Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-09-24
WAS GUEST OF HONOR AT A GRAND
BANQUET LAST NIGHT.
GOOD ADVICE TO WEsTERNERs.
URGED TO ACCEPT THE ISEyIT.BI.E
WITHOUT sQUEALING.
Law of the Commercial World II, tb,
Law of Continual Change,
and Even Colorado
Cannot Hope to
Escape 1t.

Denver. Col. Sept. 23.-Comptroller OF the
Currency James Fl. Eckels was the guest
of honor at a banquet given this evening
at the Brown Palace hotel by the Denver
Clearing House Association. One hundred
distinguished citizens of Colorado, bankers,
statesmen and others whose names are as
sociated with the upbuilding of this city
and the state. were present.
Comptroller Eckels made an after-dinner
speech, to which close attention was paid
by his auditors. and at its close he was
warmly applauded. Mr.. Eckels began by
emphasizing the fact that citizens of all
parts of the country are actuated by the
same spirit-a desire for the good of the
whole country-and that no matter how
fierce the fight between partisans might be
waged. there is no danger Of its weakening
the foundation of the republic. After
pleading for a continuation of the feeling
OF mutual confidence so long maintained
between the East and the West. he said:
1T will not do for the East to boast of its
possession of the surplus capital of the
country, which has come with age and
thrift and opportunities, or the West to
point with overweaning pride to its stu
pendous resources and its wonderful adj
vancement. The wealth of the one but
continues to diminish if not employed, and
that of the other is of no avail IL not de-
veloped. The advancement Of both follows
the same pathway, and centers in the same
interests. have tonight no plea to make
for the country's accumulated capital upon
the one hand. nor for its undeveloped riches
on the other, except the plea that at
time when we are entering upon an era OF
better things they may be brought nearer
together and not driven wider apart. 1, is
a Plea consonant with the dictates of busi-
ness judgment, and accords with common
sense. 1t Is protest that may well be ut
tered by citizens everywhere, no matter
what the measure of their interests or the
financial tenets to which they bear aIIe-
glance.
'I am not unmindful Of the fact that a
large majority Of the citizens of this state
feel that they have, in the economy of COM
merce, been sorely injured in one of their
great wealth-producing industries. II such
a result has followed, they have not been
left wholly without compensating benefits,
nor have they suffered more keenly than, at
various times in the country's history, have
others who have embarked in other lines of
undertaking. The law Of the commercial
world. through all Its history, is proven to
be the law of continual change. More than
once, New England and the East have been
compelled to yield to other sections Of the
country great industries which their peo-
pie had hoped to build upon for the future.
y
other and greater changes will come upon
them. 1t Is not without the range Of possi-
bility that the Carolinas may draw from
Massachusetts, the cotton mill, and the
states Of Tennessee and Colorado from
Pennsylvania the steel and iron industries.
But II they do, following the line Of econom-
ic truth, some new developments viii be
fostered which win more than make ade-
quate reparation for a seeming irreparable
loss.
"If the citizen Of Colorado has suffered.
despite that fact he can boast a territory
more nearly possessed of all the things
essential to the support of a people than
any state within the borders Of the Union
The fields of fruit and grain to which he
may Well point with pride here yield to the
husbandman upon the plain the produce
for the laborer upon the mountain. while
! on a thousand hills are grazing innumera-
greater in value than that of any sister
state. To-day, within the narrow confines
| of single camp. and that Of recent find
| ing, is mined more than one-twentieth Of
| the annual gold product of the world, and
| one-fifth Of that found within the United
| States. With no less prOdigality, iron. cop
per, silver, lead. coal, anthracite and btu
| minous, and petroleum have here found
lodgment, guaranteeing beyond the perad-
venture Of a doubt greater riches to her
people,"
| Mr.. Eckels closed with prophecy that
| the country Is now entering upon an era
| of renewed prosperity In which East. West,
North and South will alike participate.