The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-23
That Is Plan Advanced by John
e. Wagner of Larned.
Institutions of State Can Han
die 10 Million Slice.
PLAN BEFORE CONVENTION
At Least 1000 Banks Earned
$4,000 During Last Year.
Bonds, if Purchased, Would Not
Be ReSOld by Purchasers.

Kansas banks may buy $10,000.000
worth of liberty loan bonds from their
1916 profits. The bonds are to be
bought not for sale to individuals, but
as a patriotic investment of the bank
ers of their last years earnings. The
plan for bank purchases of war bonds
in an amount aggregating from $lO,-
900, 900 to $12.0OO,000 was advanced at
the state house today by John E Wag-
ner, of Larned, following a conferen e
with Governor Capper.
II is probable that the plan for a
bulk war loan investment by Kansas
bankers may be proposed in Topeka
this week during the convention of the
Kansas Bankers association. Wagner,
who is president of the First state
uank Of Larned and interested in other
banking institutions. proposes that the
bankers of the state invest their 1916
profits in war bonds. He believes
these profits will aggregate 10000
600. They may reach S12,O00.O0O. He
places the profit of the average Kansas
hank at $40, 900 for last year. At least
900 of the 1.20O banks of the state
will reach that figure, he declares, ana
the total for the state at large hhsul
reach S12.00O,O00.
To Be live Issue.
Wagner's plan is the first tangible
uroposition advanced for heavy con-
centrated investment in war bonds by
Kansas institutions. If the plan Is
adopted by the banks at their meeunS
in Topeka this week. it is quite prop
able that a number of large corpora
lions Will follow suit. The move may
mean concentrated war loan purchases
If S2O,OOO,0OO to S25,00O,O0O IN TINS
te. About S4,000,000 worth or war
bonds have already been placed in TINS
state il is asserted.
Win, tbe coming to Topeka this
week of Secretary McAdoo in an ap-
peal for liberty bond subscriptions
the Wagner plan is certain to be maze
one Of the live issues before the ran
sas bankers. Nearly 1000 bankers
are expected to attend the convention
in Topeka Many bankers are already
in the city and plans for handling war
loan subscriptions and meeting de-
mands for money for handing the
1917 crop. are the real issues dis
cussed by the money lenders.
In Western Counties.
an western Kansas counties. es-
pecially where the wheat crop is prac-
ticaIIy a failure, heavy subscriptions
to the war loan may be held back by
local demands for money, said Wag-
ner. I'm Pawnee. my home county.
the wheat crop is practically a total
failure. The farmers are now plant
ing an unusual acreage of spring
crops and it requires an enormous
amount of money to handle the prop
osition The banks. of course. must
take care of these local demands.
Il think, tho. every Kansas bank
should invest in these bonds There
is no reason why every bank in this
state should not invest its 1915 prof
its in liberty bonds. 1t would mean a
purchase of not less than $40, 1000. 900
worth of these bonds by the banks.
The bankers can afford to do it. Such
a move would be a wonderfully patri =
otto step and would insure Kansas
taking her full share and more than
her share of the bonds.
our Larned bank made a profit of
$4,000 last year OF course the av-
eraEe for the state might not be so
large-probably not more than So
600 for 1000 of the stronger banks
Yet our little bank out at Cimarron
earned SO per cent fast year-or a
profit of $4,000 l would favor not
only the investment of last years
profits. but the profits of banks dur
ing the war period in the purchase of
war bonds"
Wagner is one of the strong bank
crs of western Kansss, has for a num-
Der Of years been active in politics and
is a former president of the Kansas
State Bankers association Under
the plan advanced by Wagner the
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