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4 Lasseter did not even ask for any explanation as to the provisions of the law under which he was to be dealt with, nor for Mr. Simpson's authority to make such demands on him. but simply turned to his check book and wrote a draft for the money and pre sented to Simpson, who required that it be certified before accepting it. This done. Mr. Simpson was soon out on the streets and on the way to the McLane home, feeling happier than little Margie did when he put the check in her hands and told her that her home was saved ami that her little brown cow and calf would not be taken away from her; that that check wouhl pay up all that was owing and leave them a good sum to start life over again. ‘“Will there be enough." she asked, “to buy a tomb for brother's grave .’" ‘“Yes. dear.’’ he said, “and more besides,” and promising to return in a few hours, walked back to liis office to consult with his partner as to the meth ods to be further pursued in breaking up and de stroying a system of graft that had been the means of ruining manv humble homes. Note.—This is the first of two articles dealing with Peculiar Forms of Graft which will appear in The Reason.) • The Loan Shark. Something must or should be done in the way of legislation to protect tin* ignorant black and white from the oppression of the “money lender." A bill by Mr. Adams, of Savannah, having for its object this accomplishment was passed in the Geor gia House of Representatives more than a week ago by a majority of 129 votes. It remains to be seen just what will become of it in tin* Senate when it reaches that body for final action. For thirty years a similar bill has been before the General Assembly, but has never become law. There are very good reasons for believing that it is more favorably re garded by the present legislature than any previous session. lion. Seaborn Wright, of Floyd county, is one of the ablest champions of the measure. In an ad dress he is quoted as follows on the evils of the money lending business: “This business has grown." declared Mr. Wright, “until these money-sharks have the ignorant poor at their mercy. In my city there are ten or fifteen able-bodied men who are not only growing prosper ous but wealthy by means of this nefarious business. You Know that 1 hate the liquor traffic with all my soul, but if 1 had to choose between donning a white apron and serving drinks over the bar to engaging in this business. 1 would go to the saloon tomorrow. In many cases these sharks charge from 1.000 to 5.000 per cent interest. If they dealt with men, like you or myself, who know what interest means, 1 would oppose the bill; but they prey upon classes who have no conception of such matters. 1 know a widow, whose husband was a brave Confederate soldier, who fell into their hands. She borrowed $37, paid them back over SIOO and still owed them SOO when she came to me for help. 1 have differed with my young fr en 1 from Chatham, but 1 want to say that it takes a man without fear and with a heart to do the right to come here from a large city, as he does, and advocate such a measure.' THE REASON The prosperity of this country rests on the shoul ders of the men who resort to the “shark in a tight place, and they must be protected. These men of all men must have enough to wear, enough to eat and something for the ordinary misfortunes of life. Their wives must be well dressed. their children should have toys and candies and they’should still have a little to lay aside for the “rainy day. Even then there will come times when it is absolutely essential that they should borrow money. The “shark" is about the only person to whom they can go. and his charges vary from $2 to $5 a month on a loan of $lO. The writer had a case to come under his observation where a railroad brakeman on a loan of $25 had paid back sllO and still owed the original debt. At the same time he was seeking another loan on the same terms. Theories are born of want; the fertile brain of trouble has evolved thousands. What we want now, however, is not theory but some remedy—a remedy that will solve the problem. The poor must have a money market such as they may resort to and obtain credit on about the same basis that they buy groceries and clothes. A dollar s worth ol potatoes is just as valuable as a dollar's worth of silver, as a dollar’s worth of Hour or cloth. If the grocer, who makes about twenty per cent out of the pota toes. is satisfied with such a profit and can make a living at it. can not the man with a little money to loan also make a living and become independent at no greater profit on his money.' If the loan man loses his dollar, is he out any more money than the man who loses his potatoes.’ Is not the loss of a dollar’s worth of groceries just as hard to stand as the loss of a dollar in money? Why will not loss from bad accounts produce com mercial ruin in the dry goods business as certainly as in the loan business? Nearly all business houses do more or less credit, and that, too, with people without financial standing or backing; yet precious few go to the wall from poor collections. It is un thinkable that the money lender should. 'flic grocer has larger rents to pay. more clerks to keep and a delivery system to maintain. The monev lender has little or none of these expenses, his heaviest expense being the license which he pays. This ought to be reduced and good men encouraged to engage in the business, under such restrictions as would not permit the collection of excessive rates of interest. This may not be the solution of the problem, but it is a step towards it and in the right direction. Make it a crime, punishable by fine and impris onment. for any man to collect usurous rates. Men without honesty or principle will demand these. Drive them out of the business and the scrupulous and virtuous will rush in to take their places. There can be no reforming of the system, no improvement of it. by denouncing and degrading it. it must be bettered by making it respectable. There was tme when merchandizing was not a fit voca tion for gentlemen, but that was before the business had bemi purged and the best men gotten in it. Half the evi’s of the liquor traffic might be remedied if tile tendency was to elevate and lift it up rather than degrade and torture the men engaged in it. Many men have started lending money on a cap ital of SIOO and made a fortune in less than ten rears. You mav meet them on the streets of almost *■