West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-10-19
OUR washington LETTER.
The Bankers National Convention
In Annual Session.
The Social Life Of the Capitol Is
Again Opening Up for
The Season.
Regular Correspondent OF The Argus

A convention is being held in Wash
ington this week In which the bank
ing operations of the entire country
and the investment and savings OF
all the people as opposed to specu-
lation and stocks are represented.
This is the Bankers Annual Conven-
ton which is held this year in the
Nations Capital. Three thousand
bankers are in attendance and the
banking interests of every part OF
the United States have representa-
tives here. The entertainment of
this large body of important and in
fiuential citizens of the United States
has been in keeping with the char
acter of the assembly and it is ex-
pected that their deliberations will
gain in influence from the personal
contact with the executive office in
control of national banks and the
officials In control of the national
currency that the delegates will have.
The legislators upon whom the
country depends for banking laws
will be represented and take a part
in the discussion of measures pro-
viding for more elastic currency,
and other provisions for the greater
safety and wiser investment of the
funds of the people. The President
will formally receive the delegation
and he will be consulted on the pol
icy of an amendment TO the Nation
al banking law authorizing the loan
ing of money on real estate to the
extent of twenty per cent of the cap.
ital stock and also on Congressional
legislation touching the interests of
the banks. Orlando c. Crane,
cashier of the bank at Terra Alta
was in attendance from Preston
county.
Secretary Shaw's message to the
bankers is published in the souvenir
volume which is presented to each
OF the bankers. 1t is called "The
Public CrediP and contains frank
statement which rather astonished a
number of the recipients. He says,
"the American banker is not always
as conservative as one would wish
the desire for big dividends is alto.
gether too pot, Mt with many boards
of directors"
1t is unfortunate that in an autumn
which has been unusually fine the
weather should have selected this
week for making itself most disa-
greeable. Following a day of heat
rain has set in that will interfere to
an extent with the trips to Mount
Vernon, Arlington, and the out OF
door cavalry drill which had been
arranged for the visitors. The din
ners and luncheOns and suppers and
theatre parties and White House re-
ception will not be interfered with
by the weather and may prove am
pie relaxation after the serious dis.
cussions which will occupy the ses
sions. A banquet at the New viii.
lard Hotel was given Tuesday night.
The tables were in the shape of the
dollar mark, presumably to keep
the banker from feeling homesick or
possibly as hint Of what the affair
cost The menu was printed on a
copy of the FIRST feed and irrigation
bond and the Souvenirs were in The
form of an exquisite silver coupon
clipper which every one present
knew how TO handle.
Perhaps with the idea Of getting
his hand in before the coming ses-
sion of the Senate the President has
taken upon himself the task of re.
forming the game of foot ball. Ac-
cording to President Eliot of Har-
ward the President has tackled about
as hard job as he will have in the
Senate and the betting on both IS
above even. In his war on "dirty"
foot ball he has the sustaining coun-
sci and support of Secretaries Root
and Taft. The former was present
at the luncheon given TO the coaches
and athletic advisers Of the different
universities at the White House
Tuesday and approved the speech
Of the President denouncing the
brutality and unsportmanlike quality
shown in some of the recent games.
Both are in favor OF the game as
rough and wholesome sport but the
President has set his seal on the
work Of eliminating the violent, al
most homicidal, quality that has
crept in lately. Secretary Taft has
also delivered an ullimatum on the
subject "'ll make an example Of
any West Point cadet who plays
rough foot balP' he says, ITl have
him dismissed If necessary" And
so continues the merry work Of re-.
form.