The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-12
BANKERS WILL AID
IN FIGHT ON WEEV|L
James Keith, Jr., Elected
Head of Group 3 at
Admission

| Admission, April 11.-(Special. )-Jamei
Keith, Jr.. vice president of the Annstor
| City National bank, was elected vice pres
ldent of the Alabama Bankers associa
ton, representing Group 3. at the meet
ing of this organization at the Alabama
hotel yesterday evening, when all records
| for attendance were broken and severa
reforms for the protection of the banking
interests and business IN general were
projected.
| Possibly the most interesting matter tc
come before the business meeting was ths
adoption of motion putting the associa'
ton on record in favor of the repeal OF
the national bankruptcy law. A motion
to this effect was made by M. B. Well
born, and was seconded by Mr.. Keith,
who stated that he had written Congress.
man Blackmon to use his influence to that
end and had been informed by the latter
| that he already had pending a measure
which sought to accomplish the desired re-
| form.
DR.. w. E. Kinds, professor Of ento-
moIogy at the Alabama Polytechnic insti-
tute, addressed the meeting in an effort
| to get the bankers to organize to meet
the conditions that must be brought
| about in this section of the state when 1t
| is invaded by the boil weevil, which, he
| said, first came to Alabama In 1910. The
| speaker warned his hearers against con-
| sidering Texas as a criterion when judg-
| ing the effects Of the boil weevil, for
in that state weather conditions have con-
/ +~il., oft ty,o
which cannot thrive in a dry and very hot
climate, and during the first year of in
festation in Texas there was little over
one inch of rainfall during the crop season
and a temperature of 116 in the shade,
condition that was abnormal.
| South Alabama especially, DR.. Hinds
| sad is menaced by the weevil, but he
cited comparative figures to show that
| this section of the state is liable to a
| crop reduction of from 10 per cent the
first year to 80 per cent the second year
| and so to 6 per cent the third year OF
infestation, figures based on observations
in Mississippi. He urged the bankers to
work for crop diversfication to meet the
1 changed conditions that will arise when
| the boil weevil invades their territory,
| and to be careful about extending credit
| to farmers who declined to cooperate
| with the movement that will be organ
| lied to forestall the effects of the weevll.
| Dr. Kinds urged that beat meetings
be held in perfecting the organization,
| and following his address James Keith
made a motion that the bankers adopt his
suggestion, which was favoraby acted on
at the business meeting.
| McLane Tilton, secretary OF the Ala
bama Bankers association, followed DR..
Kinds and made an address urging that
! the bankers use their influence to secure
the passage by the next legislature OF
blue sky legislation, laws to put an end
| to the sale of inflated stocks in companies
which have nothing to back them up but
"the blue, ethereal dome of the skies"
In indorsing Mr.. Tilton's address, Mr..
| Keith stated that this county alone has
| recently been robbed of no less than $500,
| 600 by statesmen of bogus stock in insur-
! ance companies and other concerns which
| have not justified the claims of their pro-
moters
| C. L. Chiffon spoke on Bank Advertis-
| ing" urging the financiers to not be par
simonious in the use of printers Ink,
but by all means to be sincere and to keep
| in mind the human interest side of an ad-
yertising caD1p' Ign, injecting into all
| their advr> L-ng thoughts that would
create desire. He read several advertise
ments to bring out his points.
The bankers also went on record as
favorng the appointment of committee
of three by the Alabama Bankers asso-
citation to standardize the stationery used
in Alabama banks. This suggestion was
made by 8. McGoughy OF Gadsuen, retir-
ing vice president.
Col. w. H. McKleroy, former president
of the Admission National bank. now vice
presdent of the Anniston-City National,
presided as toastmaster at the banquet,
which proceeded the speaking.