The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-29
NEWSPAPER CLUBS DINNER TOHARD|NG TALK OF THE TOWN Everyone Pleased With Spirit of Optimism
 Shown by Speakers GUEST OF HONOR
 SEES GOOD TIMES Predicted in Speech That Within Ninety Days an Unprecedented
 Period of Prosperity
 Would Set In

The talk of the town" yesterda, ], dealt almost exclusively with the ban quet served by members of the Bir- mingham Newspaper club "Wednesday nj gth in honor of w P. c. Harding
 As result of the hanquet--of what was said at the banquet--the spirit of optimism which despite passive con ditions' prevails, was accentuated. MT Harding. in his address. predicted the soon coming of the era of the full ear. and other addresses pregnant with good news were delivered by Robert Jemi- son. W. w. Crawford. Maj. E M Tut wiler, George Gordon Crawford and others who have always maintained a close touch with the money and trade markets.
 MT Harding predicted that within a period of 90 days. this country would enjoy a period of unprecedented pros perty. He stated that one of the prob lems of the reserve board. of which he will soon be a member, will be to re- tain the supply of gold in this coun- try. He ventured the assertion that in his opinion this could be accomplished
 
 and corn and wheat.
 In regard to Birmingham, MT Hard ing expressed himself in the most op- timistic vein. He referred to the fact that John W. Gates, some years ago had declared that in his opinion, Bir- mingham would be the first inland city to reach-soon-a population of 800. 900. He urged the people to talk Bir- mingham, and then the following story illustrative of this suggestion. and H. illustrative also of the remarkable mem ory and talent of details which he possesses:
 On my left is Private John Allen of Tupelo. He talks Tupelo. He has always talked Tupelo. If I remember correctly, on February 23, 1901, MT. Al len made a speech in Congress in which he asked for the establishment in his city of a fish hatchery. and In which he boosted his city. He told the con gressmen that if they did not recog nize Tupelo, they would be the only people who failed to do so Mobile was first to recognize Tupelo, according tu the speaker, for Mobile bhilded a rail- road to that point-and then St Louis followed suit. and then Birmingham And MT Allen then added that he had made a mathematical calculation with the conclusion that Tupelo was the cen ter of the world. He gave as proof the fact that as one stands in Tupelo he will note that the horizon in every direction was eaui- distant from the earth.
 Talk Birmingham. And if you all continue to pull together this city will soon reach the status which the local newspapers have forecast"
 Robert JemisOn's Talk
 Mir. Harding told the crowd of ban queters that no man was indispensable Q. And this idea was expatiated by Robert Jemison when he told the story of how MT. Harding came to Birmingham, and of how he achieved the presidency of the First National bank.
 "Twenty-eight years ago." said Mir. Jemison, "Mr. Harding wrote me that he wanted to leave the section in which he was then living because of chills and levers. He came. He eventually went into the employ of the First National bank. And when President Barker re- tired he recommended for his success sor MT. Harding. When that recom- mendation was made to the board of di- rectors, there were many long faces. No one spoke. I was a member. the youngest in years and youngest in point of service. After hesitating. l rose to my feet, declaring that MT. Barker was correct in his Judgment. The election of MT Harding followed. He instantly made good, and has rounded out his career as a banker with the title gen. orally conferred of the best banker in the south.
 And as I predicted then the success of Mr Harding, I now predict the sue cess of MT. Barr, who will succeed him MT. Barr, with the possible exception of MT Harding. is the best banker in Alabama. He will make good. and the bank will go forward in leaps and bounds just as 1t has been going for ward since Harding took charge Major Tutwiler's Optimism Major Tutwier breathed optimism when he told of the condition of the First National bank 12 years ago and Hts condition now.
 When MT. Harding took charge" he said, "the capital stock was $60,000. The bank was paying annual dividends amounting to $15,000. Today the bank has capital of $1,500.000, and is pay ling annual dividends amounting to