The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-12-13
.ere and Ohere
BY Mrs. Byrd TregO

If were to ask you to study for
a moment the business interests of
our community or country with q
definite purpose of determining what
vocation you thOt most remunerative
from financial standpoint, wonder
II you would agree with me that
the business of the money lender
was above all others.
Now do not decry this person be-
cause you pay him interest. He is
ten loses sums that would seem large
to us, because of the feeling of crit
icism against his business.
I do not refer to the banks who
generally respond willingly and free
ly to any sincere movement that Is
advanced for the purpose of fuller
development Of the country, and
pays taxes In proportion to those ex-
acted from other property owners.
me enormous rate Of interest we
seem compelled to pay is chief at
traction for the person who has &C
cumulated q few thousand, often by
overcoming difficulties as great as
you are now finding before you, in
Guiding the one of paying the money
lender for the use of his cash. He
does not care for the Injuries that
his money would buy, having never
owned them perhaps does not con-
slider those things worth the price,
has for years been happy with the
possession of necessities that cost the
least amount for which they could
be purchased. Higher qualities Of
anything but interest are secondary
anticipations.
If the money lender is q woman
she usually has to pay for the SER
vice of barter and exchange, il a
man, the operations are usually con-
Quoted from the curb or private resi-
dence, thus avoiding Office rental and
clerical hire. He is able to avoid
taxes that drain the profits Of other
businesses. Being seemingly un-
important sort of person with invis-
ible income he is seldom called upon
to contribute to causes of benove-
lence or improvement to his COM
munity. He does not develop any
longer with the use of his person
ality or his labor or his energy, but
thinks he has earned a rest from
his labors and is satisfied to loan his
money to the needy one who will
toll by the sweat O fhis brow to Gre
ate, pay and develop the energies of
the county.
If the money lender lives in the
east his risk is often greater, and he
has to employ the services of an
agent to act for him and also at
times is deprived of the short quick
loans with big interest that the man
standing on the street and knowing
men personally may capture.
Now this is perfectly legitimate
business and performed in accord
ance with the laws of our state and
nation. We could not long exist in
our commercial relations without the
money lender. There is only one
class among us that is privileged to |
choose debtor to whom he shall pay |
low rental for needed cash to con-
duct his business. The government |
loans the farmers for improvement |
purposes at 6 per cent rate of int |
crest Sometimes l think the far
mer is the spoiled child Of the human
family. No other business gets such
favors, protection and solicitation
from national and state government.
Think of our Idaho legislature will
lnigly listening to, and taking time
to consider sc measures presented
to them by chosen representative
of the farmers and enacting SO of
them into laws.
The ancient city of Sparta gave
to it's people iron as a medium OF
trade and barter, supposing that by
so doing the corrupting growth and
greed for a more attractive gold
and silver would be lessened, the
bulk and weight of tho iron acting
as a detriment to it's use as circu-
lating instrument. This was vol
untary experiment. as there was as
plenteous a supply of gold, silver and
copper as at the present age. 1t was
soon recognized, however, that a
medium must be composed of
a material readily available and uni
versally accepted. These two requi-
FAMINE DEPOPULATES