of the
men who also put up the finest fronts.
We think of shrewd tellers who never
tell anything: OF cashiers who are
constantly upon the point OF refusing
cash to those who need 1t most; OF
boards Of directors who sit in softly
carpeted rooms on upholstered chairs,
around polished Circassian walnut
tables. The Irish bankers we have
just seen wore mud-bespattered
CLOTHES. They sat in a pine floored
room, on rough chairs around rough
table upon which smoking, smelling
kerosene lamp cast q dim light that
was almost a shadow.
Business Before History.
In our search for all that is good in
rural organization. we landed last
night In Limerick. Limerick Is a
mighty interesting city, founded by
the Danes a thousand years ago; a
city which Cromwell's forces could not
enter until the plague and starvation
had conquered the defenders who
could not be conquered by the sword;
a city which in 1890 withstood
siege by King William. who was baf-
fed because the women Of the city
fought with the men; city whence
came the wild geese who few from
Ireland to Spain and other southern
lands 80 they might indulge their war
like tastes which could no longer be
exercised in Ireland.
But just now more important than
historic Limerick is the modern vii
lage Of Foynes with its egg marketing
society and its farm credit associa-
ton. So to Foynes we came this
afternoon through driving rain over
30 miles of the fine Irish roadways
which days heavy rainfall can only
soften into slight slipperiness. We
are under the guidance Of A. M. Rid
die. an organizer and inspector Of CO.
operative societies, employed by the
Irish Agricultural Organization 30
ciety; a bright, eager, energetic,
tactful Irishman who, after long
study and years Of hard work In Co
operative societies throughout Europe,
knows cooperation from A to 2.
Farmers Who Are Bankers.
At seven o'clock on this rainy night |
we found six Of the seven members Of |
the loan committee assembled in the |
village clubhouse. Here are six |
shrewd but kindly Irish gentlemen
who know their business thoroughly.
Some of them have driven miles |
through rain and wind. All are serv-
ing without 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 q
large rented farm one lie q raiser OF
blooded horses; one is sharp-tongued
but. at heart, good natured farmer,
who is evidently believer in discreet
kindness concealed under apparent
harshness; one IL q clerk in q mer-
camille establishment. The secretary
is a retired school teacher with a 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-
calling for comment.
Some Of the cases called viii serve as
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 0'Brien had taken four years
In which to repay a,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 q loan to enable the borrower /
10 repay the previous loan, and con-
seQuently unwise and contrary to the ]
rules. The committee showed. how
sVer, that the mans slowness IN re-
paying the hrst loan was due to Eick- '
anns and hard luck, --1-f.'s's-e II