The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-08
Kansas Bankers Association
Adopts Novel Plan Here.
Course of Instruction Outlined
for 5000 Young Men.
NO SCRUBBING BRASS RAIL
"Beginning at Bottom" System
Thrown to Basket.
Valuable Prizes for Clerks Who
Make Best Showing.

Kansas is to have a training school
for bank cIerks"a sort of study by
mail on advancement from janitor to
bank president. The school is to be
established by the Kansas bankers
association. The association will issue
its own textbooks and the course will
be free to more than 5000 young men
and young women employed in the
1900 state and national banks in this
state.
Courses of study on practical bank
ing will be worked out by the state
association and the school VIII be one
of the most unique in the. country.
Some of the most successful and wide
ly known bankers in kansaS-Gobel,
Bailey, Ames, Sawyer, Benson, Null
vane, Chandler, Bergman, Stitch and
many otherS-will contribute to the
course. They will give ideas on the
business side of banking and their
views will be worked out in the form
of studies for abe young bank clerks.
Prizes Are Offered.
Not only will the state association
give free the course of study to the
bank employees, but prizes will be
offered for the best showing. Every
clerk will be given a chance and adj
vancement will follow advancement
in the banking school
1T means that the old system of
starting the banking business by
scrubbing the brass rail and the door
knob will be revolutioned," said w.
w. Bowman of Topeka, president of
the association. ut means that the
clerk who struggles along at $40 to
$40 month waiting for someone
higher up to advance or die or retire
in order to offer a chance for promo
ton will be changed and that the bank
clerk will go up on strict merit
scale.
The banking business is one of the
oct inn 70 1t lnStlf1l-
tions in the world. Yet there is no
school for bankers. Every other
business and profession has a school
There is no reason why the bankers
should drag behind In Kansas they
don't intend to do it. Just at this
time a special educational committee
of seven prominent bankers has taken
up the proposition and will outline a
course of study.
Three Thousand i'm State.
There are probably 5000 bank
clerks in Kansas-bright, promising
young men and young women-who
will be given the advantages of the
course. The plan will not only mean
a regular course of study on practical
banking, but will include county and
district meetings where these young
people may meet and exchange ideas
and compare notes concerning condi-
tions faced and met in the various
institutions. Prizes will also be offer
ed for -the~best showing and advance
ment will be based largely on the rec
ord in the banking school, think the
new system will prove a great sue
cess.
In Kansas are some of the big
bankers of the nation. Their adj
vancement and success have been due
to personal efforts without assistance.
With a little help, many of them
might have made even more rapid
progress. Just now the school plan
is being developed by the committee.
In ten years. though, L believe its eff
feet will be noticed by every import
ant bank in Kansas"
Owing to the fact that no school for
bankers has ever been esta blished, it
is probable that original texts will be
provided in Kansas. These texts will
be written by the bankers of Kansas,
a number of whom have advanced to
positions of national prominence in
banking