The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-11
THE BANKERS CONVENTION.
Alabama splendidly Portrayed by a
 Montgomery Man.

At the twenty ninth annual convention of the American Bankers, recently held in San Francisco, the States were called alphabetically and for Alabama MT. L. B. Farley of this city, eloquently re- sponded as follows:
 "Mr. President and Gentlemen: First on the roll of States to answer to the call. so will Alabama be found on the tablet of progress and prosperity. Like bril- liant meteor in a sclntillatng galaxy of States, Alabama stretches from the beau- tiful valley of the Tennessee on the north, to the historic Gulf of Mexico on the south, and within her bosom she carries those God-given treasures which would be a credit to any State or country now known of man.
 "In inexhaustible quantities from the very bowels of the earth. we are produc- ing for the use of mankind. the very best grades of iron and coal, and at lower cost than Is possible in our sister State of Pennsylvania and other older competitors The labor question in Alabama is one that scarcely, if ever. perplexes It's cti- zenship, for the reason that wages well balance the hours of toll. and the cost of | living is not a severe tax upon the peo- | pie.
 With us business Is good and the song | of contentment is heard far and near. | The future of the State is safe beyond question:, Tn that us are ulNSI- sified, for besides the natural products to which nave referred Alabama is one of the largest producers of king cotton, and at present prices this year. distribution of nearly $60000.0O0 will result from the | labors of our farming interest on this ac- | count alone Our corn crop exceeds in volume that of any previous year for 1 two decades past, while in oats we have made yield equal to our coming needs | te- r,la f.tI IalN md NIIr
 banks are rapidly becoming lenders to our Eastern friends. rather than borrowers. During the year ending July 1. the depos- | it's of Alabama banks have increased ten millions of dollars. while banking cap ital has shown an increase of over three millions the increase in the number of
 banks being less than twenty. Our most important move of financial interest has been the passage by our Legislature on Oct 3, of a banking bill, requiring period l ical examinations of all State and pri- vate banks by State examiner. and the publication of additional statements as called by the State Banking Department. l The bill also restricts unsecured excessive loans. and loans to officers or employees, as well as requires the maintenance of a | fixed reserve. The bill has been sadly
 needed for years, and wild cat" bank ing is now at an end in Alabama.
 Rich in it's natural and agricultural at- tainments, Alabama has not been behind | in presenting you with such army and
 navy timber as Fighting Joe" Wheeler
 and Richmond Pearson Hobson. and to elevate the negro (whose condition is as well cared for in Alabama as in any State in our indestructible Union). we .l have made you acquainted with Booker
 Washington, who is doing a great work
 along the right lines at Tuskegee. (Ap-
 plause)
 Tn conclusion I wish to impress upon
 my hearers that true American manhood
 in all its beautiful and sweet characteris-
 tics. is found fiourishing in Alabama in
 no less degree than elsewhere, and no son
 of our State can have a grander heritage
 than to be brought up to manhood under
 the gentle influences Of an Alabama
 mother, for of such is created the true
 American citizen. who knows no North
 no South, no East, no West" (Applause)