Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1904-09-15
INTERESTING ADDRESS DELIVERED
AT BANKERS MEETING TODAY
1.-THE Western Banker" and His Progress is the
Title Responded to by W. { Robinson
of Winfield, Kansas

NEW YORK, Sept. 15.-The follow
ing address was delivered today at the
session of the American Bankers assoc
citation by w G. Robertson, president
of the First National bank of Winfield,
Kan. The title was The Western
Banker"
The western banker is practically the
product of the last decade. Until that
time the west end the western product
were not considered of much import
ance. Indeed, I well remember when
man from the west. and especially the
western banker. was looked upon not
only with suspicion. but with absolute
aistrust. The west was considered for
many years the birthplace of the wild
est vagarieS, prominent among which
was populism. Free silver-16 to If
1t had not it's origin in the west. found
there is strongest and most brilliant
advocate, the Hon. William Jennings
Bryan, a born master of men. While
populism and free silver are consid-
cred among the western Inconsistencies
they were not without good results.
They both served as educators or rem
ovators. They were as pebbles thrown
in the business ocean, starting the
waves of agitation. From this agita-
ton the public mind was awakened,
the pitfalls were cleaned up. Niagara
was seen ahead in time 10 avert u
calamity and today the west stands as
Gibraltar Until after 1898 the west
ern banker was in a sense a mission
ary Business ideas and methods were
in a chaotic state and confusion seemed
to have full sway. The field in COM
mercial sense was as much unsettled
and at variance with prudent ideas as
any real missionary field. The west
ern banker was. therefore. an educator.
He was compelled to shape and mould
commercial ideas and methods. For
many years 1t was difficult to divide the
land from the water or to determine
whether the sun would rise in the east
and set in the west, or vice versa. The
years from 1873 to 1893 We're fraught
with many disturbances; we would no
more than have cleaned up the debris
Of one CONFUSION, than another was
upon US. The western country was
storm swept. beginning with the vol
cano as it were. in 1873, followed by
the slighter disturbances of 1884 and
1890, until the country was over
whelmed by the cyclone Of 1898. known
as the panic OF panics. During these
years the western banker was the chief
sufferer. He was in every way handi-
sv~ t~Se all >f Aaxrn ho
commercial ideas Of the west. He re-
manned bravely in charge. acting as
both master and servant. He was will
ing to do anything to promote the great
and glorious work in hand and much
Of the time. as 1t appeared. without
the hope OF fee or reward" The panic
Of 1898 was really a blessing In dis
guise:" it was the cleaning up storm;
It was the elimination of the storm
period, and SO purified the methods
that better atmosphere has been
breathed since. The western banker
during these years was the target. His
methods were criticised and his mo-
kives were often impugned. Had ne
not been a man with more than ordin
airy faith in his undertakings, he would
have despaired. He had. however. faith
I'm his ideas. ia himself, in his possi-
biIfties. and in the country he was de-
veloping. He worked on with indomit
able courage until his hopes ended in
fruition. The western banker today
stands alongside of his eastern brother.
In one respect. | think. the western
banker Is entitled to the most credit
He was not only compelled to stay by
led population and brought 1t to his
way of thinking. He had not only to
train and build up himself. but he had
to train and build up the country and
Its people. You will all agree with me
when ! say that Kansas Is a typical
western state. II not more so, and the
Kansas banker is. therefore at typical
western banker. The history of Kan
sas Is much like the history of the bad
boy at school-condemned for every
bad deed. but never complimented or
credited. It In quite 30 of the entire
west. The. past has proven. too. that
the outcome At the west Is much like
that Of the bad boy. When tina train
ing period u passed. the bad boy out
gtrips In achievements. In tracing the
history Of this. country we must be
convinced that, the west is the store
Keuse. fall OF the products OF the earth
bath frsn it, surface and from its
oo6osIf; therefore. rich in grain. In
stock and In minerals. 1t Ii not behind
either N mental and physical activi-
ties The greatest minds that this
country has ever produced. II not born
IN the west. have been brought up
there. First among them Is the great
Lncoln-purely q western product. His
few but surely inspired words on the
battlefield Of Gettysburg will live as
long al life ana language endure. We
could mention Grant. Logan. Douglas
and scores OF others who from the west
have made for themselves names that
will live longer than time, who. il they
get their just merits. will spend the