The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-26

Der Of our craft and upon the city o l Birmingham
 This familiar scene reminds me of al l aneedote I heard the osner day. A littl girl said. Father. where were you born He replied. In Boston, my dear Am where was mother born2' San Fran cisco And where was I born? II l Philadelphia, my daughter. She replied Isn't it funny how we three got togeth l CT "
 Adams Is Introduced The toastmaster introduced ] Adams, president of the Commerce. ianl and Trust company, as the first speak CT. MT. Adams read his address, whict was as follows:
 When at meeting of the Clearine 1 House association few days ago l was made it's president I 0id not know il would carry with it this pleasant duty of welcoming you this evening. So in behalf of the Birmingham Clearing House association l want to extend you its welcome and thank you for coming Your presence here this evening helps us to show our appreciation for our most distinguished guest of honor. Not only Birmingham but Alabama l should be proud of having two such rep l resentatives as We will have in Mr. Hard l ing and Mir Underwood The Clearing
  l fight for a regional bank and when we 1 failed we thought we were very unfor- tnnate and possibly had not been treated right. but we are more fortunate than we could eyer have expected to be, for want to tell you that in having MT. Harding at the fountain head is more honor to Birmingham and Alabama than if We had succeeded in getting two banks
 ''l was one of the many to go over to Atlanta at the time of the reserve board meeting and in conversation with an old gentleman from Tennessee, he said if We had an Underwood we would not want a reserve bank. l would like to know what that old gentleman would say now. We not only have an underwood but a Harding to represent us in Washing ton
 It is said man is not without hon or save In his own country, but it is not so in this case. We all feel a personal, city and state pride in doing honor to our fellow worker whose worth has been recognized everywhere We could think of nothing more fitting than the calling together. you. the men who represent the best of the city's interest, to break bread with us. a token of good fellow ship. The clearing house wanted to share this great pleasure and we extend to you one and all the righ. hand of cordial welcome"
 In introducing the second speaker of the evening Colonels Smith said:
 There is a banker seated by my side. who is as full of beautiful traits as a kaleidoscope is of brilliant lightS All you have to do is to shake him and beau tiful rays light up a myriad of traits of good fellowship. He i@ acquainted with every living ana nioving thing in Bir- mingham aDd I am proud to say, friend of alf While his motto is modern, he employs six interpreters to translate it fo9 d large number of his depositors ,f'You will recognize him if not in loca- 'tion, certainly in the following incident which occurred in Sunday schools few days ago. The teacher asked one of his youthful savings depositors, Who was the first man.? He replied, George Wash ington Teacher No. Adam The kid spoke up and said, I didn't know you were asking about foreigners, I thought you meant Americans.'
 T have the honor of introducing to you the first American Of Birmingham-Mr w. w. crawford.'
 Crawford Makes Witty Speech
 Indulging in characteristic humor by way of starting off and interspersing his serious remarks with mirth provoking stories MT. Crawford made an excep- tlonally telling effort. In eulogizing the guest of honor he said he spoke from the heart rather than from the head. He had long felt deeply attached to Mr. Harding and having served under him no one appreciated that gentlemans ca pacity or his signal achievements bet ter than he The banking and currency law which creates the federal reserve system is the greatest financial measure ever written in the statute books, said Mr Crawford. Tt will make panics inn possible and when put into operation by MT. Harding and his associates it will be of incalculable benefit to the whole eoun- try"
 MT. Crawford said that MT. Harding would not win only natural fame but that he would be known and esteemed by the world over
 When Mir. Crawford had taken his seat the toastmaster introduced Eugene F. Enslen in these words:
 We have with us a banker who will address you in behalf of the state bank ing system. He is well prepared to speak on this subject, if he will but tell of his experience.
 There is a warm feeling in my heart for him for when I started out in the banking business and rose to the position of teller. he was our star depositor, and we always waited for him to make his deposit before estimating the receipts of the day.
 
 but under his fostering care he has re- gently placed his bank among the lead Ing institutions of the country and has now housed it beneath a building which Vies with the highest peaks of Red moun- tam. He is as chuck full of rare thoughts and experiences as the tld veteran, ap- preaching the period of his enlistment and who solloquized as follows:
 am weary and sick and hungry: I am wandering helpless in u strange coun- try; l have suffered all of this for my country-I love my country-yes, I would die for my country-yes, willingly die for my country, if it were necessary; but. when this war is over, I'll be d-d if I ever love another country So it is with him, when his building troubles are done, l know he has said thousand times, I'll be d-d if l ever build another bank building We will now hear from Mr Enslen.'
 Eugene F. Enslen Pays Tribute
 Mir. Enslen said he had not prepared speech, but that he was glad to add his tribute to MT. Harding, as a banker and a man. President Wilson. he said, had done great thing for the south, great thing for the country when he selected the Birmingham banker as member of the reserve board He felt sure that MT.