The Mena weekly star., 1916-05-11
BANKERS BUILD FOR FUTURE


 In almost every issue of the Ar kansas newspapers that come to the Star desk, and in specials from news gathering sources, are seen items in- dicating marked awakening among bankers and business men to the inn- portance ow lending their aid, their moral and their financial encour- agement to the uplift of the farm CT and farming interests, in guid- ing them into more profitable methods and channels, into thrift and prosperity. In our state it has come to be recognized that the greatest good can be done through turning greater attention toward livestock, this as a real step to- ward diversification in it's best and most profitable form-a diversifica- tion that means the improvement of soils and crops, and by placing. in the hands of the farmers something that will always be money crop good meat producing animals, as well as producers of milk and but ter. The development of better cat tie and hogs seems to attract the most attention, and the popular plan is to advance money at extra low rates to farmers who would buy thoroughbred cattle, and tol boys who desire thoroughbred hogs.
 In carrying forword this work of building for the future prosperity, for wider range of business ac- tivity and higher level of life and living, for more contented and happy people, the long-headed bank CT and business man knows he is providing a better future for him. self, It is selflshness. all right, but the kind of selilshness that appeals to the far-seeing man who knows that he will reap more satisfaction and more profit in the improved community conditions. This is al selfishness that builds-it is a broad minded selilshness, as it were, com pared with the narrow, pinehing selfishness of the Shyl3ck and the miser In sense it is in tune with that selfishness that causes wc- man to give smile, pleasant word, comforting pat to trou- bled child, a rose to someone who is sick, a basket of good things to needy family at Christmas time ~ all done from selflshness--yes, the selfish desire to be happier through seeing joy created in the hearts of others.
 Well, there's lots of this sort of spirit in this old world of ours. It shows up in the acts of men who sometimes are suspected of the oth- er-the miserly, hard kind of sell flshness. It is showing up more and more in corporations that we used to declare to be without heart or soul.
 These things are leading to better things. They are a powerful force toward keeping folks on the farm, and will lead others back to the farm holding thousands and lead ing other thousands from unpro- duetive lives into lives of use fitness, all because they make pos sible better homes, better living con- ditions, more community interests and happier lives on the farms of our land. In this way they are counteracting indigeney and suf- fering-doing more, in fact, to solve that world-old problem of poverty that is ever with us than sll the so- called charity and giving of aims since history began.
 And 1t is right that the banker | the financier, should lead in this work. In his hands are placed the 1 tools for just such enterprise. In fact very largely. it is the banker that decides whether community shall thrive or stagnate, shall go forward or slip backward. He can encourage enterprise and promote thrift, or he can discourage it and | force the opposite He IS the one to whom a community looks for lead 1 ership, and can make that leader ship good, make it constructive, or make it bad and destructive.
 But the better side, as indicated by the news that is spreading over 1 our state. is gaining. is vastly in the | ascendency.
 And it is well.