Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-01-30
COURSE OF STUDY
|. FOR The BANKERS
]. B. Oakleaf Advocates School
of Finance for Clerks in
Institutions.
IN MEETING AT THE CLUB
E. W. Hurst, ii. E. Casteel and 9th.
ers Speak at Bi-Monthly Gath
ering of Association.

About fifty men sat down to the
banquet of the Rock Island County
Federation of Illinois Bankers as
ISOLATION at the Rock Island club
last evening, and from the time
the walters brought in the first
course until the conclusion of the bus
mess session there was not a dull mo-
ment in the proceedings. These meet
ings are bi-monthly affairs. having for
their aim the exchange of ideas and
experiences Of the various members
and the putting into force of system
attic and economic methods of opera
ton.
ADVOCATES BANK SCHOOL.
o. F. Anderson of the Moline Trust
G. Savings bank acted as POSTMASTER,
after being gracefully introduced by
a. ]. Lindstrom, and presented ]. B.
Oakleaf of Moline as the first speaker.
Il would advocate the establishment
of a school of finance in our universe
ties to educate the young men,
said the speaker. IF were
the president of a bank I would
require Of each of my employees that
he pursue a course of reading on bank
ing At present the knowledge of
banking which is acquired by bankers
is brought about through their own
efforts. They start at the bottom OF
the ladder and climb, learning all the
time. We have a school Of journalism,
why not banking? Were this the case,
the president of the United States
would not find it necessary to choose
the United States treasurer from the
ranks of the lawyers and professional
men, as all our citizens would be con-
versant with banking methods and the
various financial problems which con-
front US today. Three OF four men to-
day pull the financial strings. Conf
derce is all that keeps the country
from going to ruin. Once this is gone
and there will be crash"
The speaker deprecated the fact that
instead of choosing the treasurer of
the United States from the ranks of
the bankers, the men who have made
life long study of finance and finan-
cial problems, that the president invar.
iably made his choice from the law
yers and statesmen.
LINCOLN POOR FINANCIER.
As an illustration, he cited the in
stance of Lincoln's administration
Mr. Oakleaf brought out the point that
Lincoln was himself a poor financier
and therefore was incompetent to
choose a capable treasurer, as at the
time he first went to the Legislature
Abe was put to the necessity Of Dor.
rowing funds in order to make a pre-
sentable appearance. Lincoln appoint
ed Salmon P. Chase, a lawyer, as treas
urer of the government, just at the
time when a man was needed who had
made life long study of the currency
question. The speaker then cited in
stances where the president displayed
his utter lack of knowledge of methods
pursued in the treasury department
and how a realization of these work
ings led to the adoption of checking
the greenbacks issued, which is still
utilized to this day. He then disclos
ed few interesting facts in regard tc
the silver dollar, which was designed
by Morgan, an Englishman, who, in
order to perpetuate his own country
on this currency, incorporated in the
head profile Of George I'LL, as well as
an excellent representation of the
English lion.
TAKING UP SLACK.
L. ]. Yaggy, cashier of the First Ma
tional bank of Davenport, was mex
called upon, and took as his subjec
Taking Up the Slack" He commend
ed the ideals of the organization which
made for better and more efficien
methods and service, and stated tha
against the unknown conditions Incl
dent to commercial activities the mem
bers of the association were now pro