Evening journal., 1919-09-05

w. hFffH NNNhH cNAA hANAHNN' hhA
rendering a service in community de-
velopment impossible through any
other source, The banker OF today
has learned that an idea is sometimes
a sound business venture and that the
character OF the promoter is sometimes
ample collateral> The banker ls the
same power IN financial circles as be-
fore, hut no has gone further and made
service his business slogan. Con-
servaiive as he must always be, he has
assumed rlghtfully the duties and re-
sponsibllltics OF citizenship. This. with
the power at his command, presents
opportunities at his command. that
come TO no other profession or busl-
ness. So the banker today can well be
said TO be a leading citizen. The State
so recognizes him. With this honor
and The opportunities attending a..
comes responsibilities OF serious i'm
port, from which you cannot escape.
Your opinion. your counsel and your
influence, by very nature OF your
business, have more than ordinary
weight. state government with rs
problems OF finance. Of health, OF edu-
cation, OF all phases OF development
are your questions.
"The leadership for a better and
greater Delaware can we'll be assumed
by this Organizatlon-and Success. ] be-
lievc VIII attend your realization Par
lisan party view sectional interest.
clicks or clans, do not hamper you.
The bank serves the community or
State without fear or favor and Della
ware anXiously awaits such leadership
No organization in Delaware today has
Ia stronger grip on the confidence Of thc
state than yours. You have only 10
make a request Of the General Assem-
bly, and your proposition is granted.
And may ] say here, and you 7 know.
will agree That this confidence so
.worihlly placed, is due, I'm no small de-
gree, 90 John :. Rossell, your president.
lie has given a character a prestige and
inspired a confidence in the bankers OF
Delaware. that we. today, and even the
future generation. may well emulate
"a banker with the well-earned title
Of leader, man OF the street In that
he knows men, an unchallenged patriot
for services In liberty Loan, and most
OF an. a son Of Delaware because he Is a
citizen Of thought. energy and purpose
with a vision OF his opportunity and
obligation.
This meeting with rs various State
problems for consideration planned by
him. illustrates more clearly than any
thing ! can say the work before you.
To illustrate: With Utah giving - per
cent Of all taxation 10 education. with
Iowa giving co per cent, and on down
10 our Delaware, fanking near The low
est With Minnesota. by Stale legisla-
tive enactment, making compulsory a
modern consolidated school building In
every district. on down 10 Delaware.
housing your sons and mine, hardly In
keeping with our dairy interest, there
Is work 10 do.
"Wlth national educators and gov
ernment authorities saying the new
school code Is the best in the country
and mass meetings, criticisms, founded
on prejudice, personal hatred, politics
and ignorance 10 defeat the State from
spending less per pupil. than forty
other states in the union, then, gentle
men. TO YOU as leaders, comes a civic
duty that challenges your manhood.
"There Is nothing drastic about the
NNuNn ~ - NAAAN M AAANhNA IT HA'NhNA NN u
reasonable expense, 10 educate future
citizens. There is nothing new, II rep
resents the best from all the systems
that have proved successful There
are no rights taken away from our
citizens. Il is merely a plan formulated
on business methods. Most OF the
criticisms are made by those who have
not even read the act, or those who do
not care 10 invest in future citizenship.
"As bankers, we make loan on a
crop. a herd or a business. and expect
returns, plus interest Aside from good
citizenship, an educated boy or girl Is
good bank loan as a future earning
power depOsitor. The banker in Della
ware today has a State duty. TO study
the new code When he does so, ] have
no fear Of his conclusions.
"This, i realize, is the topic OF the day.
but other problems Of state are worthy
OF your consideration. That OF the
survey, which Is TO system
atlze our state government Illinois by
a similar system, made by the same
people, saved over a million dollars the
first year.
But enough-others will take more
specifically. suffice for me TO say that
as country banker. now placed with
a state responsibility. ! see wonderful
than at casual
glance. you perhaps realize. With the
force OF your position and your organi- |
zalion, you can do much TO sweep away
The preiudlces, greed for power, and
malicious play on ignorance and make |
Delaware truly what she at heart IS |
/ have an abiding faith In the citizens
Df Delaware. when they are correctly |
The bankers Of the State can |
10 this effectively.
with an the thought and energy \
hat Is mine, have given 10 what ] |