Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-06-23
EVOLUTION OF BANKERS AND BANKS.

In the recent Iowa bankers conven-
ton at Des NIoiGe, Mr.. j. a. S. Pollard.
of FIT. Madison. delivered a splendid adj.
dress on Progress and Banks The
Northwestern Banker commends it in.
the statement. We heard many bank
ers say that Mr.. Pollard g address was
the finest speech that they had ever
heard at either "a state or national con-
vention. Several points are here
quoted to show the advance of the banks
from the hard times period and their
hope for the future.
The days of 10 per cent interest and
free deposits have gone with the boom
real estate values and sky-rockat invest :
ment companies. They have been la
beled and filed without regret in the
dim Nistas OF departed years along.
with the days of unsafe banking, Wild
cat and red-dog currency. The gleam-
ing torch of progress now ilIumines the
Straight and narrow path OF conserva-
tive banking-the plan Of doing a safe
3&puslASss Oh d sllidli margin OF 8ElpfltS
and lots of it. It's bound to lead TO con-
solidation in some quarters. but tais is
an age of combination.
THE progressive banker himself is
emerging from his recent 4saclusion and
beginning to think that after all some
people believe he has an excuse fol, liy-
sirn The ti,..,,,.5e ,f * /, :,
tinanciers those gentlemen who can not
make a living for themselves. altho they
glibly advance theories for the saliva
ton of humanity and who mentally ad-
just credits running into the hundreds
of millions without turning hair--tlle
scorn and rebuke OF these eriterpriaing
lights Of society have passed over the
timid bankers head, and he is UNI
harmed! He has finally crawied out
from under the bed and assumed his
Is place as a peaceable citizen, while the
L protest against success are drowned in
the rumble of the wheels of traffic. the
h buzz of the saw, themelody of the anvil,
v
and the hum of the spindle. the progra 81;
of a busy nation with an established
standard of value, equal to the highest
s of civilized ma tons
The banker is not a despot who con-
Il trolls the financial destiny of those In
his community 1t might surprise this
crowd to say that some believe your
mandates make some men prosper and
others fail, and naturally, being the
veriest nonsense, yet believed by those
who think he prospers in hard times
and chuckles in lunholy glee in tines of
panic and business depression, going
forth to gather in the result of the
farmers toll and foreclose the laborers
~ cottage. However, in such times he is
more likely to be walking the floor, try
TO work out the salvation of his Gus
toner, and to save him from ruin, and
fortunate is he then If he does not have
to struggle for the preservation of his
own credit and standing. If there is
+ one thing more than another5the banker
tries to avoid, 1t is having to list the
farmers acreage and the laborer's cot
tage In his real estate account. and the
truth is that only when his community
prospers can the banker prosper; his
interests being identical with those OF
a the people of his locality.
The bank is a recognized need OF
ever business center. great and small.
f and Il 1t were NOT. 1t would not be there.
II does not exist by government pat
; ronage. 10 not forced upon the people,
arlks 40 fayors and gives no excuse for
ietence. Il would not exist at all ii
ssDie the farmers. laborerr and
q ~ ~ dsa,and II. and with.