The Washington herald., 1918-10-03
WEST FEELS
WAR SPIRIT
Victorious Peace Demand
ed, Holland Says-Bank-
ers Optimistic.

] Charles Arthur Hinsch, president OF
| the American Bankers Association,
spoke not only for the Middle Wesl
| when addressing the de.eEates at the
recent annual meeting Of the associ-
| alton at Chicago, but also for the en-
ure country. Mr.. Hinsch was espe-
cially qualified for so speaking as TO
| INFORM the country what the bankers
themselves already knew. namely,
that every bank in the United states
and the nearly twenty thousand MEM
bers of the American Bankers Asso-
citation are pledged to continue the
war until a victorious peace is as
sured. The bankers will do this by
utilizing if 1t be necessary their last
dollar and their last unit Of credit.
! At one time reports prevailed that
| In both the Middle and the Far West
\ there seemed to be IL not indifference
respecting the relation Of the United
states to the war, at least a lack OF
the enthusiasm which prevailed in
some other parts of the country. The
fact was, as Mr.. Hinsch well knew,
: that instead. of indifference or lack
OF enthusiasm there did prevail
throughout the Middle West and in
many parts OF the Far West, a senti-
ment which was quite as strong as
II not stronger than that which char
acterized the Eastern part Of the
country respecting the part the
| United States should take in the war.
West Favored the War.
In the West this feeling was deep
seated and it involved a seriousness
| which was reflected in what seemed
to be a quiet, unresponsive attitude.
1t was really a feeling similar to
! that which prevailed throughout the
West just before the civil war be-
gan, not finding full. enthusiastic
expression until President Lincoln
called for volunteers Immediately
after Fort Sumter was fired upon
like feeling prevailed throughout
some parts OF the South shortly after
{ the establishment of the Confederacy
But it quickly changed to enthusi-
/ astic demonstration as soon as IL
was made evident that the final ap,
peal to arms was to be made
Mr. Hinsch has long been one OF
the leading bankers OF Cincinnati,
also having served as president -st
the Cincinnati Clearing House and
z.
His business relations have brought
| him in touch with the entire Ohio
! Valley and much OF the Mississippi
Valley. He knew that in no part
. of the country are the citizens, and
especially those who are engaged in.
banking activities, more loyal and
enthusiastic in support OF the gov
ernments attitude than in the re-
gions where his personal influence and
| knowledge reached.
Twenty Thousand Banks.
There is no doubt now about the
attitude OF the citizenship of the en-
! tire United States toward the war,
and that attitude Is reflected, as Mr..
| Hinsch said. by the fact that nearly
10000 banks have been enrolled as SELL
! ing agents for the war savings and
| thrift stamps, and they took the pre-
eminent part in marketing already
nearly $4,000. 600, 900 OF liberty bonds.
What the banks have already done
they are now well prepared for again
| doing, and their cooperation not
merely in the campaign for selling
bonds. but also for giving assistance
which will be required by many OF
the subscribers OF the bonds will make
II certain that this great Offering of
81. 900 ooOo 900 will be subscribed and pos
| sibly oversubscribed within three
weeks. One thought contained in Pres
| ident Hinsch's address to the Ameri-
can bankers suggests that there does
prevail some difference of opinion re-
specting business, trade and commerce
conditions which the nation will con-
! front after the war is over. There
are some men OF experience and abil-
! ity who find themselves still doubt
ing whether conditions may not be
so chaotic when peace comes that
trade and commerce will for a time
be. perhaps. seriously impaired.
| This, however. appears not to be
the opinion OF many of those who
| are looking ahead and are Compe-
tent to form judgment Mr.. Hinsch
is one of those who believe that in
/ Of lethargy or decentralization
there is sure to come very great eN-
pansion in business. industry, trade
and commerce. In fact in his op'n-
ION what he calls the new era has
already tcgLn. It IL not to begin
after he war ends but will be an
| already weIl.tsta Olished coni,.ion.
Mr.. Htnsch should know for he has
| unusual opportunity for gaining in
| formation respecting business con-
oltions not only in the Middle West
but throughout the country. All he
mas learned justifies him in saying
| that the United States is firmly COM
mitted tosa great policy Of CONNER
cial and industrial expansion. For IL
this be not our policy then we must
be prepared to admit that we are
ready to surrender our position and
| lapse into the state. of a second-rate
and decadent nation. Mr. Hnsch be-
l1eves in co-operat ton and Co-ordina-
ton upon a very large scale. q rela-
tion in which the government will
have a conspicuous part. He also
believes, as apparently Mr.. Harding.
! OF the Federal Reserve Board, be-
| lieves, that it may be necessary for
bankers Of the United States under
the wise guidance OF the government
to enter into some cooperation with
the BANKERS Of the nations which are
our allies so that the stupendous
1 questions # finance which will arise
/ Immediately the war Is ended
| may be salts y answered.
| HOLLAND.