The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-15
ware ON BANKERS
Topeka LaWyer-POet Contrasts
Them With Farmers.
Comes to Conclusion That the
Farmer is More Important.
GOVERNOR ALSO SPOKE
Cordial Feeling Between Bank
ers and the People.
Urges That Association Unite
For Better Legislation.

ST am glad to see so large an attend
ance this morning" said Chairman c.
G. K Scoville Of group one of the kan
sas State Bankers association in open
ing the meeting in the parlors of the
National hotel today.
s'It has been a question whether the
group meetings would prove success,
but judging from the many faces see
here today I think may safely say that
it has proven so.''
Governor W. E. Stanley who was on
the programme for the address OF vel
come was introduced. He said.
4 am glad that the bankers Of Kansas
are becoming so numerous that they
have to be divided into groups. Ana
this is a pretty good group. There is
no class of business men with whom
there is a more cordial feeling than be-
tween the banker and the people. NO
man will place his wealth in the hands
of the banker unless he has confidence
in him. But the people seem to have
that confidence judging from the re-
ports of deposits that have been made.
*'If you will come in touch with your
representatives and advise them for
prudent and wise legislation, you could
do the state any amount of good.
your opinions are regarded by every
one as are the opinions of no one else.
You may help make public men more
earnest in working for the welfare of
spread all over Kansas.
Now l am glad 1 have met you and
wish you to help Kansas TO rise to a
better and higher place than she has
ever occupied before"
Mr.. Scott Hopkins of Horton made the
response He began by cOmplimenting
Gov. Stanley: He said: Il wish to say
that in Mr.. Stanley's giving US
straightforward and honest administra-
ton he has the support Of the Kansas
bankers
+1,fe- q
description of a book, a history of the
Kansas banks, should one ever be pub
lished.
Eugene Ware read a paper on the SUBJ
ject. THE More Important Fellow, the
Farmer or the Banker?" He opened his
remarks by telling a. story Of the time
when Bill Nye attended a Wagnerian
opera and after leaving the opera house
he was asked how he liked the music.
He is credited with saying, THE music
was lots better than it sounded"
Mr.. Ware said: Il hope the bankers
will bear in mind the fact that Topeka
is lots better than it looks and that the
Topeka people are lots better than they
seem.
Il do not know just at this present
moment who is the more important, the
farmer or the banker but may find out
before I finish this effort and if I do
will declare my views thereon.
tCne, the farmer has been over
praised. The other, the banker, over
blamed. A man who has been an OBJ
server of Kansas politics can always tell
when a person is beginning to want Of
flee and to hunger and thirst for a sal
ary by the way he handles the question
which has been assigned here to me.
Such person Immediately begins to tell
the farmer how everything depends on
the farmer, how he is the bone and
sinew of the land how the farmer sup
ports everybody and how all other peO-
pie, especially the banker are feeding
upon the fruits of his labor. The banker
is at these times denominated a vam-
pire.
handed down to US from the past and
there have been, still are, and for years
will be lots of little county offices in it.
But it is all a mistake. Society is so
knit together that we are all collective
ly independent The farmer is depend
ent the same as every body else, and
contributes his little average and only
an average to the worlds necessities and
comforts.
Il am speaking of the farmer of to-
day, he is not what demagogues picture
him and try to make him believe. He is
not the bone and sinew of the country,
he is just a per capita of it. The work
ing man in the city has as much bone
and sinew as the working man in the
country. The farmer only does his av-
erage amount of work, does it with only
average skill and with only average
success.
Upon the relative position of the
banker and the farmer / will not dwell
1t is as hard to decide as it is to choose
between two different styles of washing
machines.
1.-The banker has gone through an evo-
luton the same as the farmer He is a
luton the same as the farmer. He is as
Spencer would say, a product of his
own environment The bank as it now
exists is the result of the growth of
morals in the community. IF nobody
believes in anybody's honesty, then the
money goes into the sock. Where there
is the least of public confidence there is
the most of boarding and of SecretiVe-
ness. One of the best and greatest signs
of the times the vast labor organi-
cation. Wolves cannot unite and trust
each other. AS conscience, fairness and
propriety grow then more and more can
trust each other. As they become more
trustworthy they become more trustful
"As to the relative Importance of the
farmer, it is difficult for me, a member
of the great middle class. to speak with
precision. / live in the city but pa tron-
ize the farmers and the banks If the
farmer were dispensed with then could
go out into the country and do some
farming myself and could keep myself
! alive. It would be a pretty tough pro-
position but l believe 1 could solve it by
staying alive. If the banker were dis
pensed with could bank in an oyster
can and spend my money with as much
indiscretion as ever.
Hence after thinking the matter
over, I have finally arrived at the con-
clusion that in the sense of my needs
and my personal requirements the far
mer is the more important Of the two.
But not so as to our civilization. It
can not go high without the banker In
1892 there were as many banks in Kan
sas as in France, and yet France had
twenty times the population. There were
never so many fuanciers as in France,
because financier is dead banker and