The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-06-18

the appreciation of the crowd. His well
come was, in part, as follows:
"Gentleme nof the Bankers Conven-
ton: You are cordially welcome in Sa-
vannah. The financiers of Virginia, the
Carolinas and Georgia would be well
come anywhere, for you represent a
combined capital of 500. 00G. 600 and il
would be hard TO find a locality where
YOU would not be greeted by 1.-The open
door" But Savannah feels an especial
interest in the bankers of the South.
Speaking as man who stands outside
of the charmed circle, l may say that
we cherish lasting pride in the banks
of Savannah. When James Oglethorpe,
1I0 years ago. sailed up the Savannah
river he was supposed to be hunting
Tor a bank "whereon the wild thyme
grew. He found it. about 40 feet
above high water mark and, having
the credit of England back of him, he
hypothetical the most valuable char
ter ever granted by the Four Georges.
That deposit has grown in substance
and influence until il has become the
pride and wonder of the country and
now one of our most popular trust com
panies bears the name of Oglethorpe
Savannah has never had a bank
failure. The banks have kept the
faith with the people in peace and in
shall be written. with it's long ard
illustrious record of soldiers and states
men. no part of that history VIII re
more luminous or honorable than the
story of the banks of Savannah They
are the motors and balance wheels of
this community. They have fed IT'S
great commerce and aided in building
up its cotton, lumber, and naval stores
interests to the rank of first imnor-
fanTG 81
center which has won from the gov
eminent the distinction of being worthy
of a sub-treasury. These banks of
ours are vleing with each other in Sc
curing sites for handsome buildings
and when the next bankers convention
assemblies here it will probably be upon
the roof garden of some skYscraper
commensurate with the credit and in
f1uence of these great institutions. They
will not only have sky parlors, where
the high rollers can view the top figures
of the soaring market, but there will be
every convenience on the lawn where
securities can be watered. These struc-
lures will not, however, like David Ha-
runs diversions, be "all buildings and
no assets" but will be fire. proof. bur
glar-proof and panic-proof, and will
be provided with an English basement
where investors can be admitted on the
ground floor
To-day there are sunny skies and
flush times. Industry is pulsa ting
and expansion is the rule for the flag
and for finance. In days of prosper-
ty there should be caution and conser-
vatism We must hold. our balances
and curb this young giant else it
overlap the bounds. Your counsels
will be marked by wisdom and pru-
dence. Are we to return to the days
of the state bank with liberal laws
and local finance, or are we to extend
the national system establishing
branches of New York in all sections
of the country and consolidating the
methods now in vogue? These things
are for you to determine. but in all
events you will adhere to safe ex-
pedients and steer by the best land
marks. so that the exuberant flood
may lead on to fortune and not to
shadows and to miseries.
For your conferences and your di-
version we offer you the resources Of
Savannah and the treasures of Ty-
bee. No time lock runs against your
stay with us and no drastic regulation
banishes you home after banking
hours. The three days of grace shall
be extended by local enactment and
the penalties which usually "fit the
crime" even in this liberal city shall
be suspended"