Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1913-03-27

|otner financiers and his speech was orf1owing with characteristic hos Ea1itv. In part he said: 'nntlemen of Group Number sev- and visiting friends: The asso- kted banks and citizens of Pine bluff 1n .end to you a hearty welcome We delighted to have you with os' and |1ieved before the time arrives to de-
 o, will be assured of this fact .p;ne Bluff is the heart Of Group n,her seven, and looks forward With pasure to this yearly meet. It does i all good to meet together and talk business, lay plans with the de- ,;notion to better the banking con- Hons each year. This year we should < specially encouraged as we have Dn successful in securing all up-to- te banking law.
 q am not a speaker. With one ex- ,t;on this is the second audience of size that I ever attempted to ad- ess Therefore, l trust you will |rdon my imperfections and excuse if give you bit of personal ex- fience.
 .1 have lived in Arkansas since 1885. eynerience as a banker is limited, as A cotton man it is more exten- b and full of ups and downs. There two classes of men who have been [emost in bringing Arkansas to the mi First, the cotton man who buys |ect for the mills. Second, the bank
 When I came to Pine Bluff ge majority of the cotton was con- ned to New Orleans or Memphis nmission houses. These cotton com ssion merchants had the country hhbed. and the average farmer was pp]y working for them. As it is now cotton is put direct from the plan ion into the mill and the planter lows a higher degree of credit. The (ult of this evolution in the cotton Siness helped to make necessary country bank. The country banks He stimulated economy and greatly Ereased the credit of the people. Ev- bank in Group Number Seven buld enjoy, and is entitled to the tronage of the town and commun- it represents. You have inspired hfidence among the people and bght them fully as much as the brneyman cotton buyer did some enty years ago.
 Let me side-step here moment. thing commands the respect of the bple more than a strong bank, small large, we'll managed. The country hk, like the cotton planter, must rn to handle it's business as near me as possible, as it does not pay average bank to scatter or con- tn it's business so far from base. l not believe that it would pay any nk in this Group to have say, three counts in Little Rock, two in St. uls, one in New York and one in ne Bluff. The division is too great q the scatter is too wide. In times distress or tightness of money, you uld not know who to depend upon lose whom you do business with fint mat your business is badly spli and they are at sea as to what yol entitled to. l have lived in Pint uff, prior to going in the banking slness, tWenty-two years, and hav' una It to my advantage to give m, Sihess solid one way. For example
 Dank l represent, the oldest state nk In Arkansas, has only one ac uht in Little Rock, one in St. Louis E III Chicago, and one in New York ' durlng the past forty-three years nave only made two changes cut " or the state. Therefore, l knoy pm actual experience the soundnes 'ne point l am trying to make witI
 members of Group Number Seven iien We need money we know wher go.
 These remarks are not made iron 'e"ish standpoint. 1 simply wan efy bank of Group Number Seven t A. coupled with this, I want yo
 ehJoy yourselves while you ar " us. Ask questions if you want t o"' II you see anything you wan
 'or u. It is free. This remind ol a negro preacher, who after dc 0Iihg great oratorical discours
 "ee religion called on one of tn Solls Bro. Ephraim,' to take up
 'eotlon. He positively refused, say
 III your sermon you preache
 'ellglon was free.' Bro. Caso puea' 'Ephraim, you don't under lu' It is this way: There is til Aa'sas river, free to all-come an
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