The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-06-07

disposed to make a trip over Topeka
by gas light.
Mayor Davis extended a hearty
welcome to the bankers who are here
and he was followed by Mr. Bone
brake who extended a welcome on be
half of the local bankers. Mr.. Bone
brake reviewed the wonderful growth
of the city from the time the first ter
ritOrial governor had an office Sx12
feet with hardly any furniture except
a pine table and the state seal, till the
present time.
Bankers are not supposed to be a
class of men who are interested in the
locations Of booze empOrlums, but in
his address of welcome Mr.. Bone
brake gave the tip to those who were
so inclined. He said that any drug
store was prepared to sell whisky in
cases of emergency such as snake-bite,
1oOthach OF extreme pain of the
stomach
G. C. Smith, of Ottawa. made an
apt response to the welcome. Rev w
@. Evans, pastor of the First Methodist
church. offered prayer and the con-
ventiOn began by the reading of Presi-
dent j. b Adams annual address
President Adams Address.
Mr. Adams said in part:
I'VE are come together under the
most auspiciOus circumstances at a
most favorable time, not only in the
history of this association, but in the
life of our state and our country, and
we are happy to be the guests of a
most hospitable and enthusiastic city,
the capital of our commonwealth.
From a very small beginning II
years ago when a few bankers assem-
bled in this city to consider the ad-
visibility of some organized move
ment for mutual protection and
benefit the Kansas Bankers assoc D
ton has grown steadily, constantly,
r7o hnR0n1h =
great and powerful organization, in
Guiding on its roll of membership
nearly every bank In Kansas, possess
ing great and far reaching ability to
protect its mem beTss to influence pub
lie opinion, to shape legislation and
otherwise advantage geously affect the
banking interests of this common
wealth.
''The association furnishes protec-
ton over every bank in the state in its
relentless pursuit of the professional
forger and safe blowers.
Danger From Legislatures.
at think I am safe in saying that
no legislature ever assembled under
the dome of this capitol without put
ting the banking business under a
greater or less degree OF jeopardy.
This danger has diminished in the past
few years but ii has hardly disappear
ed Even in the last legislature which
was especially just and conservative
in its attitude toward the banking in
terests of the state. a bill was intro
duced providing for the inspection OF
bank ledgers by township assessors on
March i. Hardly a session passes but
what some wfld-eyed tax reformer
proposes that banks shall pay taxes on
their loans and discounts in addition
TO their capital stock The bankers
of the state do not fully appreciate, ]
am persuaded the great Importance
Of the work performed by the legisla-
tive committee maintained by the as
sociation, for quite frequently I find
one who did not know that such a
thing as legislative committee, OF
what in popular parlance is denomi-
mated lobby, even existed through
the watchful presence and aggressive
attendance Of this committee upoT
legislative sessions the bankers . OF
kansas have many times been saved
from serious embarrassment and
much legislation of a harmful pernl-
cious and destructive character has
been prevented.
W. W. Bowman OF Concordia. secre-
tsrv of the association. and 9. F. Hen
son OF Paola. treasurer read their an