The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1896-09-25
BANKERS IN CONVENTION.
HOnsyed STeR from Ail Over America Meet
at st. LOUis-OpenIng Proceedings.

AOneyed STen from AL Over America Meet
ct St. LOUis-Opening Proceedings.
ST. LOUIS, Sept 2S.-The 22d annual
convention Of the American Bankers
association opened in the Olympic thea
ter yesterday with delegates present
from all parts of the country, repre-
senting the largest banking institu-
tons whose initial capital is at least
81, 900. 900, 0OG The feature of the session
was the address of the president, z.
Il. Pullen, vice president of the Ma
tioRal Bank of the Republic of New
York. In the course of his address Mr..
Pullen said:
We have assembled here on this occasion,
coming from the north and the south, from
the east and the vest but we're not divided
geographically OF By sectional differences.
We are proud, even in these troublous times,
TO call ourselves american citizens" The
American Bankers association, during its p
years history, has stood for honesty-indl-
Vldual honesty, ohicial honesty, national
honesty. II has always stood for an honest
dollar. worth 100 cents, and accepted as such
in all the markets Of the world. We should Oe-
oupy the same position to-day, and, far from
desiring to modify our past record, We should
coGerm and TeiteFate with emphasis Dishon-
est money, because It is dishonest, attracts the
disOrdeTly, IaWiess and revolutionary elements
the socialist, the populist ana the anareh-
ist The issue to-day is not exclusively
honest money, but the very existence Of
government and the preservation Of law, life
and liberty are at stake The banks, especially
national banks, have been assailsd by the vie
tuperstion Of ignorance and passion. Through
the national bank system market was opened
for United States bonds yielding the money
necessary for the prosecution Of the war for
the preservation Of our union, and a currency
provided that has never been eXcelied for safe
ty, universal acceptance at par and imme-
date redemption. Eliminate banking facili-
ties, national banks and their circulation, and
substitute dishonest money as the vehicle Of
trade and financial chaos would speedily re-
suit, Cotton and cereals could not be pro-
duced-if produced could not be marketed
transportation would be paTalyzed, the wheels
Of industry would cease to revolve, enterprise
and development be checked, and the whole
land plunged into ruin and misery.
Mr.. Pullen called attention to the
abolition Of days of grace in several
states and hoped that, with the CO.
operation of the bankers associations
during the year, it might be announced
at the next annual convention that
days of grace had been abolished in
every state Ia the union. He said also
that uniformity in all commercial laws
and usages in the different states was
desirable and cited examples of in.
iquitous disparities,
The declaration OF principles read
by the chairman Of the executive COM
mittes declared for a 1OO-cent gold dol
lar, warned the nation against trying
TO legislate silver to a parity with gold
at fictitious ratio and declared that
free coinage meant recommendation,
with gold at premium and all other
forms of currency at discount.
The report of the secretary says that
the close of the year 1896 shows the
largest membership in the history of
the association. Since September |,
1885, GAG members have been added to
the list and AZ lost. a large proportion
of the latter having either assigned or
iiouidated.