The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-09-22
ANARCHY, RUIN.
These Would Be the Results of
Free Silver
So Says President Pullen of
ANN Bankers Association.
CALLS ON ALMIGHTY.
He Believes He viii Help the
Gold Standard.
People Who Advocate Silver
Suffer From HalIucinatiOn.

St Louis, Sept. 22.-There assembled
in the Olympic theater today the rep
resentatives of more wealth than ever
before came together in this city at
one time. 1t was the first session of the
22d annual convention of the Ameri-
can Bankers association
Delegates were present from all parts
OF the country, representing the most
prominent banking institutions whose
capital is at least one billion of dol
lars.
The convention will be in session
three days, during which time there
VIII be general discussion of the re-
ports of the various committees and of
matters pertaining to banking.
The entire northern portion of the
Planters hotel parIor floor has been fit
ted up as the associations headquar-
terS. In addition the st. Louis, Noon
day, University, Mercantile, Country,
and Jockey clubs have been thrown
open 10 the delegates and their wives.
the badge of the association emitting
ITS Wearer to all membership privi-
leges.
About 200 delegates had assembled
at the Olympic theater at 10 o'clock
President E. H. Pullen of New York
called the convention to order shortly
after 10 o'clock
Mayor Cyrus P. Walbridge delivered
an address of welcome on behalf of the
city of St Louis. He was followed by
MI w. II. Thompson, president of the
st. Louis clearing house, who welcomed
the delegates on behalf of the local
bankers.
President E. H. Pullen then delivered
his annual address
Mr.. PuIlen said in part: eve have
assembled here on this occasion. com
ing from the north and the south from
the east and the west, but we're not
divided geographically or by sectional
d1Herences. We are proud, even in
these troubled times, to call ourselves
American citizens
THE American Bankers association
during its p years history has stood
for hOneSty-individuaI honesty official
honesty, national honesty. It has al
ways stood for an honest dollar worth
100 cents and accepted as such in all
the markets of the world. We should
occupy the same position today and
far from desiring to modify our past
record, we should confirm and reiterate
1t with emphasis. Dishonest money
because it is dishonest, attracts the dis
orderly, Iawless and revolutionary eIe-
ments-the socialist, the POpulist and
the anarchist.
THE issue today is not exclusively
honest money, but the very existence of
government and the preservation of
law, life and liberty are at stake. The
banks, and especially national banks.
have been assailed by the vituperations
of ignorance and passion. Through the
national banks system a market was
opened for United States bonds yield
ing the money necessary for the prose
cutiOn of the war for the preservation
of our union, and q. currency provided
that has never been eXceIIed for safe
ty, universal acceptance at par. and
immediate redemption.
'Ninety-three per cent of this coun-
try'S business transacted by checks and
other negotiable instruments. EIimi-
nate balancing facilities 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
prOduced-if produced, could not be
marketed-transpOrta would be
paralyzed, the wheels of industry
would cease to reVOlve, enterprise and
development be checked and the whole
land plunged into misery and ruin.
There are persons in New York who
sincerely believe it is true that free and
unlimited coinage of silver at the ratio
of 16 to 1 and the payment of existing
obligations, public and personal in that
metal would be for the highest good
of the country. We respect their sin
cerity in honestly advocating dishon-
esty, but regret their halIucinatiOn on
this subject, and are sorry to see them
in such disreputable company. The
question has finally been referred to the
ballot box for settlement.
There is a God who presides over
the destinies of nations. Let US do our
duty and then trust Him in the pres
ent crisis of our beloved country, for
the preservation of its honor and liber-
ty inseparable, for, as Burke said:
What is liberty without wisdom and
without virtue?' Such liberty is the
greatest of all possible evils, for it is
vice and folly, and madness, without
tuition and without restraint
From liberty without honor or vir-
tue from dishonesty, from lawlessness,
from anarchy and ruin, good Lord de-
liver US"
The report of Secretary James r.
Branch showed that the present mem
bership is the largest in the history of
the association, the additions last year
being SAC.
EXCURSION RATES.