Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-03-13

Foynes. County Limerick, Ireland
We have just been In the presence OF
the 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 son-
fused with agricuIturists. 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 it 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 pine foored
room, on rough chairs, around a rough
table upon which smoking, smelling
kerosene lamp cast a dim light that
was almost shadow.
Business Before History.
In our search for all that is good in
rural organization, we landed last
night in Limerick. Limerick is .
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 !;
city which in 1890 withstood a
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 flew from
Ireland to Spain and other southern
lands so 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 a driving rain over
30 miles of the fine Irish roadways
which days heavy rainfall can only
soften into slight slipperiness Wo
are under the guidance of A. M. Rid
die, an organizer and inspector of Co
operative societies, employed by the
Irish Agricultural Organization So
ciety; bright, eager, energetic,
tactful Irfshman who, after long
study and years of hard work in CO.
operative societies throughout Europe.
knows cooperation from A to q.
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 sawmiIl. previously, school
teacher; another is an intelligent ex.
member OF the Royal Irish constabu-
larry; one operates successfully
large rented farm; one is raiser Of
blooded horses; one is sharp-tongued
but, at heart, good natured farmer,
who is evidently believer in discreet
kindliness concealed under apparent
harshness; one is clerk in a mer-
camille establishment The secretary
is 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 cad 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 a loan of IL pounds
The books showed that immediately
upon the repayment of this first loar
another loan had been made to him
To the inspector the second loar
seemed loan to enable the borrowel
to repay the previous loan. and con
sequently unwise and contrary to th'
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 appeare'
that the second loan was given to en-
able the borrower to send a bright
fourteen-year-old son to school, TO
the purpose of better qualifying hir
as q wage Garner. The plan had sue
ceeded. The boy had been at schoc
eight months. had done well. had se
cured a position. and was now SO si
uated that he could assist. and wa
assisting, in the repayment of tn
loan. The inspector, on understand
ing the purpose Of the second LOAF
indorsed it as a perfectly legitimat
one, and sanctioned the action of tn
committee.