The Alaska citizen. (Fairbanks, Alaska) 1910-1917, 1911-08-07
A CANARO OOWNEO.

few weeks ago because OF the
ultra nervous tension that existed in
matters financial because of the fail
are Of IN, Washiugtou-Alask bank.
some malicious statements made re
gardinc an alleged embarrassment
ut another local bank were accepted
10y some much more seriously than
% otherwise would have been.
These statements. TO bank less
able 10 withstand a Iun. might have
pr we'd most embarrassing, but for
,unaiely they fell entirely fiat and
acted as a boomerang on the Calum-
uIafors by serving only to demon
-'rate the solid foundation on which
the bank was conducting its bust
ness
NtNspapermen. recognizing that
discussion and denials OF such rum
ors tend. in some quarters. to make
matters worse. as rule refrain from
giving publicity to them. for fear
they nigh initiate against. rather
than advance. the public interest.
This course is more readily suggest
I'd because the newspapers have not
always al their command full
/ knowledge Of the condition of the
bank involved
Fug uuatcly. in the ease Of the
FRS National the officers of the
institution We're NOT only ready. but
welr very anxious. to have those in
tcres'cl post themselves on its al
fairs With those who took advant-
age ! this permission there remained
no doubt of the full ability of the
inst! Itiou to meet any calls that
nigh be made on it. and the OPP
/ portuuity was afforded to he Citizen.
few weeks ago. to assert that it
could state. without fear OF sue
e. sstUi contradiction. that the tinan-
/ cial institutions OF the camp were
ueyc. on a better financial footing,
II - hllt'A' lpl vi II I'N ''Ai''A l'A'''
ure We are able today to print the
stat mert of Mr. Richard W. Good
hart. the national bank examiner.
who has just completed the regular
/ periodical examination of the First
; National Such testimony as he
bears to The soundness OF the bank
is better appreciated when il is un-
1 dersto. d that Mr. Goodhart is con
sidered by the department of the
Cove. nment which he serves as one
of its III 81 efficient officers.
Blu what is to be said. or done
with the man who by circulating
such malignant reports jeopardizes
! The savings of working men and wO-
men and The financial standing of the
merchants on whom the community
depends for its existence. His Of
Tense is not mitigated in the least
/ by reason nj the fact that his cal
umnies have failed Of their purpose
for il is the failure itself which con
/ victs him as malicious liar. The
/ pity is that the Code provides no
adequate means for his punishment,
and that the very sneakishness
which actuates his ofense provides
+ his most efectual safeguard. for his
/ trail of lies is as hard to follow as
! b1 ,lnp a1,
emulates in all but courage.
/ Let the recent experience serve
as warning of the necessity of
treating these scandalmongers as
| they should be dealt with. Neither of
the local banks has any reason to be
afraid of an investigation of its
affairs by those interested. and it will
interpose no objection to furnish
/ ing any of its customers with
clear statement of its condi-
ton. These banks are run by re-
sponsible men with ample financial
/ backing They are infinitely more
/ interested in the welfare of their
institutions than even the largest
depostor. and they are conserving
those interests to the best of their
ability by strictly adhering to the
rules which the government has
laid down for their guidance. By
negle cting to do so they would
render them selves liable to criminal
prosecution Surely they are entitled
to hearing before the word Of the