Birmingham state herald., 1895-10-16
PRESIDENT ODELL'S SPEECH
Membership in the Bankers Association Will Be Equivalent to an Insurance Against
 Forgery, Burglary, Etc.

Atlanta, Oct 15-President Odell in the course of his speech said:
 In the march of events it is not always possible. to trace an effect to it's cause, nor can we always foresee the results that flow from the action of today, so 1t appears difficult to set forth minutely the achievements which are truly the fruit of our endeavor; but it is doubt less true that many of the improvements in the methods of practical banking can be traced to the educational efforts Of the association, and not a few of the re- forms in commercial practice are due to it. The abolition of the war tax on de- posits. probably the removal of stamps due on bank checks and some of the amendments to the national bank act may be attributed to our body. Growing out of the agltations begun in the con- ventons of the association has followed the abolition of days of grace in many states, twelve having already adopted this reform. Today we are engaged in great practical work endeaVoring to pro- tect our members against the depreda- tion of the criminal classes. and the ex- perience of the past year, during which an active defense has been undertaken, points to such possibilities of success that think I can assure you if the pres ent plan and policy are persisted in that the members of this association will se- cure freedom from the assaults of the professional criminal, and a membership In this association will be an insurance against forgery, burglary and profession al swindling.
 A year ago at your convention at Bal timore plan for the reformation of our national currency system was adopted. and while the arrangements of the asso- ciation did not meet with universal ap- tt,l 4l rise to most extensive agitation of the currency question both in and out of con- gress. and great deal of valuable dis cussion followed The effort of the as- soclatlon to deal with this subject has not been fruitless, and 1t Is to be hoped that the agitation thus initiated will con- tinue until the government shall abandon the issue of notes and a more perfect currency system shall be adopted. The evils of our present system were never more apparent than today. During the period since we last met together our country has passed through an expe- rience that will not soon be forgotten.
 Followinga a season of universal liquida- tion and distress the country was con fronted by a national treasury forced almost to the very edge of bankruptcy, and was saved from this only by the heoric and patriotic action of a wise and courageous president For weeks uncer- tdiIly diiu COiiluSioIl pItNdilcu, dilu were not allayed until, by the sale of large amount of bonds, the government re- covered it's gold reserve. That this ex- pedient offered but temporary relief I've have had ample evidence, and the signs are not wanting to indicate that we have yet more trouble in store unless we shall depart from the present makeshift and pernicious system of government issues. With scientific monetary system, based upon standard which has received the indorsement of the most civilized nations, we may feel assured that the Intelligent and energetic people of the United States will develop and utilize to an extent be- yond the dreams of the widest visionary the marvellous resources which nature has with such generosity bestowed upon us until at last we shall take our true place among the nations of the earth, the foremost in material prosperity and moral worth, which will be manifested in the advancement of our arts and sciences and in the daily life of our peo- pie Today. were it not for our uncertain currency system, we might we'll congrat- ulate ourselves upon the condition of affairs.