The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-03-16
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

 farmer.
 It's the old story of the farmer lad who left the farm on arriving at the age of manhood and spent 40 years in the city to make enough to get back on the farm.
 I did not know until few years ago that bankers were taking so much in- terest in farmers and in farms. knew they lent them money and took mort gages, but I didn't know they were so much interested in improving farm meth ods.
 The first time I got wise was on visit to Washington, Ga. where I heard Cashier Cnow Governor) McCord of the federal reserve bank of Atlanta, make ar address to a group of bankers It was more a talk on farming than on banking.
 I heard him the other night at Albany, and while the larger part of his address was on the practical workings of the fed eral reserve bank, still he had quite good deal of sound advice to give on farming.
 I dare say that if McLane Triton had been present there would have been some fireworks, for the governor would, no doubt, have challenged the statement made by him here on Wednesday, March 15, at the annual meeting of Group of the Alabama Bankers association.
 
 Here is the little pebble or rather the briclSbat, that the Pell City banker hurled at the federal reserve banking sy stem: we have been doubIe-crossed, whipped, gagged and thrown to the dogs, and any state bank that joins the fed eral reserve system is either weak in the intellect or weak in the vault.
 I was real sorry to hear him say it. Not that I know anything about the charge one way or the other. It merely dispelled one of my dreams and shattered a cherished hope, for Governor McCord bank in Atlanta was lending on notes calling only for s11 This seemed to me to make it possible for even an editor to touch Uncle Sam for a loan.
 I'm going to leave the question to the fianciers to settle, for I'm outclassed when it comes to knowing about banking laws or currency reforms. I'm neither banker or statesman, when 1t comes to =
 -
 I had the pleasure of introducing Mrs Mathis to the bankers Tom Bowron in- troduced me first I thought it was rather a silly performance for me to un- dertake to make known so well known celebrity to the men who were backing her. Tom said it wouldn't hurt her, and might do me good. This is my apology for taking up few minutes of the bank CTS time.
 thought it was gracious thing that Group l did at Albany in passing such handsome resolutions of confidence in John Frye and the Traders National bank.
 The north Alabama bankers showed their esteem for A. E. Jackson, pres- ident of the First National bank of Hart selle, by electing him president of Group of the Alabama Bankers associa- ton at it's session in Albany, succeed ing Thomas A. Bowles cashier of tho Central National bank of Albany.
 l have attended two of the Group and two of the Alabama Bankers asso- citation conventions and found out that a banker outside of his banking house is really human. I used to think they were beings without affections or sentiment It isn't so-they are good fellows at heart and mighty likable when they are not suspecting touch.
 The banquet at the Country club was most enjoyable. The address of Oscar Wells, published elsewhere, was timely and helpful. Mrs. Mathis was at her best Tom Smith is an ideal toastmas- ter.
 I want to go on record as commenting the action of the bankers of Alabama in
  taking so much interest in the farmers of Alabama. The work Mrs Mathis is dong abroad is advertising the farm lands of Alabama throughout the country and the work she is doing at home is n- creasing the wealth of the state.
 
 James J. Keith, Jr.. chairman of the agricultural committee of Group ?. Alabama Bankers association, made strong indictment of the "absentee landlord system" It began in Old Testament times. was intensified in Ireland and now throttles Alabama. It was gratifying to hear Alex E. Walker, superintendent of the state banking department say that "John Skelton Williams. comptroller of the currency, has pronounced the Ala bama laws as the best in the union" Henry T. Bartlett. secretary of the association, made quite a hit at AL bany in speech telling why he wasn't going to be as fluent secretary as McLane Triton. Jr. thought the hope of every banker was to have his as- sets in fluid condition. l We all cannot be farmers, but most of us who live in cities can plant a little plot of ground. My garden is already sown
 Take the advice of the Birmingham