The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1908-02-07

cruing therefrom will be mutually
helpful to both.
"The Bankers Association of Mis-
sisippi has an opportunity of leading
the effort that will not only enrich
the various institutions under your
control, but also increase the hold
ings of your individual members and
will make them a blessing to their
communities. l refer particularly to
the art of saving. Gentlemen, to teach
the art of saving requires a great deal
of sacrifice on your part 1t requires
work night and day; the making of
talks and addresses by yourself and
your friends and the distribution of
well-selected literature, in order that
you may construct such a sentiment
among the Negro people that they will
be forced to acknowledge you are not
only their friend but that you are
teaching lessons that will rebound to
the good of the Negro race. A great
amount Of literature should be dis
tributed among your people, impress
ing them from every standpoint on
saving their earnings and aggregating
their wealth and putting it where it
will be a blessing to all of their peo-
pie.
at is very easy matter for bank
ers to make mistakes in not spending
money for the purpose of teaching
these lessons. You will often find the
short-sighted members of your associa-
ton saying that they cannot afford
to spend money to print literature and
scatter it around permiscuously. But,
my experience for eighteen years has
taught me that if you have a favorable
history behind you, you cannot be
too diligent in keeping your business
before the people for your good and
their own benefit. If they become
owners of large amounts, the bank
will enjoy the privilege of controlling
the major part of it.
"And, now, gentlemen, in closing
my remarks, | will simply say that |
have tried to call your attention to
some things that many people would
not consider to be in line with the
banking business. But l take the po
sition, sir, that if your people grow
wealthy in the line of any endeavor
it will directly or indirectly contrib
ute to the possessions of the banks
and if you can make your institutions
agencies in giving instructions akin tc
those to which ! have limited in this
address, by the very principles and
system of reciprocity the people Of
any line of business, realizing thai
you are their friend and you Consid
ering them your friends, will uncon
sciously contribute to the development
of your business. These business in
situations, including your banks, fur
nish an opportunity for the intelli
gent, thoughtful and thrifty classes tt
reach out and interest the thoughtlesS
and spendthrift of the race and ad
minister 10 their welfare. I cannot
urge you too strongly to assist the
organized enterprises of the race; fol
by assisting them you thus make
them agencies through which you
get to the hayward, the spend
thrift of the race and help them in
the higher ways of life"
There were other prominent speak
ers from the Penny Savings Bank
Columbus, Miss. the Delta Penny
Savings, Indianola, Miss; the South
crn Bank and the American Trust
Company, Jackson. Miss. the Lincolr
Saving Bank and the Union Bank ant
Trust Company, Vicksburg, Miss The
| fact that this city is the Oldest dis