The Adair County news. [volume] (Columbia, Ky.) 1897-1987, 1919-05-14
WE CANNOT ADOPT
THE PETE GARR|TY
PLAN OF PAYMENT
POKER STORY ON A TRAVELLING
SALESMAN HAS VICTORY
LOAN POINT.
SETTLEMENT DAY is HERE
War Debt Is Now
Offered.

A chap named Pete Clarity used to
travel a southern Illinois and Missouri
territory. Sometimes he got over into
Kentucky and Tennessee. About ev-
cry body knew Pete for he was a"reg-
ular fellow" Also he was a good
salesman as statesmen went in those
days. Good Indian? Well all say he
was. All of US who knew and remem-
Der him.
However, as to financial matters and
personal responsibility, Pete was as
the brutes that perish. He was with
out form and void and darkness was on
the face Of the deep"
One night he was having a little
poker game in his room at one of the
old-time st. Louis hotels. He had been
out and busy all week and he figured
that little relaxation was coming to
him. He made such headquarters as
he had in st. Louis.
The telephone bell rang 1t was a
call for Pete, all right. He went to
the phone and listened minute.
Tell him I'll be right down." he
said. "And Pm out of the next deal"
he added.
He wasn't gone long. In about ten
minutes he was back and opening
another pot as pleased as boy with
a pair of copper-toed, red-toed, new
boots. aT IS ~
Tailor of NINE" he gave brief ex-
PLANTATION. Owed him about a hun
dred Gave him my note for 30 days"
The game went along. Somebody
"copped the pot" and it wasn't Pete.
The cards were dealt again.
Thank the Lord there's another bill
that is paid" said Pete.
OF course Pete was poor flnancier.
He had that reputation and, after all,
he was just living up to it.
But when we come to pay our debt
to Uncle Sam we can't afford to adopt
the Pete Clarity system. When we
come to pay our debt to the lads who
have done our fighting for us, who
fought for liberty over there, who
fought for our selfrespect and for our
national honor and the good opinion
of the world at large, we can't afford
to adopt that system.
Have to Pay Sometime.
If we do we will hear from it in
the future. We can't shove such debts
as we owe to the nation over into the
dim and distant future. Of course
Pete's note eventually came due. And
there came a day also when that debt
had to be paid. He could pay it after
action in court or ne could pay 1t on
the nail when it really came due and
when it should have been paid. Ger
tainly it had to be paid some time.
Now that we have a chance to pay
our debts to Uncle Sam there will be
no unpleasant aftermaths. We have
a chance to hand him the money in
exchange for bond of the Victory Lib
erty Loan issue. And after a good
many days that bond will reach its
time of maturity and we will be. able
to collect for all that it cost us by sim
ply presenting it at the window OF
most any bank.
4 mighty. fine system and a mighty
fine way Of paying of the war debt. II
is system of payment that every one
of us should appreciate. Bond hold
ers and non-bond holders, we will all
be paying the taxes that will make
possible the payment of the obligations
of the United States in the interim
But only the bond holders will profit
by the interest that will be paid on
the loaned money.
Even the financial fools like Pete
Clarity ought to be able to get along
on such system as that Then why
is it that brainy, capable, sharp folks
who know something about financia
affairs are hesitating about doing theil
part by Uncle Sam. 1t is something o.
a mystery.
AS matter of plain fact, they won
hesitate. The brainy American is go
ing to do his level best to get in OF
these short-term notes of the Victor,
Liberty Loan. That is why 1t is goinI
over.