Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1883-08-23
PENINSULAR CASHIERS.
Their Convention at ocean city
The Chairman's Address-Organi- T.
zatiOn and Proceedings.

OtEhN SlTf, MD aug. ~ -hltr tH'
organization of yesterdays convention o
Peninsulsr bank cs-biers, alluded to il
yesterdays EVERY EvEsNG by speois
dispatch, General Thomas took the pre-
siding officers chair and briefly returned
thanks for the honor conferred upon him
He said he would have been better
pleased II some one else had been chair.
man and stated that he did not anticipate
any dissension or discord and expressed
the hope that the assembling together
might be productive of good to all in
attendance.
Cashier j. J. Hall Of Csntreville ad-
dressed the convention as follows :
MR. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN OF THF
CONVENTION From the conversation that
we have had with one another, it appears
that We are all very much Of one mind as to
what We have come together for. We do not
propose to organize a secret society, or to
form any kind of offensive or defensive
alliance, but rather to establish a sort of
social union for the interchange Of though ht
and opinion. The original suggestion that
was sent out to the several cashiers of our
Peninsula in regard to this meeting was that
a cashiers convention for the purpose Of
discussing matters of mutual interest, making
the acquaintance of one another and having
as pleasant time ss possible should be held.
Replies indicating general approval Of the
plan being received in due course, further
correspondence and personal conferences en-
sued, resulting in the selection OF the present
time and place.
In stating the object of this meeting can
only enlarge upon the ideas set forth in this,
the original suggestion. In programme of
the American Bankers Association of some
years ago 1 find the following ideas:
"If bank officers are picked men, possess
ing special facilities of information, holding
offices Of grave trust, and welding immense
aggregates Of capital during the year, the
advantages Of their meeting in council are
too obvious to need proof, Perhaps no class
Of men are brought into such close coniiden-
tial relations with our statesmen, judges,
capitalists, and organizers Of industry. One
class Of men only our bankers are brought
into less frequent contact with namely their
brother officers in other banks in nearer or
more distant cities. This has long been an
object Of regret, and many of the rivalries
and other evils which, in an older time, were
the bane Of our banking system, were begun
or fostered from this mischievous cause
Our bankers, it WAS frequently said quarter
OF a century ago, have no cohesion as a body,
and no power to unite or work together for
any great common purpose or for promoting
tho welfare of our financial system as a
whole. This reproach is seldom heard now
and the prosperity of the American Bankers
Association suggests tho hope that the annual
conventions OF bankers and bank officers will
be found every year more conducive to the
great national objects Which they are de-
signed to promote"
The ideas there expressed about bsuk OIL
GERS of the country generally apply equally
well to them locally. As one OF our Pouiii-
sular cashiers, in 2 letter on the subject very
aptly said, Like the man who lives and dies
within the sound Of Niagara Falls and never
soes those awe-inspirin6 works OF nature. the
cashiers Of the Peninsula correspond with
zach other from year to year and yet never
meet or nee one another"
Men OF kindred mind and occupation have
naturally strong fellow feeling for one another;
they can more fully enter iuto one anutler's
feelings than it is possible for others to do.
From this feeling grow all the many 1850
Citations of the various classes of men in this
our day. BY meeting together and having
| interchanges of thought and opinion they all
| receive mutual information. And no class of
men needs this sort OF union more than do
| bank officers. There are many business
questions that we want information abont.
A bank cashier needs to be, and. d.is expected
| to be, well informed in commercial affairs
generally. Ho is often called upon iii
| tho course Of business to decide upon
| some important point, and must do 80
| at once. How very necessary then that
| his mind should be well stored with all the
| information possible upon points likely to
| arise, to know what is the custom of Others
| i'll such matters as well as something of the
\ law. Now, in our widely separated condition
there is but little opportunity Of learning
| from each others experience. How well then
| il il for us to meet together aud each learn
| from the other Our older brothers have
stores OF experience from which the younger
| men will do well to learn, while Perhaps the
| younger ones have been more ready to walk
| somewhat out Of the old beaten tracks and
| try new ways, and 10 from the experience OF
| one and the experiments of tho other we may
| all learn something.
There is the matter OF keeping our ac-
| counts. There are many methods-yos, at
many AZ there are banks. Each ono il in
| love with his own method, and while he per-
haps thinks there might bo improvement in
some OF the details he thinks that upon the
whole his system ID about the best. Nov
each of us has had some experiences the
| others have not, and by talking together OF
them We shall be instructed.
1t does not seem possible for us to accom-
plish much in convention at this our frs
| meeting, but We can effect an organization
form the nucleus around which perhaps &
well ordered association may grow, and make
arrangements for coming together agair
| another year with probably a larger attond.
talk about in convention that will be helpful
and pleasant to lis. We shall get acquainted
| with one another and in our personal inter
course form friendships that may be life.ast
| ing. And we need each others friendship
for, as have said before, being OF kindred
occupation We can more fully enter into on,
| anOther's feelings than others can and lit
tie fellow feeling makes us wondrous kind. W,
know how peculiarly alone in his feelings
bank officer stands in his own community il
many respects, how those most familiar
with US fail to understand our pecu
liar trials and troubles. Then how goo,
Il thing to know one another, to have the hell
and comfort of each others sympathy. AM
what comforting, helpful thing is ssympath
true, genuine, heartfelt sympathy. Whei
one Is IN trouble, when dear one has paHset
away, and friends gather around, and thei
tears mlngle with yours when brothe
stands with you over the open coffin of you
little babe, and his tears splash with yours o.
the little one's cold face; Oh then yo
know what sympathy is, and you fee
strengthened and comforted as by all invisibl
hand.
Now, gentlemen, / have expressed ebou
what take to be the objects OF our meeting
but wish to say while have the floor tina
in being a little forward in urging this gath
ering, was somewhat afraid OF being cor
sidered oilicious, but am very thankful t
say that the very cordial letters that | ri
ceived dispelled that idea, bouyed mo II
with the hope of pleasant meeting. an
made me feel that we were ali brothers, all
| thank each one of You for the friendly wa
i'll which my advances were met.
1t was resolved to hold the next NEE
ing at Wilmington on the second Thur,
day of next May. 1t WAS further r,
solved that all present as well as thos
expecting to be present next May be T,
, quested to prepare and read papers O
such subjects as they may think of il
terest.
When Mr.. Hall had concluded he W,
requested by resolution to prepare h
address for publication.
, 1t was resolved to form an association
to meet annually, to be- known as Il
Peninsular Bsnksrs' Association.
Cashier Walter Morris of Dover WI
elected treasurer.
In the afternoon a full aud free inte
change OF opinion took placs in regard
the best, safest and shortest ways of col
+ ducting the vari0ns branches OF ban
# work. Several cashiers gave WRIT,
u illustrations OF their modes OF doing
1 particular thing, but Cashier Morgan
y Seaford carried off the palm for brevi
: and quickness by saying he used phon
t grsphy and giving practical illustratioi
It OF the art.
" Various subjects were discussed, ,amoi
g them the question Of which is the be
;. lock for bank vaults. 1t was pret
9 unanimously agreed that time locks a
h the only sure protection against burglar
& The following questions were al
1t touched upon: Bank exchanges, bar
8 charges for collecting, and the prop