The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-03-13
WHEN FARMERS ARE BANKERS.

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 wage Garner. 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 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 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 a 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 a wife and
home can keep pigs if he wants to.
It's as easy to keep pigs as it is to
keep home at ALL" 1t appeared,
however, that no pigs had been
bought by the 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
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-
thetically considering each individu-
al case, deciding each upon its own
merits. irrespective Of what are con-
sidered in America to be general
banking rules. It must be borne in
mind that the cases referred to were
few delinquents 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
the previous spring. Some of the
members had purchased pigs; some
times a 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 OBJ
served.
Its 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 ii is hard tc
! be harsh at all" South OF Ireland
temperaments 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 all?"
Some Harshness Necessary.
! The inspector. who, in our previous
! conversation with him. had seemed
the most easy tempered young man
developed q considerable severity
when appearing before the committee
He kept insisting that the delinquent
J debtors must be dealt with more
! harshly and in a more basiness-likC
way. In several cases he advised i'm
; mediate legal proceedings unless
something was done. He told then
) that unless good business method:
. prevailed new committee must b
? appointed or that the society woulC
D get into trouble and would be close'
. out. The attitude was more or les
4 for effect upon the committee. Tn,
r man raised in this section of Irelani
+ is so soft-hearted that he cannot b
e harsh in his own matters, and it /
p indeed difficult for him TO be bushes:
; like when business-like methods II
( vclve harshness. The committee too
the situation seriously to heart. how