The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-20

was, We thought and SAID, after ]
was too late, that our Presiden
could not have known of these an,
arranged to attend" We had ref
erence to the California State Build
ing-Loan League meeting held a
the Inside Inn, Panama Pacific Elk
position, on July g." the United
States reporting there. The frs
tions meetings, held there July 27
IS and 20, and the Internationa
Congress of Building Associations o.
the World, held at the same place
on July 30 Just after our Presi
dent had left.
If it could only have been ar.
ranged so that he could have attend.
Cd all these right through, it would
have been worth a lot of money to
Lakeland, Polk county and all Flor
ida, for he could never have forgot
ten, nor failed to preach of the vast
good these institutions are doing
where well established.
But, as usual the newspapers can
help out some, so | will cite some Of
the things that were said and done
there, for Florida seems not to ha ne
been represented among the 33
States reporting tn re. The first
will be from the address of Presi-
dent Charles Eugene Clark, respond
ing to the address of welcome.
Like the Argonauts of old, we
have gathered at the Golden Gate,
through which heave the long swells
OF the Pacific, as many of us have
journeyed from our distant homes
across the continent to hold this,
the twenty-third annual convention
of the United States League of Lo-
cal Building and Loan Associations
I'VE live in practical age; one
very commercial. wherein success is
measured largely in money, and
though our societies are much con-
cerned in its saving, yet we save it
for homes, whose hearthstones are
the affairs at which we worship, and
on which rests our republic, our
hope for the future and of heaven.
Then is not our cause that of the
masses, who inspire our being and
for whose better condition in life We
labor?
For our local associations teach
them the necessity and virtue of
systematic saving, the value of
thrift and economy, and the worth
and dignity of labor.
1--WE make known to them that
true accomplishment is the result Of
opportunity availed of, and of per-
sonal effort made, and that Char
acter is evolved, not taught" and
that by men and women working to-
gether they may lift each other to-
ward heaven.
Through our gospel of self-help
thhu vi SO-oPCid VIC IuSDlIc Ill tUc
heart of the toiler and saver a new
hope. We give him courage and
dissipate the grayness and misery
that has be-clOuded his everyday
life, and bring to him and his the
music of new day, and add to their
joy and wonder of living and fill
their lives with content and peace.
"Our works have nourished us
and we have grown with the years.
For scarce half century since we
were but mere handful, as we be-
gan our helpful mission on the
banks of the Delaware. We now
number more than three millions
and have spread from sea to sea, and
are of the very bone and sinew of
the land and make largely for its
welfare
Our growth in the far west is
marvellous, as attested by the numer-
Gus fourishing associations, and the
countless homes builded through
them in the States of California,
Oregon and Washingto as we'll as
throughout the great western land.
1--WE are now wrestling with the
question of rural credit and endeav-
oring to impress upon Congress and
the people of these United States
that we can best aid the farmer in
serving his financial needs. We want
his hearty cooperation and with it
can solve this problem. The Land
Banks in New York are a step in the
right direction and will aid our as
sociations materially in supplying
funds for their needs.
In the past year our assets have