Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1913-09-18
ADDRESS OF L. p. HILLYER

Georgia Bankers Association, wa
one of the principle speakers of thu
meeting of the state Chamber OF Com
merce in Macon Tuesday Mr.. Hillyel
said
MIR. Chairman and Gentlemen:
The Importance of every movemen
made for the public good is in pro-
portion to the enthusiasm and ability
manifested by the movers themselves
Had the Apostles been content to keep
the teachings of their Master to them
selves, Christianity would have perish
ed with them. Had the English barons
been less determined at Runnymede,
Magma Charter would not have been
obtained from the stubborn King John.
Had the signers of the Declaration Of
Independence ceased their labors with
the last stroke of their pens we might
be now the vassals OF England, instead
of the free and happy citizens Of the
greatest nation of the world.
We are gathered here today for "a
great purpose. We should organize
thoroughly, but our time will be vast
ed and our work be for naught if we
stop when this meeting adjourns.
The soil is the source of our wealth.
the price of Georgia's cotton and corn
this season will o'er-top in value all
the gold mined in the United States
during 1913. Every trade, every pro-
fession and every business is abso-
lutely dependent on the farmer. When
he prospers the world prospers; when
his crops are poor the world is in
need.
AS an officer of the Georgia Bankers
Association for over twenty years,
can testify that the bankers of tho
state of Georgia have ever-realizei
their dependence on the farmers, and
have always been ready to serve them
in any way.
The Georgia Bankers Association
has, for some years, contributed prizes
to the boys corn club and the Amer
lean National Bank of Macon, Of which
l am vice-president, mas contributed
this year $500 in prizes for the purpoSa
Of stimulating profitable corn growing
in this state. Other Georgia banks and
bankers have given money prizes for
the same purpose. 1t is said that
money talks" and where it is spent
in large amounts for a given purpose
you cannot charge that talk in regard
to that purpose is all hot air" You
are obliged to know that the interest
the bankers have in the farmers is
genuine, and that the greatest work
the bankers can possibly do for them
selves is to assist the farmers in max
ing two or more dollars where they
have made one before. Not only is this
the greatest work that bankers car
Go, but it is the greatest work tht
merchants and manufacturers can dc
The very life-blood of our commerce is
contributed by farmers. How infinitely
important it is that this likelihood h.
ample and healthful. There is no bet
ter way to make it so than by educa-
ton along certain lines. This educa
ton of farmers can be obtained in NJ
better way than through well-organi1
ed chambers of commerce in every
county in the state. Every chamber .
commerce should be composed of tn,
best farmers and business men of tt;
county and there should be a clause il
the bylaws expelling any member VIII,
tries to inject politics into the organ
ization. We have, in my opinion, ev
erything considered, the most Godfav
oled state in the Union. Some years
ago l was called upon to respond fol-
Georgia at the New Orleans convention
of the American Bankers Association
said in part on that occasion:
ITO tell of Georgias wonderful pro