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Show Is This The Price Of Independence? Why Did the It. F. C. Let Boise Bank Crash, Needlessly Injuring Thousands? If they can tear themselves away from reading about the glorious exploits of the reconstruction finance corporation, corpora-tion, western citizens might, for a moment, pay attention to what happened recently in Boise, the thrifty, prosperous capital of Idaho. One of the big banks in Boise was the First National, a strong institution commanding the respect and confidence of thousands of hard-working ldahoans. Hard times and a lack of markets for Idaho products slowly cramped the First National. It fought against conditions con-ditions beyond its control as long as it could. Then, one day, its officers knew it could not open on the morrow. But surely the R. F. C, with its billions partly extracted ex-tracted from Idaho taxpayers would come to the rescue. Less than a million dollars would save the bank and its ;housands of needy depositors. Yes, the R. F. C. would NOT! Its officers in Washington, D. C sat back, twiddled their thumbs, wondered if Charley Dawes needed another $80 million and let the First National of Boise close up. What did they care if thousands of ldahoans lost their money, or saw it locked up, indefinitely? Probably, of course, it is a mere coincidence that Senator Sen-ator Borah of Idaho recently was independent enough to refuse President Hoover his powerful support. Boise happens hap-pens also to be the senator's home. Morgan's railroads get millions; bankers friendly to the Mellons and the Mills get what they want but the capital of a western state which has the temerity to elect Senator Borah must be taught a lesson. So thousands are punished for being Americans and exercising their American rights. A pretty spectacle, indeed. Eighty millions for Charley Dawes and not one red cent for Idaho. Shovelfuls of money for "good" bankers, but nothing for a few thousand westerners. west-erners. Plenty of gold for the railroads that run thru the Gem state, but a cold shoulder for the folks who produce tonnage for those roads to haul. Every western city should study the Idaho tragedy and consider the sort of politicians who caused it. And then westerners should decide that that sort of politician must go; and that sort of politics must go if America is ever to get back to a country for Americans instead of for their exploiters. |