American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1914-03-19

LACA II ECNAA6 AaON aRRCoAD1
that the second loan was given to IN
able the borrower to send a bright,
fourteen-year-old son to school, for
the purpose OF better qualifying him
as a wage earner The plan had Sue
ceeded. The boy had been at school
eight months, had done well, had Sc
cured a 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 a 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 a long time all
ing, and after a long sickness she
died. poor child. He's a fine boy, hon
est as the day is long. He's a decent
fellow. We can't crowd him. He's
had a hard time. He's doing all he
can, and win pay as SUI as the sun
rises"
Buying Pigs.
OF another case the inspector said:
Here's a guard on the train who Dor
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 a wife and
a home can keep pigs if be wants to.
It's as easy to keep pigs as it is to
keep a home at all" 1t appeared,
however. that no pigs had been
bought by the train guard; that a 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
matter, feeling they had been too easy
in making the loan. This particular
brakeman would have a poor chance
if he ever asked for another loan. And
so the committee proceeded sympa'
t%hetically considering each individu-
al case, deciding each upon it's 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 %delinquents among a very large
number which were promptly settled.
What Money Is Used For.
Many OF the loans had been for
the purchase of seeds and manure in
the previous spring. Some Of the
members had purchased pigs; some.
times a COW was secured. One had
bought a horse, one had built a COW
shed. On the whole the rule that
loans could be made only for pro
ductive and economic use was well OBJ
served.
It's hard to crowd the boys said
one of the members. "Ah, that's the
trouble with us Irish" replied the in
spector. But good business means
good business, although it is hard L
be harsh at all" South of IRELAND
=. Compartments were not ~altogethel
convinced hat harshness was wis
dom, and the answer came back: "DiC
you aver know OF harshness to be an,
good at all?"
Some Harshness Necessary.
The inspector. VINO. in our previous
conversation with him, had scenes
, the most easy tempered young man
= developed a considerable severity
when appearing before the COMMITTEES
} He kept insisting that the delinquen
} debtors must be dealt with NOR
| harshly and in a more business-lik
= way. In several cases he advised In
) mediate legal proceedings unles
something was done. He told Their
J that unless good business method
. prevailed a new committee aus b
, appointed or that the society woul
4 get into trouble and would be close
out. The attitude was more or les
1 for effect upon the committee. Tn
r man raised in this section Of Irelan
is so ~soft-hearted that he canno b
a harsh in his own matters. and il !
indeed difficult for him to be business
: like when business-like methods IL
volve harshness. The committee too
the situation seriously to heart. hv