The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-09-20
MONEYED MEN MEET.
The Annual Convention Of the
American Bankers.
HISTORY OF THE ASSOCIATION.
What the Organization Has Done 10
Protect Back. From Frauds -
Methods with Criminals

cf the best kn0Nn bankers Ia the nfted
States wsli pc here. ard me capital @1!ca
ziG be represented b. the delegates - 50
great that ST. Louis next week VIII be g
q sense TIE richest city II America
The American EanEers Association IL
protective and mutual benefit organiza-
ton which came into existence AZ sara
fega Ia H7s. It's objects are the protecEi1n
Of u1efn oers from theft and fraud and the
establishment % uniform financial meth
DDS Throughout. the United States. Il IN
dertakes 70 influence legislation, state and
national, by argument and legitimate
pressure aud ia general ii conserves the
interests OF the banking community Of the
United States. IL has 80 members Out
OF a possible 1900 the number Of banks
81 the United States eligible 70 representa-
ton.
Many OF the banks which are not Greet
IL interested Ia the association are MEN,
bers OF the state banking assoc!a tons.
which send delegates 10 The meeting OF
the national body.
The choice OF ST. Louis as a meeting
place for the national association s. APP
propriate. since the organization OF the
association was suggested By a St Louis
man. James T. ffowenstelu, now LIVING
81 Washington city, vas IN 1873 the
cashier OF q 81. Louis bank when bad
been organized as the correspondent bank
OF a number 81 ouE-Of-to@n Institutions.
Thls bank had a tight squeeze getting
through the panic OF 1919. Tnat great
panic so disastrous to many banking III
situations. brought UP a great many IN
considered financial problems. and the
officers OF banks all over the country en-
tered on a vigorous discussion Of them by
letter Out OF this correspondence came
the suggestion that an association for the
Interchange OF ideas on banking matters
he formed. and on the s4th of Nay, 1870
there assembled ia New York city the
following pioneers OF the movement;
George F. Baker. Arthur W sherman.
Edward SkIlen. Edward Fl. Perkins. jr
George W. Perkins. John " Crane and
John ;. Hamburger, New York city
Charles r. Upton. Rochester. J. :. Leake,
Saratoga; Amos Palmer, Albany. r. B.
ronant. Boston: Morton McMlchael. jr-.
Philadelphia: John B. Sculiy, Pittsburg.
!. w. Lockwood. Richmond l.. G. Mar
ray. Louisville: C. c. Ca3man, Detroit.
and ]. T. Howensteln. 81. Louis.
These gentlemen adopted a plan OF or
Eanlzafion and issued a call FOR a conven-
ton az Saratoga July -. the FIRST national
convention Of bankers ever held. II adopt
81 a constitution and elected officers OF a
national organlza lion. The constitution
has been changed from time TO time 10
meet the requirements OF changed condi-
tiens. But the announcement OF the OBJ
feet or the association agreed upon at the
first convention has proved as elastic as
the constitution Of the United States-it
remains unchanged 10 this day.
Object of the Association.
In order TO promote the general well
fare and usefulness OF banks and banking
Institutions and 20 secure uniformity OF
action. together win the practical benefits
20 TO derived from personal acquaintance
and from the discussion Of subjects OF I'M
p0Jtance 10 the banking and commercial
Interests OF the country. ana especially in
order % secure tho proper consideration OF
questions regarding the financial ana COM
tnereiai usages. customs and laws which
affect the banking interests OF the entire
country. and for protection against loss
BY crime. we have 10 submit the follow
Ing constitution and bylaws for the Amer
team Bankers Association
The most important change IN the con-
sfiiutlnn MAS made at the last meeting Of
the association. held in Atlanta in 1895
~ This meeting the fact that membership
was not Increasing ard that local bankers
were forming state organizations indie
pendent of The national organization led
President r. Odeii 70 suggest that state
organizations be- invited - send one dele
gate FOR every fifty members 10 the an
nual convention. This action forestailed
THE formation % Duion 81 state ocgani-
cations which had been suggested ii little
more than a year ago.
The annual meetings az the Bankers
Association arc held chiefly for the pur-
aoTe ~ exchanging views or financial
questions. and many notable contributions
20 the literature - finance have been
made hy the members and by eminent
economists invited - address them. Ed
ward AtktC7nn addressed the convention
81 iH% ''The Pending Reform Of oar
Monetary System" and picturesque fig
ura was william r st. John. now treas
rrer - tae Democratic national commit
tNc. who made an argument for free coin
aee of silver Mr. - john has been
"raargyfHi' ma Is 40 longer a banker So
ha voice Viii no; be heard az s. Louis.
Mauy improvements ~ the methods OF
practical banking can 30 trsces 20 the
educational efforts ~ ihr association. ana
fsi "a feN az tho reforms in commercial
practices SIZE 3uc 10 il. The abolition OF
enc RAr FAX on deposits. probably thc re-
ffuv&i ~ stamp dHties on bank checks.
$50 @a+ne ~ toe amendments 80 the ma
foud Nfrk ast may 30 attributed 20 Our
eo3y. Growing puf Of the AGITATION he
esin u gre oonv erti ions of The association
has %oFae che abolition OF the DAVIS -
grace ia many states twelve having al
frsiy s4apfet this reform
what II Has Accomplished
IA addition 10 these tangible results.
much has been areomnlgshed undoubtedly
hv tna educational influence Of Che rapers
read Aeta~e the associate and published
tfowl ffnf~ .a time THE records OF the
fNrn tN-ane annual meetings are 4 cycle
reAss af nrsn-e- A most i'm oartaut work
- tho association. 500 has hccn the pro-
tFett7n at if@ members from fraud and
trefs Us standing protective committee
So aio1 sts tl.~ IN Dl.irlce. put the work of
n"rsu-rE bank criminals asa q practical
S+8s'S two years ago ey cwploy3 ns q de-
festive aeeucN 20 take - the pursuit %
#f ffiiatHats operating against members