The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-18
Club Seeks One of
Twelve q. s. Institutions.
SHOW IMPORTANCE OF STATE
Committee Ready to Prove
That Kansas Is Worthy.
s. e. Cobb Named to Head the
Boosting Committee.

Twenty-four hours after President
Wilson signed the land loan bank bill,
the board of directors of the Topeka
Commercial club began fight for
landing one of the twelve government
banks in Topeka. Already J. Will
Kelley, secretary of the Commercial
club. has sent kilograms to Kansas
them to use all their influence in
landing one of the big banks.
John S. Dean this afternoon tele-
phoned to Charles f. Lobdell, presi-
dent of the First National bank at
Great Bend and a candidate for ap-
pointment on the farm loan board, in
viting him to come to Topeka and
listen to Topeka's arguments for the
placing of a land loan bank in To-
peka. Mr.. Lobdell is expected to ar
rive here in a few days.
Cobb Heads Committee.
S. f. Cobb, vice president of the
Rank of Topeka and an enthusiastic
booster for the big bank in Topeka,
was elected by the board of directors
as chairman of a committee which
will begin Immediately to prepare
data showing Topeka's accessibility
to agricultural activities in this sec
ton of the Missouri valley. 1t is con-
sidered probable that Kansas, Okla
homa, Missouri. Iowa and Nebraska
will comprise one of twelve regions
for the installation of a farm loan
bank.
George Godfrey Moore of the Ger
mania Life Insurance company, stat
ed that the Importance of Kansas as
center for loaning money on farm
mortgages was realized by life insur-
ance companies. These companies
have loaned more than $60,00c, 900
on farms in Kansas. This just in
cludes the companies operating under
the New York law.
He Can Prove 1t.
Mr.. Cobb has little fear that he will
fail to prove Topeka the logical loca-
ton for the bank but he, as well as
other members of the board of direc-
tors, fears the injection of politics
into the selection of a bank.
1t is understood that Omaha is be-
ginning to pull strings for the bank.
Omaha is represented by Gilbert M.
Hitchcock, one of the strongest Demo-
crat senators in the Missouri valley.
Since Bryan has lost his influence
with the administration crowd, Hitch
cock is the man to whom Wilson ad-
herents look to overcome the anti-ad-
ministration feeling engendered
through Wilson's treatment of the
Commoner. However, Omaha is not
looked upon as the logical center OF a
region including Oklahoma, Kansas,
Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska. Nor
will Lincoln, Omaha's rival, look with
favor upon Omaha's getting the bank.
Dean Outlines Plan.
J. S. Dean outlined to the directors
the method which will be pursued in
operating the bank. Topeka should
not only get the bank but the gov
ernment registrars office, Mr.. Dean
declared In this office will be main
tanned the records on all mortgages
and data of all descriptions neces-
sarily arising as a result of the main
tenance of such a bank. Then, at
torneys must be employed to examine
mortgages and other legal affairs of
the bank.
Before leaving the Commercial club
this noon, Mr.. Cobb expressed his de-
termination to begin Immediately the
accumulation of facts and figures to
present to the board Immediately af-
ter its formation, if the data should
be desired. The board will be COM
prised of two Republicans, two Demo-
Gratis and the secretary OF the treas