The Van Buren press., 1912-06-01
BANKERS IN FAVOR
| OF BANKING BILL
Members OF State Association
Discuss Legislation at First
Days Session.
BANQUET IN THE EVENING
Convention Closed Wednesday With
Election OF officers for En-
Ensuing Year.
Western Nswpsper Union N.w. Service.


Little Members Of tie Ark
ansas Bankers Association In twenty
second annual convention assembled
here placed themselves on record as
being almost unanimously in favor OF
a bill for the supervision, regulation
and Inspection OF banks in Arkansas.
The leaders in the movement of a
safe and sane banking law stated
that Arkansas e at the mercy OF
wildcat banding methods and that
If the bankers do not write a bill SUI
pervisng the banking business. the
people OF the state, through the Initi-
atfVe and referendum amendment, will
write one OF their own so drastic, In
all probability, as to drive many banks
out of business.
In response to the address Of vel.
come, II. ID. Palmer cashier OF the
Lincoln County Bank Of Star City,
said, In part.
1T has been our privilege and pleas
ure to meet with the Arkansas Bank
ers' Association several different
times In this beautiful city, and the
push and enterprise OF her citizens
has inspired US with some OF your pro-
gresslveness. and feel that great
many OF us bankers need some OF your
relentless energy in order that we
may assist you more IN the develop
ment Of our beloved Arkansas, the
greatest state In the Union-which 10
now coming into her own, The Ark
ansas OF today IL not the Arkansas OF
% years ago. no, not even 10 years
ago, for II has not only kept pace
with the other great states OF the
Southwest, but It Is giving promise
OF greater progress al present than
AT any period in its history.
81 have recently read an article
which shows that during the year 1911
Arkansas produced more than $685.
100000 worth OF agricultural products.
The sale OF lumber even surpassed
that In It's fertile and beautiful val.
leys and on the mountain sides are
'NP'N AbhH l~tNNNtVNV DtNIluK uUDlo
trees and 100000 bearing Elberta
peach trees. and moro than $4,000
acres OF the finest strawberries grown
in the world furnish tne Northern
markets at fair prices. Arkansas Is
also one OF the greatest mineral
states; II has an aggregate acea OF
more than 100000 acres, OF which
seyen.elghts are underaid with coal,
II has also marble quarries and great
bodies OF cement and chalk. There
are no less than 80 zinc mines and
more than n dozen lead mines IA the
state, and | am proud 10 boast that
we have real diamond mine"
In his annual address, President J.
NJ. Barker OF Atkins made plea for
bank supervision In this state and said
that he felt II TO be the duty OF tho
association to bring about THIS im-
provement Of conditions, II possible.
Mr., Barker also recommended that tie
association lend It's aid toward the re.
c'amation OF lands, the building Of
good roads and the further develop
ment Of the agricultural resources OF
the state. Mr. Barker declared that,
according to figures compiled By tho
commissioner Of agriculture OF the
Southern Commercial Congress, the
average value Of land In Arkansas has
doubled In the last 10 years.
Secretary Robert n, Wait OF Little
Rock stated In his report that i5 now
banks have been Incorporated In Ark.
onsas since the last state convention,
aud there have been mergers, volun.
tary llQuidatlons ana some failures.
The figures on these however, were
not available to the secretary. sey.
eral cases we're given where the pro.
tcctivo features was instrumental in
bringing a0fcblowors and forgcrs 20
Justice. "rhe secretary stlll believes"
the report concludes, that every bank
In Arkansas should be a member OF
the association, and that all should
be heartily united for safe and honest
banking and for the development and
upbulldlng OF the state"