Richmond planet., 1904-09-24

BANKERS CHEER A NEGRO.
Applause of the Only ColOred Dele
gate to the American Association.
New York Sun, Sepr y 19o4)

New York Sun, Sep. II 1904
The thirtieth convention of the
american Bankers Association at the
waldorf Astoria wound up yesterday
with the election of L L. Swnney.
president OF the First National BJnk of
Kansas City, Mo-, as president, James
II. Branch, OF the hanover Bank, New
York, was reelected secretary, while
halph Van Nechten, cashier of the Ce-
Oar Rapids National Bank, of Cedar
Rapids, Mich. was made treasurer. @
>, Whltson v1ce-president OF the Nation
al CITY Bank of New York, W as elect
ed chairman of the executive commit
tee.
Inc most Interesting events of the last
day s session were the paper on
The Strength and Weakness OF Ameri-
can Finance" by Ellis H Roberts
j reasurer of the United States, and the
little speech of JOHN Mitchell, Jr presi-
dent OF the Mechanics Savings Bank of
Richmond, Va. Mr. Mitchell who was
the only Negro delegate attending the
the convention, was warmly applauded,
both when he rose to speak and when
he finished.
MI Mitchell plunged very quickly in
to the race question by saying that no
color line was drawn in the South or
elsewhere in the country between the
better class of whites and the be tier
class of blacks.
lit is the black loafers in the South. ="
continued Mr.. Mitchell, who cause the
troubles and prosecutions of our race.
We despise these persons Just as much
as do the whites. The wh te man In !: y
South said to the Sou Negro:
Leave politics alone and 90 TO work;
go into business; and that is lust what
the better class of colored men in the
South are doing. We have gone into
business and are now knocking at the
door of finance We are going co suc.
ceed In finance, and time alone is be.
tween us and that success That there
Is no race line to bar us is abundantly
shown by the cordiality, nd courtesy
with which 1 tIave bee. welcomed at
this convention, and here and now /
wish TO thank the convention, not only
on my own account personally, but ON
behalf OF the race of which L am the on /.
ly representative present"
Dol. Lowry, president of the Lowry
National Bank of Atlanta, Ga, replying
TO Mr.. Mitchell. said
There Is no trouble between Mr..
Mltchell's race and mine In Georgia.
There are bad men in both races-black
AoAASAo anu WIliJe lOdIerS-OOtn are de-
splsed IN my state, as tIey are else
where, l am glad that Mr.. Mitchell
has spoken and put it on record that the
American Bankers Association draws
no color line and welcomes as members
reputable and successful bankers, wheth.
er they be white or black"
Mr.. Roberts, III his address had this
to say of the gold export problem:
Why should this treasure be carted
back and forth between nations. as
the banks OF this and other c4tles USED
TO deliver money to each otnei? Is it
not possible TO frame "a system by which
only the differences may be paid in met
al at proper intervals: Surely IL would
ho cheaper TO pay the balances than the
gross sums, as the clearing houses daily
testify.
Why cannot an International clearing
house be organized? Perhaps jealousy
VIII forbid the selection of IA single CITY
for the purpose. as the Greek cities were
rivals Tor the deposit of the offerings TO
Apollo. The international organization
may well nave its vaults IN London.
Paris and Berlin, as well as in New
ork, and the treasure can be divided
III the ratio of the gold of the several
countries. The certificates of the four
vaults can be interchangeable. The bar
barlsm OF shipping kegs OF metal East
and West over the Atlantic may go with
the method of the mummies and the
cave dwellers.