The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-10-31

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be sustained by the implicit faith which
his community has in MIN. His credit.
to him, is more than his capital, for
without credithe can do nothing. We
are all familiar with the ilackneyed eX-
preston, Honesty is the best policy"
and I think If honesty must be mat
ter Of policy to any business man. IL
must be to the country banker. The
slightest evidence that the country
banker is not exactly what he ought TO
be, is Immediately taken up by his Gus
toners, and ne is, al once, made the
topic of conversation in the homes. the
stores, the Blacksmith shop, and every
where in the town, where people con-
gregate. His actions are taken as
rule of faith and practice by the larger
part OF the business community. The
bankers actions and modes of business
become, is it were, the "unwritten law"
That govern and ramify through all the
business deals of the town. [ think
this is right, and for this reason, If for
no other, the bankers position is one Of
very great responsibility. banker
does not and cannot demand a higher
ideal OF morals and business integrity
from his customers than his own, and
I hold that when a banker makes an
agreement or a pledge 1t should be
strictly lived up TO, no matter at what
cost. 1 once knew a prominent banker,
and one of mis- prominent business theo-
ries was: BE careful about making
your agreements, but when once made,
see that they are religiously carried out
at whatever of sacrifice" Thel ament-
ed James A. Garfield once said: And
II would be well If every banker would
have it posted up in some conspicuous
place in his office: There are some
things l am afraid Of; am afraid to do
a mean thing" A banker IS necessarily
a prominent member Of the town, and
his actions are watched and criticized
as are the actions, possibly, of no other
member OF the town. 1t is right that it
should be so. Great things and valu-
able are entrusted to him; often the
a
to his keeping. The widow. whose hus-
band while living. was the bankers
friend, has put her all with him. She
advised with him as to what she shall
do with what she has, and his advice
to her is as words of gold in pictures
Of silver" Is it not essential that such
a man, to whom so much is given, shall
be as 10 his honesty of purpose above
suspicion? The banker Should be a man
about whom must not gather even the
appearance of evil. All men should be
honest, but the banker. from the very
nature of his business, must be non
est. He can't afford TO be otherwise, no
matter what his inclinations may be; IL
he dare deviate from the strictest theo-
~ Of honesty, he may rest assured his
sins viii find him out" The country
bankers actions are carefully watched
and severely criticized by the entire
community, and justly 50. He Is, We
might say, a public custodian, every
body'S money is in his safe; eVerybody's
papers are in his vault, and I shall add
everybody's secrets are in his heart;
and why should he not be a man of al
most personal interest TO every member
OF the community?
We all Yet remember when the whole
world stood aghast. with abated breath.
when, possibly, the greatest divine in
the world was accused Of a crime
against society. 1t seemed as if Ii was
everyoOdy's interest---the great Beecher
who, as to society, had stood ON a pc
des,al, was accused. We RENDERED the
great trial as it dragged through weeks
and months. Why was this a matter Of
such great interest 10 the entire world?
Was Henry Ward Reecher the first
man who had ever committed such a
crime. or who had been accused of
such a crime? No! Thousands of -
binary men before had been guilty Of
such a crime. and had been convicted.
but nobody seemed 70 care except the
parties directly interested. The press
would give such actions in the ordinary
man but a passing notice: the world
cared nothing for it, but when the great
Beecher whose life vas supposed 20 be
above suspicion. stepped aside and was
accused, whether justly or not, OF a
crime. the world still condemns or con-
Gones So with the business man OF
whom much IS expected. tn country
bankers life is measured by this same
rule, ana We should govern ourselves ac-
cordingly
The country banker especially must
be in touch and sympathy with the COM
munity. He cannot. as some people
think. set back and live apart from those
around him. VINO, Il he succeed. mus,
De his customers; but he must practt-
cally be part and parcel Of the PEG
pie; ne must study their business meth
DDS, must take a real interest in every
legitimate business enterprise and he
mus be free % use his business ju5g-
ment ana advice. The banker cannot in
the usual acceptance y the term be a
promoter, but he has the opportunity 10
pass on and criticize the different bu-
siness enterprises of the community.
and he can, as il were. sig the caaT
from The wheat, and thus can exert
wholesome influence and establish a
business standard among the people that
viii be lasting benefit ID them. a. wei
as 10 himself He can thus b. an eiu-
Gator, and can. II he viii. uP-ooi. and
cas- cut many % the evil teachings ~
or politicians ana re harmful vagaries