Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1912-11-15
thanksgiving Comes Next and IN the Meantime Christmas Shopping
KANSAS Bankers AssocArSo2


: About one hundred and forty banks
ers Of Group Five Of the Kansaa
Bankers Association were In cdr CO
Wednesday to attend a meeting e
their district. 1t was one Of the iary.
est meetings they have ever had. fa
the morning they met in the Library
Hal, at noon partook Of a banquet
In the Congregational church. base,
ment, followed by an auto ride over.
the city, and In the afternoon held
another session Of their meeting "A
the Library Hail. They all expressed
themselves as being much pleased
With our city and especially the manS
ner in which they were entertained.
Fernando P. Neal is the presiding
OFFICER of this group and is the domi.
mating influence Of the biggest bank
between Kansas City and San Fran.
cisco. He is the chairman Of :the
board of directors Of the Southwest
National Bank of Commerce in Kan.
sas City, whose deposits are in ex-
cess Of sS1,OOO.OOO. Mr.. Neal'so ca,
reer reads like a romance of Robert
Louis Stevenson. A native Of Iowa.
his banking career commenced. a.
cashier Of the Harvey County Savings
Bank at Newton. Kansas. That was
In 1873, He was then but eighteen
years Of age and the youngest bank
cashier in the United States. After
seven years Of successful banking at
Newton, he accepted the cashiership
Of the Wellington Bank, Wellington.
Kansas. Twenty-three years ago he
resigned the presidency of this bank
to go with the Union National Bank
Of Kansas City as first vice-president.
His career since that time has been
crowded with brilliant achievements.
He now enjoys a national reputation
as Judge Of credits and his opinion
o. western securities is frequently
sought by the leading bankers Of New
York. OF a deeply religious nature,
Mr. Neal gives generously to worthy
charities. He is a fine presiding Of
fieer and a polished speaker: This is
his first visit to our city for some
years and ne expressed himself as "
Ing greatly amazed at the giant
strides made IN our civic improve
} ments. He stated that our financial
institutions are domlcilcd in buildings
that would do credit to a city sew.
eral times the size Of Great Bend.
1 w. w. Bowman. secretary Of the
Kansas Bankers Association, says
that the association is now larger
than 1t has ever been. having a mem
tership Of LOO. and that over ninety.
one per cent Of the banks of the
state are represented in the associa.
tion. He says that this association
ranks among the six largest state as
sociations of bankers in the United
states, He especially complimented
The loval bankers on the management
they had displayed in arranging the
program and providing for their en-.
tertainment and comfort. .
NJ. II. Malott. president of the Citt,
zens Bank Of Abilene responded to
the address of welcome in brief,
witty speech.
Carter Wilder. publisher Of the
Southwestern Banker of Kansas City,
No, says that he has so often COM
nented on the prosperity Of Barton
county and her banks that be wsa
very curious to see il our city came
np to Der advance advertising. He
admitted that his. expectations had
heen more than realized. He seemed
, % particularly admire our new gov.
armnent building. which he says is
the finest from an architectural stant
point Of any he ever saw in q town
# this size. 90