Evening journal., 1900-10-02
BANKS AND BANK CLERKS

One OF the subjects which will come
before the American Bankers Associa-
ton which met in Richmond, Va, in
annual session to-day. will be the need
and desire for an education on the
part Of a bank clerk The subject was
referred to the committee on education
last year, and 1t made its report TO-
day. The committee contends that as
never before there is required in every
branch OF business the most thorough
training scientific and technical, for
the attainment Of success under the b.
tense competition that prevails In no
business is this truer perhaps than in
the business Of banking in this coun-
try country which is reaching out
through its tremendous export-increase
for the business of the world.
There as abundant evidence the COM
mittee finds. that the young men who
are doing the clerical work in banks
in the United States are anxious to
avail themselves Of any and all knowI-
edge and training which will help
them to do their work better and more
intelligently
Your committee was approached in
many ways on this subject For in
stance. here is a letter written to
leading journal by a bank clerk. He
says in part:
1T is my endeavor to get an insight
into the many financial questions, the
mastery OF which Is so essential to a
successful career.
MY position is such that I am un-
able to take one Of the courses that
have been established in some Of our
universities. but desire to take advan-
tage Of any opportunity within my
reach which win better 1T me for my
life work.
rs the Educational Committee OF
The American Bankers Association
doing any missionary work in this. di-
rection? Would an application to the
committee be productive Of beneficial
results?
ANY information you can give me in
regard to this matter will be greatly
appreciated.
Trusting that may be favored with
a reply. remain" etc.
The Minneapolis bank clerks last
year formed an association for study
faafttrar ,,I ,.,.,..t..o4f.,,. u l.. a.
day in successful operation. The clerki
decided not to wait for The American
Bankers Association. The SeaboarC
National Bank. New York city. has
remarkably effective course OF stud!
r and examinations for its clerks in sue
cessful operation.
q The movement is progressing viii
4 no one to guide II. This committee ha
A already reported the receipt OF a peti
n ton signed by a large number Of ban
. clerks in two principal cities asl1ln
T. the committee to take up the matte
- OF the formation Of an institute
a There is no question, the committe
j. says, that the formation Of a chain c
o Bank Clerks Associations throughou
r the United States is perfectly feasible
n and that, conducted on proper lines,
a. viii do a vast amount OF good, ths
" after the FIRST year or so IT can be mad
.e entirely self-supporting. and that, if
n is not done by some such body as tn
te American Bankers Association, tf
work will go on as in Mlnneapoli
RI spontaneously, but in spots, and n
!. such general and immediate good II
. suits can be accomplished as by con
81 plete organization.
= To properly organize such an inst
n- tuition would necessitate the emplo
ri ment Of a man of frst-class abihtiC
OF who could devote his entire time
q work as secretary of the commi
NJ tee.
,c- The work would be the preparati
We Of plan of study and meetings I
or the Winter. This would be gotten q
rol in consultation with practical bank,
be and educators. The secretary wo,
he then start in to organize one at a tii
in the Bank Clerks Associations in ev,
art city. In a given city at a certain til
out and in cooperation with the bank
svy icers Of that city, a meeting Of
ry- clerks would be called at which
the committees secretary would be pr
in ent and the organization in that {
ats perfected, officers excited and pl
ats adopted.
in The plan would Include mont
nth meetings Of the association Of {
Re city at which the various subj,