The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1914-03-06

:
Foynes, County Limerick, Ireland.
We have just been in the presence of
4he best board of bankers that we ever
nAw. 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
aIhe finest fronts in town and Of the
men who also put up the finest fronts.
We think of shrewd tellers who never
eel anything; Of cashiers who are
constantly upon the point of refusing
cash to those who need it most; of
boards of directors who sit in softly
tarpeted rooms on upholstered chairs,
around polished Circassian walnut
cables. The Irish bankers we have
Inst seen wore despatched
es0thtes. They sat in a pine foored
room. on rough chairs around rough
table upon which a smoking, smelling
kerosene lamp cast a dim light that
was almost shadow.
6uStHSSS 6eTOTS f1lSIOFys
In our search for all that is good in
rural organization, we landed last
night in Limerick. Limerick is q
mighty interesting city, founded by
the Danes thousand years ago; a
city which CremweIl's forces could not
emter until the plague and starvation
lad conquered the defenders who
eDuld not be conquered by the sword;
. city which in 1890 withstood a
Siege by King William, who was baf-
fed because the women Of the city
sought with the men; a city whence
came the wild geese who flew from
Ireland to Spain and other southern
lands SO they might indulge their war
Mke tastes which could no longer be
exercised In ireland.
Bat just now more important than
historic Limerick Is the modern vii
AAge of F'oynes with its egg marketing
society and its farm credit associa-
sk0n. So to Foynes we came this
afternoon through driving rain over
% miles of the fine Irish roadways
which a days heavy rainfall can only
soften into slight slipperiness. We
are under the guidance of A. M. Rid
NE. an organizer and inspector Of CO.
operative societies, employed by the
Irish Agricultural Organization so
eEety:; bright, eager, energetic,
eactful Irishman who, after long
study and years of hard work in CO.
eFeFatiye societies throughout Europe,
Ersafnx o no r.vnn A. "
Farmers Who Are Bankers.
At seven o'clock on this rainy night
re 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 sawmilI, previously. school
teacher; another is an intelligent ex.
member Of the Royal Irish eonstabu-
barry; one operates successfully a
&rge rented farm; one is raiser of
1lOOded horses: one is a sharp-tongued
Butf at heart. good natured farmer,
- AA@t 10 CNAAVAtAy O bC14CFCI ia Qi6CIC6L
kindness concealed under apparent
Aarshness; one is a clerk in a mer-
eantile establishment. The secretary
d retired school teacher with good
working knowledge of accounting and
business methods.
How They Work.
The inspector had previously looked
Dver all the books and accounts and
Had made memoranda Of transactions
which needed explanation and Of de-
Nnauencies calling for comment.
S0me of the cases called will serve as
Enstrations OF the character of the
Amns made as well as of the method
- inspection employed. They are H.
AMlrative also OF the attitude OF the
en11nmittee toward the borrower.
HoAn 0'Brien had taken four years
= which to repay loan Of IL pounds.
mo books showed that Immediately
uBsA the repayment OF this first loan
1AnEher loan had been made to him
70 the inspector the second loan
aeemed q loan to enable the borrower
70 repay the previous loan, and con-
reqnently unwise and contrary TO the
MaAea The committee showed, how
eweT. that the mans slowness in re-
9nging the flFBt loan was due to sick
slesa and hard luck.