The Savannah morning news., 1902-06-17
FOR BRANCH BANKS
APPEAL FROM CONGRESSMAN FoXV-
LER BEFORE BANKERS.
IN INTERSTATE CONVENTION.
OPENING SESSION THIS MORNING AT
THE SAVANNAH THEATER.

Many Bankers Already Arrived-Ex-
pected There viii BE 200 in All.
First Corners spent the Day in
Narious Ways-Fish supper at
TbunderbOIt and Vaudeville En-
tertainment at Night at the De
Soto-ProEramne OF the Conven-
ton Observation-Disclosures on FON-
Ter Bill May Develop Interesting
Discus sion on Branch Banking.
Social Features This Afternoon
and Tonight.
Basing the prediction upon the num-
Der of bankers from Virginia. North
Carolina and Georgia that had put in
an appearance last night. the Savan-
nah bankers think there will be at
least 200 in attendance upon the Inter
state ConveEtion that begins to-day. If
as many attend. the predictions made
some days ago, viii be verified.
The visitohs began arriving yester-
day morning. Every train during the
day brought a few. and by night there
were about seventy-five here. Early
morning trains to-day will bring many
more.
Committees from the Savannah
Clearing Association met the trains,
escorting the visitors to the hotels.
The capacity of the hotels. by the time
all of the bankers and delegates to
other conventions have arrived. will be
taxed.
Among the early arrivals was ex-
Gov. Charles T. O'Ferrall of Virginia.
He was escorted to the De Soto, where
most of the visitors will stay. Gov.
O'Ferran is one of the guests of the
Georgia Association. being on the pro-
gramme for an address at the Theater
this morning.
Gov. o'FerraII and savannah.
Gov O'Ferran was seen by The
Morning News. He expressed the pleas
ure a visit to Savannah afforded him.
This is his first acquaintance with the
city, and he is impressed. he said, by
its beauty. Il am barely able 10 be
here" he said. Il am only recovering
from recent severe attack of illness.
I feared that 1 would be unable to
come, bur during the last two or three
days 1 have felt better. 1t would have
been disappointment TO me had
found myself unable 10 attend"
The Ex-Governor S home is in Rich
mond where he located for the prac-
tice of his profession, the law, upon his
retirement from the Governors chair.
This was in 1928. his term having been
from 1884 to 1898, four year terms pre-
valling IN Virginia.
Il have retired from public life" said
Gov. O'Ferran That may be lust a
polite way of putting it. 1 guess
would have had to retire. You see my
principles We're not very popular in
Virginia in 1898, 70 the free silver peo-
pie carried the state. l was for the
gold standard. l had held Office with
out interruption for thirty years, how
ever, and 1 suppose it was about time
Tor me to retire.
The forerunners of the convention
spent the day pleasantly enough.
Many OF them formed small parties
for visits 10 the Yacht Club and to
the neIghboring resorts. One of these
went to the Bannon Lodge at Thun-
derbolt, as guests of Col. and Mrs.
Robert J. Lowry of Atlanta In the
partS, besides the hosts, were Gov.
O'Ferran, Mr.. Oliver, j. Sands of Rich
mond, Mr.. George ]. Seay of Peters
burg, president of the Virginia Bank
ers' Association, Mr.. j. D. Horsley of
Lynchburg. Mr.. w. NJ Habliston of
Richmond, Mr.. L. ]. Stalker of New
York, Mr. John NJ. Mills. Jr., of Rich
mond, Mr. William NJ. Hill of Rich
mond and Mr.. II. E. Jones of Bristol,
Va.
1t was the first experience of several
of the party with a fish supper. To
judge from their expressions it was
a pleasant one. Gov. O'Ferral said
that he had greatly enjoyed the af-
fair, and that it was a novel one for
most of his friends. Col. and Mrs.
Lowry made ideal hosts.
Vaudeville at the De Soto.
Last night the bankers We're treated
to a vaudeville performance at the
De Soto 1t was given by President
Mills =. Lane of the Savannah Clearing
Association and the Citizens Bank. Mr..
Lanes purpose had been to give a
smoker" with both business and So
ciability as its purpose. 1t was his
intention to gather some thirty of the
bankers together for an informal dis
cussion of the Fowler bill ON branch
banking, pending in Congress, and it
was thought that Congressman Fowler
and Congressman Hill. who were ex-
pected TO be present. would explain the
provisions of the bill and give their
views regarding it.
The regrets of the congressman made
it necessary to devise some other
means for the entertainment of
the bankers. At 10 o'clock
they were conducted to the
to the banquet hall, where they saw
and heard the turns" that were done
by artists" and "artistes" of the AL
hambra Music Han. Some of the num-
bers We're very good. and the bankers
enjoyed the affair. Refreshments were
served While it was in progress.
To-day's Programme.
The Interstate Convention will be
called TO order at the De Soto this
morning a 10 O'Clock, the presidents of
the associations of Georgia, North
Carolina and Virginia presiding. The
officers OF each of the associations will
occupy seats on the stage.
After an invocation by Rev. DIR.
James Y. Fair, pastor of the Independ-
emit Presbyterian Church, the roll cali
a. Stoyal will then deliver the ad-
will be made by members of the three
associations Mr. r. F. Maddox, vice
president of the Maddox-Rucker Bank
ing Company of &tlanta, will respond
for Georgia; Mr.. John +. Bruton,
president of the North Carolina Bank
ers' Association, will respond for that
state, and Mr.. George J. Seay, presi-
dent of the Virginia Bankers Associa-
ton, will respond for Virginia.
Two addresses will then be delivered
One Will be by ex-Gov. Ferrall and the
other by Mr. w. A. Blair, vice presi-
dent Of the Peoples National Bank of
Winston. n. c.