Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 61, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 October 1915 — BUT THEY ARE "CHEAP" AMERICANS. [ARTICLE]

BUT THEY ARE "CHEAP" AMERICANS.

Announcement has been made that- the government is to sue some two hundred American tourists to whom it loaned funds at the outbreak of the European war in their frantic efforts to get out of that country and return to the peaceful "home of the brave and land of the

free.’’ They were without money and could not raise funds on their letters of credit, so the big, generous hand of their home government was stretched out across the waters and they were enabled to return home. And one would naturally suppose that they would have been so grateful for the succor extended them in their hour of need that they would have paid back the loan as soon as they reached America and could have arranged to secure the money. Not so, however, with some two hundred of these dishonest and cheap-skate Americans, although financially able to repay the loans, and now drastic measures are to be adopted to induce them to "cough up." Speaking of the matter, the Indianapolis News says: The state department may have to establish a credit bureau, not so much to extend credit, as to examine the rating of prospective borrowers. It is announced that more than 200 New Englanders, who borrowed money from the United States government through consuls in Europe during the times of stress immediately following the declaration of war, are to be sue-. These 200 individuals, who had enough money to make the European trip, and who, presumably, had enough to return under ordinary conditions, do not seem to have enough now to pay their just obligations. It is an illustration of the smallness of human nature. According to the assistant . United States treasurer, who has the

collections in charge; Americans of foreign birth have been more prompt than the native-born citizens in repaying the loans. This is a reflection on patriotism, it is not pleasing to contemplate. It appears that ordinary gratitude would prompt these tourists to repay the government that assisted them. Remembrance of the dreadful in which the tourists found themselves should hasten payment. When the war began thousands of Americans were in Europe. Many were in the central countries, and these, more than the ones in the British isles, felt immediately the ill effects of the outbreak. Their travelers’ checks became worthless for the time. Their letters of credit could not be redeemed. Banks were closed and only the solid metal of the country in which they happened to be was of immediate use.' As is the custom with most travelers, these tourists —or most of them--had little gold about them. The cancellation of regular train service and the demoralization of business left them helpless. Some were separated from their baggage. In their distress they appealed to the consuls.

In turning over the pages of the newspapers of August, September and October, 1914, memory may be refreshed. It is shown that these stranded tourists looked on the Stars and Stripes at the American consulates with emotion. The consuls gave first aid. In some instances they supplied money for emergencies out of their own pockets. Later, through special congressional enactment, they had sufficient to finance the return of any legitimate traveler. Two hundred delinquents may not seem to be many out of the thousands thus aided, blit these 200 are found only in the half dozen states of New England. It is not improbable that many more are scattered throughout the country. The government ought to collect these debts. If the tourists are ungrateful and neglectful, they should be compelled to pay the amounts of the original loans, together with court costs and interest. Such recourse would naturally present itself to a private money lender, and we can not see that the case is much different when the government is the creditor. Indeed, it is to the shame of these Americans that the government is driven to the courts.