The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1914-07-03
"The Advantages Of the Group System
And What It Should Undertake" "
Address Delivered By Mr. John w, Simpson at
Meeting Of Group No. 2, Neaoberry
May 10, 1914.

Mr. President and Gentlemen OF Group No. ,:
Permit me- the beginning, express my appreciation OF
the honor YOU have done me in inviting address yo, this
afternoon and to assure you that both pleasure
and privilege to be With YOU
The subject assigned to me is The Advantages OF the
Group System and What it Should Undertake. Any adequate
discussion OF this however, involves the prerequisite to its
proper understandings some reference fundamental prr
poses which undery and made desirable the South Carolina
Bankers Association itself As understand it, the South Car
olna Bankers Association formed for the pupos OF
uniting all bankers of State into compact Whole
which may act unit in the interest OF banking aud hroush
which the information and experience gained by any banker
may be made beneficial all by Of free discussion and
personal conc The achievements alike OF the
fu and difficulties and perpeSites OF the most
inexperienced this way be made helpful to all in develop
ing their business and dealing with their customers,
basis fair to both banker and customer.
This attriton of mind upon mind this discussion of exper
ience of problems and Of policies be made possible only
through annual gatherings in which these matters can be
sidered in practical way And these conventions, COM
ngso-geher the additional purpose Of acquantlng
the with another, which, while apparently only
incident by-product of such organization really OF
the most important results of Bankers Association We al
know from experience that matter how much have
dealt with long range the connection takes new
meaning and the relationship satisfactory aften
we know him. Each understands the other better.
During that period in which the business interests of
State could be served by comparatively small banking capital
when banks therefore comparatively few number,
and the problems confronting them comparatively simple and
few an annual convention gave ample opportunity and time
for discarging the purposes OF the Association provided OF
course that all OF the bankers would avail themselves of it.
But here the ruba great either would not or could
avail themselves Of it, and the question then arose How
can Association be made the greatest good Tor the great
est number for in it there undoubtedly lie possibilities OF
much good to all
In addition to this problem which confronted the Assoca-
ton from its organization, another As the prosperity
OF our State increased business developed which required the
organization of many new banks and which produced many
new problems financing in methods and in policy. Owing
to their number it became maifesty impossible discuss
digest and unity these the annual meetings OF the Asp
ciation and unless this could be done these annual meetings
could not be made profitable in the highest degree ali of the
bankers How then could these difficulties be overcone
The solution seemed lie in the adoption OF the Group Sys
tenn and our Association ordered organization 1912 and
the speaker had the honor of being made Chairman of the
itee charged with the duty OF dividing the State ao groups
Our instructions general and somewhat que. We
given plan for guidance and principle follow
We left free pleased We decided that
Group System meant division of the banks OF the
State into groups haphazard but after definite plan
which would enable the groups in themselves conform the
fundamental purposes of Association, and then cntri
dgested results of their organizations the Assoca
ton as whole. With this in mind decided that contigdy
the number of bankers in given territory should control
rather than the capitalization, minds convenience
in assembling and the proper number of interested in
approximately the problems the essentials the
successful working of the SYSTEM and upon this basis
commended the formation OF the present groups The
tenn has been operation but little than year, AM the
first meetings Of of the groups only for the purpose
of organization In fact of the groups have yet
realized the possibilities they possess and have undertaken moth
ing seriously We therefore, vet results from
the system In my opinion however, there great advar
tages which result both the members of the individual
groups and the Asociaon provided these groups pro-
pey conducted and their energies directed the right chan
nes
In attending State Convention have been struck by the
fact that those n attendance largely the higher officers of