The Washington times., 1912-03-17

Reciprocity is but another way of ex-
pressing the golden rule. 1t may not
always work that way--it might have
operated with different result in the
Canadian matter, but in the abstract
reciprocity means square deal. It
should be in vogue between banks and
their customers; 1t ought to be the rule
in the relations between banks whether
friendly in interests or otherwtse-but
1t isn't
There are many people who spend
sleepless hours trying to figure out
way Of beating their banks; scheming
for the kit1ng of thousands of dollars of
checks 'in the air." planning means of
unloading a bunch of slow-paying, long
time notes; giving their Endorsement to
notes that they know will not come
out clean in the wash, and thereafter
showing indifference to responsibility
1t is men Of this class that force the
bank official to be constantly on his
guard, awakens his suspicious where
there IL little cause therefor, and
! makes him the more pleased to well
come legitimate business men of known
and unsullied reputation.
1.-The banking game in Washington is
fierce" said a bank official.
OF course 1t. is, and so is the game
of life. It is always something, one
thing after another, and 1t is this that
makes 1t interesting and worthy of the
man to conquer and dominate.
The banking game in Washington
seems in one respect to resemble the
street car-there's always room for one
! more.
In a crowded field the man who at
tends to his own business will always
find that he has enough to do and his
progress will be the better for reel
! procal feeling of good will for his
| neighbor.
| In the banking business, as in no
other, the whole body quivers when
| a shock is given through the suspension
or failure of one institution. In the
manufa cturing industry one concern
may go down through over-expansion,
but the fraternity, the line is unshaken.
There is nothing as useful in its way
and place as money. There Is nothing
so timid as capital, as deposits, and let
| there be one jarring note in the busi-
ness and the probabilities are that
everyone will feel it.
When the John r. Walsh INSTITUTIONS
in Chicago went by the board 1t was not
a matter OF kindness, nor brotherly
love nor a disposition TO favor the
owners of millions of dollars on deposit
| in the Chicago National and the two
State banks over which Mr.. Walsh pre-
sided.
1t was not mans kindness to man.
1t was a purely selfish motive. II one
may call self-preservation selfish. The
bankers OF the Windy City" understood
that unless they stood in the gap for
the depositors money, unless they stood
| prepared to stand run that woulo
have shaken some of the very strongest
tno NJ hn0fG
| In these piping times of peace. wher
every bank has more money than II ac'
tually needs, when loans are restricted
| when the activities of business are re
| stricted to say these things will moi
hurt In piping times of peace Chicago
banks have suspended, and the member,
of the Clearing House Association have
stayed up nights-no, not TO worry, bu
y to gather in the loaves and fishes, b!
ervation was not imperiled. when th'
wreck was worthy of an effort.
Reciprocity in banking means tn
square deal, but ii also means that l
one banker can not say good wore
for another that it would be wise t
keep knitting and forget to say am
thing.
In one thing the banks and banker
? of Washington are, reciprocal unit
Consent has been obtained from ever!
bank in the District of Columbia; Il
private examinations by an examine
to be chosen or at least approved b!
the Washington Clearing House AS
sociation.
Commendation and nothing but prais
FINANCIAL