The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-05-13
Seventh District Bankers Hold Con-
vention at Morris.
They Discuss Many Valuable Topics
Pertaining to Business.
Good Roads Also Come in For Atten-
tion--Suggestions Made
Banquet in the Evening Enjoyed BY
All the visitors.i
From Fridays Daily.

From Fridays Daily.
Morris, Mimi, May 6.-The second an
nual meeting of the seventh district
| group of the Minnesota Bankers as
ISOLATION was held here yesterday after
noon and evening. The attendance was
large, the register showing eighty
six names. Nearly every town and vii
lage of Importance in the district was
| represented.
The association was most heartily well
coined to Morris in brief speech by
Mayor John House and responded to in
a pleasing manner by F. c. Thornton of
Benson, president of the group.
The regular program was then taken
up. The first paper on "Value of
Emergencies" by Judge S. A. Flaherty
of Morris was in happy vein and
sparkled with the judges Characteristic
| wit and humor, and beneath this pleas
ing exterior contained much good sound
sense and wise advice to the bankers.
The next subject, ''The Banker and
Politics." was treated in a very able
and exhaustive paper by F. E. Kenaston,
president of the First National bank
of Breckenridge, in which he showed the
imperative demand that every banker
as well as every other good citizen
should take an active part in politics,
to the end that good men shall be elected
to the offices of trust and responsibility,
and put an end to the system of graft"
which permeates our whole political sys-
tenn and threatens the very existence of
our nation if the better class of our citi-
zens do not wake up and rally to the
rescue. This closed the afternoon ses-
sion.
The evening session opened at eight
Io'clock with paper an Bank Advertis-
ing" by Charles E. Bennett of Minneap-
oils, in which he conclusively proved
that majority of the successful banks
as well as all other successful business
houses are the users of printers ink and
that intelligent, judicious advertising in
the banking business brings as great re-
turns as in any other line.
At this time the association was very
pleasantly entertained by the Morris
band in several well-rendered selections.
S. Fl. Hudson, vice president of the
Swift County bank, Benson, Mimi, gave
a good practical talk on "Good Roads,"
He advocated the adjustment of the pres
ent system of town and road district SUI
pervision and the substitution of
county road superintendent, and
the payment of road taxes in
money, but giving farmers the
privilege of working under the super
vision of the county overseer, instead of
paying cash, but this work would have
to be done on business basis and not
in lax manner as at present. The
speaker believed law could be passed
embodying these changes. 1t would not
be perfect but vast improvement could
be made in the roads and more advanced
methods adopted as the people became
educated on the subject.
Then followed the business session.
The following officers were elected for
the ensuing year: President, M. ].
Bowling, Renville, vice president, L. v.
Stone, Benson; secretary treasurer; II.
ID. O'Brien, Graceville; members of exc
cutive committee with the above of
icers, F. R. Putnam. Morris; Marcus
Larson, Tyler.
After the election of officers the
Round Table" discussions in charge of
j. B. Blaisdell, cashier of the First Ma
tional bank, Chokio, were quite general
ly participated in, the leading feature
brought out being the idea of local
county organizations for the purpose
of adopting uniform local rates of in
terest on time certificates and local ex-
change at par within the county.
The convention then adjourned at IL
p. m. to Hotel La Grand where a sump-
tuous banquet was elegantly served in
ten courses. After ample justice had
been done to Landlord Dorgan's fine
spread Hon. M. j. Bowling led as
toastmaster in the "feast of reason and
flow of soul" The following toasts were
ably responded to: F. E. Holton,
Opening Accounts" L. o. Thorp, "For-
eign Dairies''; R. w. Green, "Water;"
+. Whitmarsh, Interest,"" H. D. O'Brien,
Leslie Mathews, "Pie;" E. C. Brown.
EXPENSE" c. Fl. Sullivan, 'Divi-
dends;" VIM. H. Wallace, CLOSING Ac-
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