The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-05-12

of New York.
A. G. Arid of Guaranty Trust and
Savings Bank.
cambridge Richardson of Realty
Title and Trust Company.
]. D. Fuller of Peoples Bank for
Savings, st. Augustine.
E. d. Kennedy OF Bankers Trust
Company, Jacksonville.
w. L. Cawtnon of DeFuniak
Springs.
c. L. Bagwell & Co., Jacksonville.
c. H. Chestnut of Citizens Bank,
Jacksonville.
John J. Heard of Southern Florida
Loan and Trust Company, Arcadia.
Dr. Lincoln Hulley, president of
Stetson University at DeLand, is a
special guest of the convention.
The association was called to order
promptly at o'clock by the presi-
dent, Hon. Chas. w. Lamar, of Pensa-
cola.
In the absence of Rev. w. H. Dodge
Rev. Lincoln Hulley of DeLand open
ed the session whit prayer.
Mr.. L. w. Duval welcomed the
bankers to our city in very felici-
tous address as follows:
Mr.. President and Members of the
State Bankers Association:
| confess to degree of embarrass-
ment on this occasion, but l am &C.
customed to being embarrassed by
bankers. l must also disabuse your
minds of the idea that I am officially
connected with the municipal govern
ment. am out on parole, having serv-
ed my time.
Your coming to us leaves, so far as
| am able to recall, but one state or
ganization which Ocala has not had
the pleasure of entertaining. That or
ganization is the one of which l am a
member-the State Bar Association
1t will come TO US, for it is rule of
the profession to keep close tab on
the bankers.
We have really been at loss to ex-
plain your hardness in coming to
Ocala, unless it be that you desired
to save the best for this year. Many
years we have been expecting you,
and we could not understand how you
could be happy anywhere else when
you could have met in Ocala. 1t seem
ed to us that the very thought of what
you were missing in not being here
render all your conventions elsewhere
like
'The evaporation of joyous day,
Like the last glass of champagne,
without
The foam, which made it's virgin bum
per gay;
Or like system coupled with a
doubt;
Or like soda-bottle. when it's spray
Has sparkled and let half its spirit
out;
Or like a billow, left by storms be-
hind,
Without the animation of the wind"
Verify, ere this session shall close,
you will see your mistake in not desig
mating this city as your permanent
meeting place.
But you are here, and it is perhaps
unkind for me to remind you on this
your holiday, of memories which you
show you are trying to cancel. You
will pardon me for the reference, but
could not fail to improve the oppor-
tunity of telling you. You have re-
pented, and we forgive you, seeing
that your loss equals ours, and at the
same time we extend to you a real,
heart-full welcome.
1t has been our privilege and pleas
ure to welcome to this city repre-
sentatives of commercial, fraternal,
benevolent, patriotic, professional and
theological organizations, Jews and
GSuIll6S, DdI DdI1duS, UO1Q duu Tree,
but to none of them did we extend
more hearty welcome than we now
extend to you of the financial guild.
We are glad to have you with us.
Now, your hostess city is too well
known for me to introduce her. &C.
graphically the center of the state;
naturally the center of the best agri-
cultural and timber section of the
state; historically the center of the
students interest in Florida's past;
no wonder the sky on all sides is
equi-distant The improvements made
in recent years have been made with
out bonds and without bounds, and at
the same time electric and general
bonds have been retired to the
amount of $4,000. During this time
our millage has been decreased, with
out mourning large floating debt.
You will find business houses and res