The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, October 21, 1915, Page 9

S s - - THE NONPARTISAN LEADER PAGE NINE NEWEST PHASES OF THE GON GAME. "WYHERE used to-flourish in New York an eminent citizen of T the most engaging manners, widely known in police and newspaper circles as “Grand Central Pete.” The scene of his daily labors was at the Grand Central railroad station, where with charming cordiality he welcomed visitors to the metropolis. Nobody from the interior that looked as if he had money ‘and was unfamiliar with the great city escaped the genial atten- tions of Pete. To all such his hand was held out with a warm cordiality calculated to bring tears to their eyes. “Let us be friends,” .he would say. “Come with me and we will do business together. United we can make much money and control the grain business of New York. Why should there be any enmity between us? We have every object in common. Let us join hands and work together.” : Very often the visitor would listen to these dulcet sounds and go forth to do business under Mr. Pete’s instruction. As a rule within twenty-four hours s_uch persons were seeking the police and begging the charitable societies. for money to get home on. : Mr. Pete had done business with them so effectually that they hadn’t a cent left to their names. We recall this:interesting chapter of history for the especial benefit of the farmers of the Northwest. : There are signs on all sides that the Interests that for years have been preying upon the grain raisers are now about to try the con game after the manner of Grand Central Pete. “Come, let us be friends, O-Farmers! Put your trust in us. Let the bankers, the loan sharks, the mortgage brokers, the Imple- ment Trust, the commission. houses, the grain doctors and the farmers be as a band of brothers. AHN have interests in com- mon. Why, then, this strife? Come, O Farmer, rest yqur head upon this bosom. Send your grain to the old line elevators. - Get your money at the old rates. Deliver your selves to be skin-| ned with the old knives. Let us be friends. We don’t believe this sort of bunk will continue very far in. this State. While this has been a first class place for the operations of the Grand Central Petes, it will be interesting to see:what the future brings forth. The farmeti who farms farms gets_the chaff afid the man who_farms farmers gets the wheat—and the farm. NINETY BANKS AND UNLAWFUL INTEREST. BN AST week the Leader published a report from the Comp- L troller of the Currency showing that ninety national banks in North Dakota extort an unlawful interest from the barrowers. From the Comptroller’s report of January 13, 1914, we 1eam that there were at ‘that time 145 national banks in this state. : What the number is at this time we are not informed. It is safe, however, to assume that more than 50 per cent, maybe 60 per cent and possibly 70 per cent of the national banks of this state are wilful violaters of the law. We wonder if any of the Governors’ banks are a part of the 90 guilty ones. As shown last week in the article on, “How the Real Rulers Govern the World,” the newspapers of the country are very largely influenced by the banks, for they must depend very greatly on the banks for funds. : We wonder if that fact, if it be a fact, has anything to do with the unquestioned fact .that many newspapers of the state, loudly and insistently praise and support the bankers and the banker-administration. ! We also wonder if this close relation is in any way responsiy ble for the little “warning” that has gone the rounds of the state press solemnly advising farmers “not to sign papers nor pay out any money” to solicitors without first asking “your banker.” This warning also affirms that the “banker is your frieng.” And these friends, ninety of them at least, are the amiable gentlemen who have been taking an unlawful interest from you farmers. . And these are the same friends who, through newspapers and some of them through circulars, have been warning you to kindly consult them before “signing any papers or paying out any money”’ to any solicitors. And they take an unlawful interest. And they are “your friends.” Brutus was Caesar’s friend. Judas was Jesus’ friends. There are two kinds of farmers—the farmer who farina farms and the farmer who farms farmers, and the farmer whe farms the farmer gets rich and the farmer who farms farms gets it in the neck. : : —_—— i ?—EE'-:’ =N/ WHAT'S WHEAT ToDAY 2 1 RECKONED 1T WUD | RN 5