Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1914-02-19
MAHAN'S WORK
AIDS MISSOURI
HANNIBAL LAWYER CONVINCEs
COUNTRY WITH MONETARY
REFORM CAMPAIGN.
One Of Nations Largest Reserve In.
sttutors In ST Louis--States
Commercial Clubs and Farm.
ers' Unions Cooperate.

ST. Louis.--With the Reserve Bank
of st. Louis in existence, as it no
doubt will be, Missouri will have
one of the truly great financial
institutions of the world--an institp.
tion in which the state may take spe-
cial pride This will be one instance
at least, showing the advantage to
proving that, as Missouri does good
for St, Louis, st Louis brings bene-
fits to Missouri, too.
The initiative for reform i'm the
banking system of the United States
was taken at the St Louis convention
of the American Bankers association
some six years ago. The association
created currency commission, with
Fostus ] Wade, president of the Mor-
camille Trust Company of St Louis
and the late Charles H. Huttig, presi
dent Of the Third National bank, as
members.
Convinced that results could not be
achieved without cooperation from
business men and farmers. the bank
crs determined to interest the bust.
ness Of the entire country in
the subject of banking reform. ana
this idea led to the pro forma inccr
poration Of the National Citi2ent
League for the Promotion of a Sound
BANKING System. It was this assooi-
alton which really created the wide
spread sentiment for a new monetary
system.
George D. Markham OF St Louis, rs
representative Of the Business Mem
league, was one Of the organizers O..
the National Citizens league.
George A. Mahan Of Hannibal was
the potential factor in the educational
campaign in the Mississippi valley
Chosen by the commercial interests Of
St Louis to lead the campaign in q
large part of the south and west, Mr
Mahan gave a brilliant illustration OF
the virtue Of a policy which compel
the full confidence of the people.
Taking charge of the movement, Mr.
Mahan enlisted the support of the st
Louis business Mems league, the Han.
nibal Commercial club and the com
mercial clubs of approximately 25o
Missouri cities and towns. Next he
interested in the subject the CONNER
cial and agricultural interests of somu
200 additional towns. Though f. wa
a practical impossibility to effect or
gani2ation in every hamlet of tn
state. It is a striking fact that h
identified 1000 cities. towns and vi.
lagos with the movement and bull
up a powerful force for banking re.
form in all of the ia counties.
Mr.. Mahan was the first person to
bring all the commercial clubs of Mi.
souri, into cooperation, the first g.
bring the banks and business hous
into cooperation. Under his manaE
ment Missouri went into the field with
the largest and most imposing bank
ing reform organization in America.
Mr.. Mahan was appointed commit
teeman for the Mississippi valley for
the United States Chamber of Com
merce, and he was called into coufc".
eHces on banking reform with coz
gressional committees and with com
mercial and banking organizations IN
st. Louis, Chicago, New York and
other cities. 1t was his personality
and genius which gave distinction 10
the movement.
Mr. Mahan delivered speeches
throughout Missouri, he circulated H..
structiye literature everywhere, and
his interviews on banking reform were
published in all parts of the United
States.
George w. Simmons, vice-president
OF the Simmons Hardware company
of 81. Louis, acted as treasurer OF the
National Citizens League Of Missouri.
He raised the money to run the cam
paign, and managed the association 5
finances. Like Mr.. Mahan, he not only
served the cause without compensa-
ton, but at personal sacrifice and at
some expense.
The officers directing the movement
gave an admirable demonstration OF
public spirit
The policy applied by Mr.. Mahan in
Missouri was adopted In other state 5
When he first went to the CONNER.
cial, agricultural and banking inter
ests OF Missouri he declared that he
and his associates were not pledged to
any definite plan of banking reform
but would indorse and advocate the
best plan advanced, regardless as to
who the author might be. He de
clared it was not a political. but an
economic question. The country, he
insisted, was tired OF panic, and a new
banking system had to be established
The system should be democratic, he
asserted, and fair to all sections of the
country and all interests.
Mr.. Mahan kept repeating this plat
form and acting in accordance with It
and naturally he inspired the con
fidence of the people. He acted con