The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-06-24
FARMERS Would KICK
On the Banks Closing at One
P. M, on Saturday.
so SAY THE PRESIDENTS
They Would Like to Accomo-
date Clerks but Cannot.

The article in last Sundays Eagle IN
regard to the proposition to have the
banks OF this city close at p. m. satur-
days, was the chief topic Of converse
ton in the banks yesterday.
The employees Of these large banks are
bright and their influence with the prom
inent business men of the city is shown
in the fact that nearly all Of them con-
cede that the l o'clock closing would not
inconvenience them.
Just now Cashier J. n. Moore Of the
Fourth National is the most popular
banker in the city among the people who
do the hard work in the banks, because
he came out fat-footed for the early
closing on Saturdays. The employees,
however, admit that there is something
| in the claim Of Cashier Elsberry Martin,
of the Kansas National, and they are ask
ing Mr. More to help them out on that
matter Mr.. Martin, it viii be remem-
bered, made the point that the early clos
ing on Saturdays would be a great in
convenience to their farmer customers.
The cashiers Of the big banks had their
say last Sunday and last evening it &C
CURED to reporter for the Eagle that
the presidents Of these big moneyed insti-
tutions might be able to say something
interesting on the matter of early Satur-
day closing of the banks, and that they
might have a good deal to say in the final
settlement Of the matter. Yice-President
Z. T. Masterman. Of the Kansas National,
was the first one seen. lie said:
4 am sorry that this matter was agi-
tated at this time but If the banks were
all to close on Saturdays at ! p. m, it
would make no difference to US. I, how
ever. think il would be a great incon-
venience to the farmers and for that rea-
son we are not considering the matter at
all People have become educated TO the
idea that the banks all keep open from
a. m. TO 3 p. m. and they have some rights
in this matter TO be considered. The
banks in this city take about seven Holt
days during the year and arbitrarily close
and the farmers would not take kindly to
the idea Of the banks not being open later
than clock on Saturdays OF course
I would like to please the employees of
the bank if we could do It, because only
men of frs<class ability can hold jobs
in the banks. They are entitled to cOnsid-
Grafton, but I cannot see how the banks
of this city can grant this request with
out Inconvenience to a great many of
their customers"
President A. c. Jobes, of the National
Bank Of Commerce. said: u do not think
it win work at all The banks Of the
large cities ike St Louis and Chicago
can 90 that because their customers are
mostly merchants who would just as soon
close their own business houses early on
Saturday as not we have too much bus
mess with the farmer for that kind of an
arrangement. 1t would be better for US
to close at 1 D. m. on any other day of
the week than on Saturday. That is the
farmers day. and they do not take kind
~ TO these kid glove rules that interferes
with them. You viii seldom see a farmer
at the counters of the big banks in Chi
cago, but if YOU viii 80 into the banks
of this city Saturday afternoon you Will
see q great many farmers lined up to do
business with the banks"
President l. +. Naftzger, OF the Fourth
National, said: I hardly think we viii
be able 10 close at / Z. N. on account Of
the great number of farmer customers
we have TO accommodate. I happened to
he in Kansas City a short time ago on
Saturday and while they claim to close at
] o'clock. found that they had the side
door open and kept right along with
their business just the same. ! would
like TO accommodate the employees Of the
banks if We could do it because they work
hard and they are kept here about ten
hours q day. The banks are compelled
TO have a good competent force because
no other kind can hold a Job. There is
no political pull or outside influence thar
VIII hold a man in position in a bank.
lie holds his place by his own merits
and we like to treat them right so they
VIII stay. I have thought since this mat
ter came up. that we might divide the
force and let one-half OF the two hours
earlier on Saturday and alternate. so that
each would have the extra time off every
other saturday"