Evening star., 1914-10-25

~ W. 60
WssSs$!s,Ey ~n: 's:. bad ssas s<se :e
who was his agent in the undertaking. After
three o'clock in the afternoons OF those
stormy times it was he who called up the
heads of other banks and trust companies,
and in few succinct words gave them in
structions as to the amount of cash they
must send over to deposit with the dis
tressed institutions whose life blood was be-
ing drained through the withdrawal of
money by frightened public. No one ever
gainsaid him; for behind the smile was
clear voice, with a certain metallic ring,
which brooked no remonStrance from the
banker who might wish to plead that he
had no more cash in his vaults at that
trying time than he needed for his own pro-
lection.
rs there, by the way, conventional ladder
of promotion by which a man climbs up
to the trusted post of handling other peoples
money? In other words, how do men rise
to be bank presidents9
Sixteen years ago there came to New York
young fellow who deliberately pulled some
shingles off the roof of the financial dome
and climbed in at the top of the banking
business. He had more smiling confidence in
himself and greater pent-up energy than any
other man | ever met He had been pen
niless book agent, had taken whack at the
newspaper game and worked in real estate
office. He got job in building and loan
association, discovered some malversation in
its management, exposed the breach of trust,
and was made head of the institution. In
less than seven years he had established
bank for discount, founded a savings instl-
tuition by getting hold of a charter the day
before it expired at Albany, took over
chain of other banks, and was about to
merge them into great international cor
poration, with branches in Europe, when he
landed in the penitentiary. He finished his
term and came out just the other day. He
had been in too great hurry. That race
is not to the swift
But how do men become bank presi-
dents? l have asked some of them, and
they have told me of this mans ability,
of that mans wealth, and of another's pro-
motion through affiliations and influences.
But one and all agreed that the impeling
factor was personality, optimistic force,
all given their most potent expression
through the smile.
HERE is the story of man, still young,
cashiers job to the vice presidency of one
of the strongest banks in Wall Street, po-
sition in which he is the associate of a great
authority in the banking world.
A friend of his, the head of another insti-
tuition, said to me, @You want to know how
Sam got there? Did you ever see him smile?
Well, that characteristic of his is what first
attracted me to him, and 1 may say that |
helped him along the path that has landed
him where he is today.
when l was treasurer of the Susque-
hanna Railroad, not so very many years
ago, he was cashier in the South River Ma
tional Bank He was well posted on bank
ing matters, and he called to see me at my
office one day, just as l was engaged in
figuring out plan by which could pay the
roads employees by check, instead of send
ing paycar along the line Other. cashiers
had played the high and mighty with me
because of my suggestion. From their atti-
tude one would have thought that was a