The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-04-18
THE BANK CLERKS.
Twenty-Fifth Annual Reception and
Banquet In the Trocadero.

The bank clerks are jolly lot and when
they start in for a good time know how
to have II. Last evening the 18th annual
reception and banquet OF the Bank Clerks
Mutual Benefit Association was held at
the Trocadero, nearly 500 members and
guests attending
From $3.50 TO 7:15 o'clock there was q
reception to invited guests, who included: I:
j. j. p. Odell, president OF the Union
Bank OF Chicago, and OF the Bankers
Association of the United States; William
G. Cornwell, of Buffalo, president of the
Bankers Association OF the State of New
York; Hon. ID. Russell Brown,
Governor OF Rhode Island; Colonel
Charles Warren Lippitt, Gov
ernor-elect; Senator Nelson w. Al
drich, j. q. Wyman, j. l.. Pierce, ex- Gov
ernor Taft, Robert knight, Judge Colt,
John McAuslan, Lucien Sharpe, ex-Lieu-
tenant Governor William t. @. wardwell,
Rev. Il. c. Moore and others.
Luther's Orchestra rendered sweet
music during the reception and banquet,
while the following social committee was
everywhere looking after the comfort Of
those present: John G. Massie, chair
man; William r. Sayles, George A. Free
man, Horatio A. Hunt, b. B. Msnc hester,
L. A. Chace and Joseph Balch.
President j. w. Vernon presided at the
speech making and introduced these exer-
cises with a few remarks concerning
the prosperity of the association.
During "a years 20 members
have died and benefits were paid amount
ing to $4,000, the dues received from
these members being S2,490.75. There
are now 229 members and
Al second mem bers, making
270 in all. Edward c. Brown and William
A. Richards died during the past year.
The association has s3O, O,94s.49. a gain over
last year OF s572.63. Mr.. Vernon
told how the banks are slowly recovering
from financial depression. He talked
also about q monetary standard and
thought it that it would be fatal to
the intesests OF the country to harness
gold and silver together by bimetalism
and free coinage.
Governor Brown was the next speaker
and was warmly received. He made
a characteristic address of welcome
which delighted his hearers and set
everybody at ease, and urged upon the
association that they take action in the
matter OF the control by the State Of saw
ings banks, building associations and the
like, upon which Rhode Island laws are
notably lax.
Mr.. Odell discussed banking and money
in most interesting manner. The bank
ing profession, he claims, is second to
none, and the bankers responsibility
Is very great. He should take the lead in
reforms, especially monetary reforms,
and not be SO modest. The
majority Of bankers have been misq uoted
and misjudged. We in the East are told
that those in the West are filed with the
silver idea, but that is only half
true. 1t takes astrong hold on the pub
lie mind, however. Bimetalism is fall
lacy. The true question Is the part money
plays in social economy.
Mr.. Cornwell told about the forma-
tion of an association in Buffalo
which brought about the great
est harmony between the banks
and has resulted in Buffalo being one OF
the few cities that settles exchanges in
cash, giving business there a most solid
basis.
Colonel Lippitt, who arrived late, was
the next speaker. He received an ova-
tion such as is rarely accorded Gov
ernor-elect, and talked about the rela-
tion of politics and finances in an under
manner. The Republicans, he
said, had taken a strong stand as the
party of sound monetary principles.
William w. Hoppin of New York closed
the exercises with felicitous address.
Aside from Governor Browns sugges-
tion the point OF the evening was made by
Mr.. Odell, who recommended the forms-
lion of State association for
mutual protection against worthless
paper. As it is now, man can float
thousands OF dollars worth of poor paper
On bank without the other banks in town |
knowing anything about these wort HESS
customers and such an association would |
seem to be quite desrab