El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-05-19

silver During the past Is years the
mines Of the United States produced
gold and silver valued at $500, 100000,
while. during the same period, the &C
cumulated savings Of the people in
creased fy $4,000, 100000, and this in
spite Of our natural wastefulness and
extravaganza.
What Bankers Can Do.
That the minds Of the people can be
re-ched and profoundly impressed in a
short period Of time when a systematic
effort IS put forth on a broad scale, can
be proved by advertising campaigns
which have been carried on in the IN
terest Of scores of different manufac-
tured products. 7 believe this point
can best be illustrated, however, by the
recent nation wide movement on the
part Of the TRANSPORTATION interests in
behalf of the safety first idea II is
certainly due, in part, to this prOpagan-
da that the number OF persons killed
and injured in train accidents has been
steadily reduced the past three years
from 1900 in 1912 to 1900 in 1914
More significant even than these fig
ures is the fact. Of which we are all
conscious, that we cannot start to run
in front Of a moving street car or ap-
proach a railroad crossing in our auto
mobile without the slogan Of safety
first" passing through our minds and
prompting an impulse Of caution
Advertising Works Wonders
II the transportation interests IN
very short period of time have succeed
ed in making an impression on the
minds Of the people. and effecting an
economy in human life. certainly it IS
not too much to claim that the banking
intefests OF the country, if they were to
unite in a vigorous and systematic cam
paign OF education, could impress the
minds of the people and bring about an
amazing economy in dollars and cents
The newspapers and periodicals Of
the country, through which the people
must be principally reached, would be
found most responsive TO such an effort
and ready TO lend great assistance It
is hard to teach an "old dog new
tricks" and the minds most ready to
respond TO the appeal for thrift will be
the minds OF the children. Too much
emphasis cannot be laid on the import
ance Of personal effort on the part OF
each banker among his own customers
and in his own community I would
urge upon every national banker who
has not already done so. the importance
OF Opening M a savings department in
his institution and starting an adver-
Using campaign along this line
south and West Lack Thrift.
It is proper to call your attention to
the fact that the spirit OF thrift and
savings seems especially lacking in the
south and west In six New England
states so out Of every 100 men. women
and children put by their nickels and
pennies for a rainy day" while in the
south and west. scarcely so out Of each
1000 save systematically. The finan-
cial independence and prosperity OF the
south and west can be advanced won
derfuIly il the bankers Of these sections
viii bestir themselves in a united effort
to encourage the people TO lay aside
small proportion of their earnings in a
savings bank, which would soon ma
terially increase the visible supply OF
capital available for the needs of our
commerce and industries
While most Of the rest Of the world IS
bent on destruction, is squandering its
wealth recllessly and wasting life and
property, 1t is manifestly our duty 10
return to a simpler and more ecOnOmi-
cal scale of living. The American peO-
pie by thrift and economy must do what
they can to establish and maintain the
financial balance Of the world
believe that the greatest construct
i've service that bankers can perform at
this time is to endeavor by every means
at their command TO impress upon the
minds OF the people the necessity for
each individual man, woman and child
to practice the virtue Of thrift