Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-05-05
\ NATIONAL BANK CONvENTEoN.

A convention Of tank officers IS 10 be
held next July at Saratoga, and the
promoters IF tIe meeting have written
to ask us Tor some hints inregard 10 it.
They say they have reason to expect
from n thousand 10 twelve hundred
members to be present. They disclaim
the idea Of debating reforms, or OF
changing any laws, or Of making inno-
vations on existing rules for the gov
eminent Of banks or their business"
What they intend is tOedo good to each
other "by meeting together, making
each others acquaintance, and talking
over matters Of concern to all bank
officers, to make their official duties
more easy In the future. and to leave d
green spot IN the pathway Of the past
that It viii be a pleasure olOok upon"
-C0mmsrciol and Financial Chronicle,
Mayl.
The proposition that.all the bankers
In the country, to the number of twelve
hundred, shall meet in convention, is
well calculated to arouse the attention
Of merchants, farmers and all other
classes who have any interest in banks,
direct or indirect, and find their prop
erty and business affected by banking
operations. According to the above,
they disclaim any idea Of debating re-
forms or changing any laws or making
innovations on existing rules. If this
( be so, why do they ask ''some hints
from the Financial Cbr0njcIel With
out noting this contradiction, the
Chronicle proceeds to suggest several
matters that might be discussed with
profit TO the people as well as the banks,
by such a convention. For instance,
the feasibility OF allowing interest on
deposits; the percentage Of cash re-
serves that safe banking requires; the
easiest mode for specie resumption;
the causes and course Of the late panic,
etc. The Chronicle evidently takes it
for granted that they contemplate 4
great deal more than meeting together
to guzzle Saratoga water with a liberal
admixture Of champagne in order to
leave ga green spot" in memory's waste.
The Neo York Bulletin is more out
spoken, and frankly declares its incred-
ulity. After commenting on the alb
surdity of talking over matters Of
concern to all bank officers after ex-
pressly excluding everything relating
to banking, It suggests facetiously:
No doubt important advantages
would come out OF their making each
other sac luaintance." They could SYM
pathizs with each others i~mpecuuiosity
and commiserate over their un~reasona-
bly, arduous toll; and, thus binding
themselves together IN cords of sym.
patty, they might unite in mutual ben
eft societies to provide against the
usual poverty Of a bankers declining
years and to insure what a banker is so
rarely sure Of, a decent burial And
as bank officers are VIGOROUSLY under
paid. ana oyer-w0rked, they could unite,
q Ia trades union, to strike for higher
wages or t0 make their official duties
more easy In the future" AL is clear
IN the programme and purpose Of the
Convention up to this point; but then
finally comes in the green spot, -
which we confess, ConfUses us. We
have looked at this particular spot
until the whole thing has become
Green" To our vision.
We fear the green spot may be
fund in the public eye if it does not
keep close watch on this National
Bank convention. The money power,
consolidated and unified by the fuan,
cialsystem forced on the country by
var as q military necessity and still re,
tanned. has exerted q subtle and bane,
fuI influence on politics Of late years
It could hardly be otherwise with q
hundred national bankers occupying
seats IN Congress. Hitherto identity
OF interests, and the free use of the
telegraph and money has suthced, but
now that Radicalism is toJtering q
regular convention must be held. Il
has an ugly look, and the most fav0ra.
bic construction it viii bear, Is that the
money kings have become divided IL
opinion as 30 their best policy next
year and cannot determine their course
without consultation. No doubt com.
mit5ees viii be appointed at Saratoga
to attend and, if possible, manipulate
both OF the great political conventions