Omaha daily bee., 1906-11-23

and the Titan power behind 60. We musI
give our old reliable friend. the conserva-
tive banker new tiuc-thc progressive
banker. The progressive banker must have
an the qualifications Of the old-timc con
sentative banker-Ca ution. thoughttul anc
Intelligent care, courage and character, bal
he must add 20 his qualihcauons-aggr
Eiveness he must enter the arena OF ar
fairs
Tho world moves. The world Of events
goes steadily forward with "A force IN
roslstIbie ana BANKERS must recognize and
meet changing conditions just as men
recognize and meet changing conditions ia
other fields.
Incumbent upon ,the banker is one OF the
most potent and important economic func-
tons IN modern conditions and that IL the
gathering up OF the surplus earnings OF the
people and throwing them back into trade
and into the development Of the industries.
This cap be fully done only by educating
the people to understand the profit TO the
banker Of their small deposit and the
economic value to the community OF their
deposits in the aggregate.
About a year ago / made a test OF the
fact just stated by sending out circular
letter in which appeared the following
paragraph:
"The bank appreciates small accounts.
DO not carry the money around in your
pocket, but put Il I'm your deposit at the
bank each day and check II out rs needed.
Men often carry money in their pockets
without thinking Of the benefit II would
be to the bank II 100 men who carry so
each in their pockets would all keep this
deposited and check as needed II would
mean S2,OOO additional deposits for the
bank. There are many thousands Of dollars
today in the pockets and IN the homes OF
cur friends that would be of value TO the
hank and to the community IL II were de-
posted in the bank and put into circulation
Is not purposely withheld. but II Is because
these friends have never thought Of the
bank and community side of It. l cordially
invite YOU to carry an account with us,
however, small Il may be. This Will be
Of value TO our bank and Of benefit to the
For days and weeks following the send
ing out OF the above circular letter men
continued TO drop into my bank and make
$50 deposits. The response became so
pronounced that II touched a tender spot
and made me feel a closer relation and
greater obligation TO my depositors because
/ saw I'm this response a genuine friendship
for my bank and n desire to subserve the
general community interests.
The vast percentage that the hidden cur
rency and coin bears to our actual bank de-
poslts is the problem of the present. Much
of the drawing out Of this hidden money
and insuring It to commerce and the IN
tiustries depends upon the proper develop
ment of the banking business. The banker
thus has an exceedingly important economic
place to fill. 1t Is the progressive banker
who understands this fact, and, by intelli-
gent, systematic care, undertakes 10 I'LL
this place
tons to the community than those of a
material nature. The progressive banker
OF today must y. the nature Of things be
IA
man with high Ideals. The citizen with
these qualities has no right to deprive his
community of the benefit Of such qualities.
The banker who devotes all his thought,
skill and resources to the increase OF the
earnings Of his bank is a selfish banker,
ungrateful to the community from which
he gains his business There Is a law of
compensation and a community has right
to expect from It's businesses and citizens
a Just return for the benefits such BUSH
nesses and citizens draw from the com
munity.
Bankers should be conservative, presi-
dents and governors should be conservat tive
but conservatism does not spell policy
fear Of injury TO political chances or Dusl-
ness interests. II does not mean thai
either president, governor or business man
shall stay out of the activities of men,
Bankers today are concerned In proper
bank legislation, legislation that Will no.
only facilitate and protect banking, bul
will safeguard public interests.
In passing I cannot forego depressing Q
moment in which to say that, while Ne
braska bankers have long discussed pos
sible measures to protect depositors OF de
funct banks IL behooves them 70 follow VI
this discussion with persistent EFFORTS tC
reach the correct solution of the proDien
and have proper laws passed. There are
three reasons for this: First, that oul
increase of deposits which will surely come
when the people know there is absolute
security TO them. second. to prevent th'
government from going Into the banklni
business, which may result II we ran OF
neglect to provide this absolute security
that the growing public sentiment Is golnl
to demand, and, third. to justify our clam
that bankers themselves are undertaking
to secure legislation to guard the pubI'
interests.