The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-11-03
DEFEAT FOR A POSTAL BANK.
Conclusions OF Canvass of Congress
Announced by Chicago Magazine
Points Need for Organized Cam
paign.

postal savings bank bill at the next
session of congress will fail unless it's
friends combine their efforts, unite in
an organized campaign and present
as compact front as the opposing
banking interests, declares Everyday
Life" editorially as conclusion
reached by canvass Of votes in con-
gress The urgent advocacy by Presi-
dent Roosevelt and by President Taft
will be for naught unless the friends
Of the measure rally in force under
one banner. Continuing the address
to the public 1t declares:
For time it looked as If it might
be possible to win the fight with your
silent, moral support. But the Amer
lean Bankers Association is bending
every energy to defeat the peoples
demands for postal savings system.
and unless you get busy and come in
to the game In q personal way 1t
seems likely that this powerful organ
ization will be able to straagle the
bill in congress.
Here IL the situations: There js
small reason to doubt that a majority
OF members Of congress, in both
houses. are in favor Of the BILL as q
matter OF personal belief and senti-
ment. but the hostile influence Of the
bankers Is 90 strong that IL q vote
were taken today the vote would show
against the bill. not for It.
Zone able representative put the
situation in this light: There are a
great many bankers In this country;
they are respectable; they are digni-
fed; they are plausible; they are pow
erful, and they are organized! When
they speak with one voice they make
very convincing sound, that pene-
trates even to the dullest ears in
Washington. On the other hand, the
people who want postal savings
system are right-but they are unor-
ganized! II they would make their
voices heard in congress, If they would
get together and make a noise at the
same time they would get the sup
port Of good majority in congress
and get the legislation they want. In
other words. there is enough friendly
sentiment in congress to pass the pos
tai savings measure provided the peo-
pie will give them the tangible evil
dences of their strong moral backing
IF half million letters from in
dividual citizens asking for votes for
this bill were to be sent to members
Of congress before the close OF the
next session the measure would be-
come law, hands down! 4.
"In other words, the members of
congress are in the position in this
matter of demure maidens who have
been asked by one suitor, but are
waiting for formal proposal by the
one they really favor; they cannot
consent before they ars asked, with
out loss of influence and self-respect.
"This puts the matter up to you.
There Is just one way to get a half
million letters into the hands Of the
congressman. We must extend the
membership of the Postal Savings
Bank League into every city and town
and community of this country. Will
you do yourself the distinction of be-
coming the first member Of the league
in your community?
I'm his recent speeches President
Taft has made it plain that he is for
a postal savings system-for it good
and hard! And we believe that con-
gress Is with him-only we must give
the members such body of letters,
such a tidal wave Of public opinion
in black-and-white that the most tim
id will not hesitate to vote for the
measure"
One applicant for membership in
the Postal Savings Bank League, the
manager of a big coal compny in
Montana. writes II believe that that
| class Of people now having the saw
ings bank idea (private savings bank)
Will not be induced to change their
deposits from a private to a govern
ment postal bank bank, paying a les
ser rate of interest.
Il know OF numbers Of people that
VIII not deposit in banks Of any kind.
Some of these very people pay to de-
posit their savings with the govern
ment at this time. doing this in the
way or buying money orders, which
they carry with them until such time
as they have actual need Of money. I
have no doubt that this class of peo-
pie would become postal savings bank