The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-10-11
TUESDAY, OCTOBER II, isos.
rrr n4NIlrn.s pRIrILEer

James II Eckels, former comptrol-
Ter Of the currency, delivered an ad.
dress before the Wisconsin State Bank
ers. association en- Tuesday last, which
address is a fair sample Of the reason
ing used by gold standard advocates in
their plea that the bankers should at
tend to the financial legislation Of the
country. Mr.. Eckels distorted into
denunciation of the banks the objec.
tion made by bimetallists to the bank.
ers exerting controlling interest in
financial legislation. He pointed to
the fact that the banks have retained
the confidence Of the people, which
confidence is shown by the capital in
vested in the banks. Mr. Eckels de.
voted considerable space and wasteo
considerable time in knocking down
this straw man which he had put up
for the occasion, according TO Tn,
Omaha World-Herald
The bimetallist who in5ists that ev
cry citizen should have a voice iu
shaping the financial policy Of the
country ard that the bankers shoulo
not have monopoly in that work.
does not assail the credit OF the bank.
ing institutions. The bimetallist is
perfectly willing that the banker
should take his proper place in shap.
ing financial legisl alton, but insists
that simply because he is a banker
does not necessarily imply that he is
so well qualified to legislate for the
general public; that he is so fair and
impartial and unseldsh; that he should
assume to himself aRd TO his class the
privilege Of saying Just how our fnan-
eial laws should be framed In the
course Of his remaIks Mr. Eckels said:
How IS it possible for the banker TO
prosper IL the public does not prosper
Did the banker prosper during the
period from 1893 20 1880? Did they
prosper? Neither one nor the other
prospered, because prosperity In this
countrylor in the world at large is
something that Is not independent OF
itself, but is interdependent, and you
cannot have prosperity on the part OF
the banks, through which the great
business of the country eRchiday goes,
unless you have public that is in a
prosperous condition 10 create that
business.
The national legislators and the
state legislators except in many in
stances the unquestioned recommends.
tion Of the physician as 10 what en-
aetment should be placed upon the
statute books for the purpose OF regu'
laitng physical health. Why ? Be,
cause It comes from those who have
studied the human system and know
the human systems Ills and the hu
man system's requirements.
Why not adopt the same rule when
it comes to adopting bank Legislation
and legislation affecting the financial
interests Of the country Why should
the banker, whose wo~k is in dealing
daily with debts and credits, whose
work is 10 know Of the needs Of the
financial world-why should he be
taboOed when IL comes TO enacting q
statute affecting the interests in which
his whole life is spent aud against Il
Is set the Judgment Of some men who
follows the highly honorable calling
oi agricultural
There is no reason that the banker
should be "tabooed" when IL comes tC
the creation OF financial laws, and the
history Of this country has Taught ui
gha. there is not -he slightest dangel
~ The baukes Icing abooed on sucl
np occasion. Neither is heir 1y rea
gor why the felmer, he '-co'--, Ia,
merchant o. .he prof Inl -nr.
hould J0 tsbf oedi ana ~h'l i. "a
.iens hat -armer, > rerefrl. is
borer or professional MAJ lisagl ee
with the bankers idea o. 6asae'N
policy there is no reason why that dis
septer should be branded as an anarch