The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-05-10
Devotion to Country Is Key note of All Speeches at Yesterdays Sessions
 at Tutwiler
COL. COMER HITS UPON RESPONSIVE CHORD IN
 DISCUSSING THE WAR
Oscar Wells Introduces Pres ident Jackson, Who Makes Annual Address and An
 nounces Committees
By W. J. BoLEs

Patriotism, seIf-sacrifice and un- selfish devotion to the nation at war was the keynote of the speeches made and reports read at the first session of the Alabama Bankers association yes- terday afternoon. Each report and each speaker referred in glowing terms to the part Alabama and Ala bama bankers had taken in the pre- paredness programme and of their their absolute obedience to all the rules and orders issued by the gov ernment authorities since the declara- tion of war against Germany and Austria Hungary
 Col G. L. Conner, veteran Eufaula banker particularly struck responsive chord when he declared that the war would not end until American soldiers march through the streets of Berlin and allied flags floated over the imperial palace.
 When President J. Kirkman Jackson of this city called the meeting to order in the ball room of the Tutwiler hotel at o'clock more than 100 members were present Rev Dr. Albert Sidney Johnson, pastor of the South High lands Presbyterian church, in his in- vocation, prayed for divine guidance in meeting the demands of the country in the war emergency.
 OSCAR WELLS SPEAKS
 Oscar Wells, president of the First l. I. Jackson, bade the visitors welcome to the city in a timely and appropriate speech. He declared that the bankers never at any time had more essential or more important work to perform than now; that this session could not be classed as a season of play; that it could not get away from the serious ness of the situation confronting the country.
 "A year ago in our convention at Mobile, just a few days after Congress had declared war against Germany, we were in the midst of a discussion of how to raise s2000.000 and to increase production of food in Alabama" he said "We didn't know how we could raise such a large sum of money, or increase the food production. but we met both problems successfully. We have just now passed through the third Liberty Loan and succeeded in raising double the amount we then thought impossi- ble. We have met all demands; Liberty Loans, Red Cross. Young Mems Chris tian association, Knights of Columbus, council of defense. and in all these ac- tivities the bankers of Alabama have met all demands upon them.
 The speaker said that not only must the banker keep his assets in good condition, but he must also perform the task of both banker and citizen that the banker has a peculiar part in the Liberty Loans and war savings campaign. and an exclusive part in war financing and carrying the 9O-day cer- tificates, and that he must somehow find a way to differentiate between credits essential to business enter prise and credits solely for the benent of convenience of his client. In closing MT. Wells heartily we>scmed the Visl- tors to Birmingham. assuring them that Birmingham people were always glad to see them, and extended them an ln- yitation to come frequently, TOT we get more from you than you get rom L.