Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1909-02-19
4 CAMDEN BANKER
 ELECTED CHAIRMAN
(Continued From Page One.}

not strangers to many of you anu that this is just kind of horve-coming rather than q gathering of guests With this feeling in our hearts, and with the double feeling of meeting for the benefit of us all, feel that we have met in this, the largest town in Arkansas, from 8 business standpoint, under circumstances that will surely be of marked benefit to all who have assembled here today.
 Now, sir; in behalf of your guests. 1 know of nothing that is more ex- pressive of our feelings to you and this generous welcome that has been extended to us since reaching your city. than that good old southern ex- pression, We thank you
 MT. Chairman, l do not want to take much of your time this morning. but I feel that just a word in ex- planation Of why we have met here today may be in order. and may also be of benefit to Some present who may not know just what We hope to do by the adoption of the group sys- tenn.
 "In the firstplace we do not intend that these group meetings shall take the place of the annual meetings Of the state association; but we are try ing. to get in closer touch with the banks and bankers. thereby demon strating to them the good that they will derive from becoming members of the state association, and by doing this, make our state association to in- clude in it's membership every. bank and banker in this great state of Ar kansas, When th!s committee was formed to. look into the group system the first thing we did was to get infor- nation from the states around us as to the benefits to be received from this system and when this committee of seven met in Little Rock on the 18th day of last July there was not member of the committee but who was, in favor of adopting this group system. It having been proven to us beyond question that in this manner only could we hope to reach all the banks of tho state. The result of tho wQEk of this committee is the calling of these group meetings. as the exc cutive council of the state association has adopted in full the report of the committee, and with their unqualified promise to help In the work Of every group of the state. l feel that there is nothing left for us to do but to get to work and see that every bank within the bounds of Group Seven be- comes member of this group A copy of this report to the executive council has been furnished you, or if you have not received one, the chair man has an ample supply, and will be glad to furnish you with a copy. "I fully realize that every banker present knows the benefits to be de- rived from membership and regular attendance on the meetings of the state association, and that it is use- less for me to attempt to explain it's benefits; but I see one benefit that may be derived from the group sys- foV ho% l.. t0 0f from the state association, and that Is this: If a panic should again visit our country, and there Is no reason to doubt that 1t will come again, as nothing beneficial in the way of bank ing laws has been adopted that will assist the country banker, 1t is a very feasible plan to form our group into a clearing house association, and in this way form an organization for the prtection of our customers and our selves that wuld be far better and stronger than anything we could hope to accomplish working out our own salvation as We recently had to do.
 "Mr. Chairman, as to why this pro- gram committee appointed me to re- spond to the address of welcome, I am unable to say; but perhaps we will have to allow to them the same latitude that Mike did to the doctor who made the exam nation of Pat who had just fallen from the third story of a building. The doctor, mak- ing a hurried examination announced to Mike that Pat was dead. Pat i'm mediately responded that the doctor was-- we'll. you know the shorter and uglier word. Mike. batting him on the shoulder, said: There, there Pat. let the doctor have his way. he knows best"
 Those Present
 In addition to the various officials