The evening times., 1900-10-04

RICHMOND, Va, Oct. 4.-The principal
speakers before the American Bankers
Association at its session today were j.
a. S. Pollard, Charles A. Conant. Alfred
C. Barnes. President of the Astor Place
Bank, New York city. and George Hague,
General Manager of the Merchants Bank
of Canada.
Nh Pollard said in part:
ut will not be necessary to discuss at
any length with this convention Of prac-
ticaI bankers the merit in favorable pub
lie opinion of the individual banking in
stitution We may presume that without
exception bankers realize the Importance
OF public confidence as it relates to the
solyency and mismanag agement of the par
ticular corporation
THE banker holds the integrity of his
Institution inviolate, knowing favorable
public opinion is part of his stock IN
trade. without which the monetary eapl-
tai might as well not have been invested.
When the good opinion OF the Iubilc is
superseded by distrust OF the bank or the
prrbity of officers or directors, ITS career
as commercial factor is terminated with
an abrupt slam of the DOORS the exam
iner reIgns supreme in silent halls where
speculation or careless investment nave
brought woe to the once proud inancier,
who must sit crushed and humllate tea
amid the ruins of Improbable assets, like
Grief upon q monument, looking at DeS-
pair.
81 wish to ask your consideration Of q
subject equally as important, but not as
universally and diligently followed, ana
that is. public opinion of banking as
business or profession-public opinion OF
the bank in the abstract; subject re-
garded by this association, however, as
of such vital Importance that competent
committee has been entrusted With the
duty of enlightening the general public
upon the functions and uses of banks, ia
the end that any ideas of mystery IN the
purposes and aims Of banking institutions
may be dissipated in the light OF reason
and understanding; that their practical
benefits in the handling of credits, IN the
economical direction of capital into proper
commercial channels, in the enlargement
of its use through system and consequent
benefit to all the people, may be under
stood and recognized.
Value of Public Opinion.
mo more important work was ever un-
dertaken in the history of this association,
and I trust the efforts of the Bureau oi
Education may be so prolific of good re-
suits and that infallible antidote for preju-
dice labeled Education may be admins
tered by Dr. Cornwen and his eminent
staff of trained nurses in such heroic doses
that in time even the good atured old fiat
money skeptic may begin TO see in the
modern banking stitution-transactin
daily an amount OF business without tbs
use of actual money which, If performed
by coin or its paper substitute, would max:
his widest dreams of per capita look like
the proverbial 80 cents'-a real benenJ
convenience and necessity to business IN
terests; and then, perchance. His silve
hairs viii purchase US good opinion, an'
buy mems voices to commend our desdSi
''Public opinion today is the predominant
governing influence; il directs all inter
ests, commercial or otherwise: its depres
sion is the voice of the people, its approFa
the charter Of success, its support inYalua
bic.
This is likewise an age of materialism
In which commercial interests often domi
nate il the settlement of great public ques-
tions. influence the destinies OF nations
and even threaten to partition territory ant
TO move empeToTs and kings at will upoZ
the chessboard of diplomacy.
without considering the questions o
sentiment or morals involved in the gen
eral strenuous advancement of things mer
camille it is evident that the caprice Q
rulers the differences cf religion and race
the lust for mere authority over men
which for centuries have Inspired III
course of events are now subserYed il
great measure to the accumulation of cor
poreaI property; and with commercial in
terests such an important factor, and pub
lie opinion such a puissarce in our presen
civilization. we find antagonism betweel
these components. the peoples will ''Th
manifestation OF public interests look
askaIce at the growing energy Of CONNER
pIa nd tr0yarsipS ori 70 or n
DDS by which trade and commerce are car
ried on or expanded.
THE bank being an important compile