The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-05-19

power and yet the interests of the stock
holders and depositors are alike very
safely conserved. Like everything else,
1t can and should be improved from time
to time, but there is no occasion for any
widespread or radical changes in its pro-
visions.
IL is men, rather than laws. who make
successful banks. 1t is to the sterling
integrity. the wise judgment, the I'M
swerving conservatism of the managers
of Kansas banks to which we must look
for the future safety Of our growing f1nan-
cial institutions In state where changes
are so rapid and seasons so uncertain
1t is difficult to foretell and prepare for
what may await US But it is our belief
that the men who have made Kansas
banks what they are can be relied upon
to conserve their best interests in the
years that are to come
Almost four years of very intimate as
ISOLATION with the state bankers of Kan
sas has convinced me that out of the
wreck and failure of the eighties has
come a class of men at the head of our
financial institutions whose energy in
liarly fit them for their management OF
course. no bank supervision can prevent
crininality and the results of criminality.
vet in almost four years time Kansas
has had but four bank failures The bank
of Dexter, the Cimarron State Bank the
Toronto Bank and the Bank of Highland.
The cashier at Dexter blew out his brains
rather than face the results of his own
cripinalty. He had entire charge of
the bank. The owner of the bank al
Toronto who had squandered his deposit
ors' money in dealing in options. forfeit
ed his bond and left the United States
before his day Of trial The cashier at
Highland. whose sreculations were al
most entirely outside the bank and where
IL is yet a question as 70 the extent for
which the bank can finally be held. Is
and is likely TO be for many years to
come. IN solitary confinement. All of
these failures will not in the aggregate
entail 4 loss 10 exceed one hundred thou
sand dollars ~ both stockholders and de-
pcsitors and this with bank capitaliza-
ton in the state of almost nineteen mill
ion dollars and deposits aggregating over
one hundred millions. II IS 10 the credit
IF tho banking fraternity of Kansas that
It's members have been loudest and fore
most In their condemnation n the Grim
inal acts that have led 10 these failures.
and these instances are cited at this time
70 emphasize the honesty. capacity and
Judgment Of the management OF the
banks Of Kansas as A whole
Kansas has had her periods OF pros
9erity and likewise her Years Of 6iepres-
sion. These have affected the banks as
we'll as all other business enterprises
They have taught anew The lesson tha.
departures from Re and legitimate meth
obs Of banking are always. In the end at
tended by disaster. Experience has DEM
onstratei that bad banking does no. pay
The people are too well Informed 20 be
more than temporarily fooled The bank
that strays from the safe and conservs-
tive Path is uitiTnat ely enda nesred No
enterprise is 81 surely doomed II the end
sS the sharp tie ove--<-,art ard Tire M
scruuulous. whether Z; ~ bank or any
ether mercantile institution n the rnots
selfish sense laying aside higher cousis-
e-atiors. IL pays toSay 10 - honest n
business az n never rad before
Conservative management nay mean
less dividends during prosperous vss-s
hu, II eilI mean less worry. leS< walking
the aoa-. fewer slee-Iess rights fs>e-
losses and fewer failures WREN the IN
exitahre years - depression some