The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-04-20

some good law will be passed shat
viii protect us and the peoplee who
are our stockholders and patrons,
from the ravages OF the man who
constantly keeps us In fear of loss
of what has been intrusted to us
as we'll as our own propsr y We are
aware that the bank losses by burg
lar, as a rule are borne by the stock
holders Of a bank. who have advanced
their funds with which to start and
operate the bank for the benefit of
the community as well as for their
personal gain. Your statement that
my action was caused by the robbing
of two little banks in Oklahoma and
one in Kansas. Us incorrect The re
quest was first made at Lawton.
Oklahoma Saturday Feb, 22nd 1908.
at bankers nesting Group No. 1. Since
this time If you will read the col
fumns of your contemporaries and
take their reports as true, as we
bankers and the public generally do,
/ you will iind that ycu are not up to-
date on bank burglary in Oklahoma
and Kansas.
! However, | am further aware of
the fact that am foolish to con end
with an editor in his own paper and
naturally shrink from trying to con
vince you that We need any law what
ever for the protection Of a bankers
property There seems to be an inn
preston in the minds of some hat
every corporation should be canned
and yet the people should be pro.
ected: In this idea there is evident
~ lost sight of The fact that the
banks and corporations are OF the
people by the people, and for them.
except that they differ in a few ways,
one being that they are forced to
abide by certain laws collectively that
they can and do evade as private
citizens, such as the taxation of prop
eriy wherein the corporation generally
gets 1t in the neck. | have never
read OF any banker defending dis
honest bank official or one who had
wrecked his bank or robbed the peO-
pie That such are getting punished
no one will deny Yet there are
doubtless many honest business men
vino may read this article who can
and will refer back to times in mis-
life when the aid OF his banker has
saved him from financial ruin and
this aid may have been given con-
trary TO law that is prescribed for
the good government of banks, and
in the saving of his friend OF his Gus
toner he has placed himself whore he
is liable to prison Do you ever hear
of these instances? Seldom. Yet
down in the heart of those who have
been the recipient of such favors it Is
SO written and will remain. | do not
however uphold any banker in viola
ing the law nor am slow to resent
the insinuations placed upon the
head of honest bankers on account of
the sins of others Nor do | as a
banker ask any more than justice
You meet our request for protection
from thievevs and murderers with the
reminder that we are not free from
hleves among our ranks. Would you
meet the appeal of your friends tc
save them from the ravages of muir
4 der. arson, o. other crimes. with the
statement that some of their family
we're guilty of these very things
therefore no protection was needed
Would It net be best to ask for these
laws and help to sustain us, rather
than to cry US down? Bankers pay
lHElI AuA uuu eAn a ANAl fAR W. = ~
, sf-able citizens. so why should we bt
J denied the pro ection that you seen
so willing and anxious TO give tc
} others?
, The Press of today has an influence
/ among the people that is to such an
: extent that neither the people moi
: the press realize it. We common peo
pie read yoW articles. your editorials
, your news reports. ard think ovei
r and discuss them at our small homes
and in our towns aud cities. Is 1t no
well to remember that We are all hu
man and so far as you may do 81
I consistently try and aid your fellow
5 man and business partner, by uphold
, ing him and whispering good counse
D in his ear. aid him in upbuilding hi
business and his community when yo'
can do so without leaving the patl
of honest dealing and honOr2
Personally | do not believe In IN
a death penalty. My heart is not 81
3 turned against my fellow man though
\ he should rob me of all / had. Yet
e am sure that we need better laws TO
r the protection of banks in our ney
a state
We bankers have enough faith il
our position In his matter as to De
lieve that our law makers will hel
a to protect MS. We take you at you
Z word about the fcrtyone dishonest OF
: ficials from banks OF last year bu
q when you start to give figures yo
: should give the other side and stat
, that there were at least a few amon
4 the bankers who were not thieve
aud robbers. aud that they should b
given the earnest. honest, and stron
support OF the people and such pr'
=, lection from the criminals OF a
q classes. as their conditions are lustlf!
i ing them in asking for
a Our bank burglary Insurance rate
= are high. our express rates are higl
y and to force the express companie
4 TO cut their rates when thew we
q know that the conditions existing
p Oklahoma warrant hem and even
il higher rate, Is an injustice just a
much as many other laws that an
foeced on us. but which are passe
with the idea of honestly aiding u
a an. A stringent law against burglar
r. and hold up train and express ro|