The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-10
BIG BANKER MAY
 RUN FOR GOVERNOR
By HOLLAND.


 New York, May -(Special)-W1th- in few hours there came a day or two ago information from Boston that William Alexander Gaston is willing to permit his friends to bring him for ward as the nominee of the democratic party of Massachusetts as q candidate for governor at the election next No- vember
 So also there came from Boston au- thoritstive information that the mana gers of the new Franco American banking corporation had been chosen and among these mana gers or direc- tors is the name of Daniel c. Wing. Mir, Gaston and MT. Wing are presi- dents of the two largest national banks in Boston. Under their management these two banks have been enabled to be listed among the $100,000, 900 banks of the United States. MT. Gaston is by profession lawyer. He inherited great legal ability and experience from his father, the late William Gastcn, who was elected governor of Massa- chusetts in the early sos and who gained the prestige of having been the first democrat to be chosen to that office for many years. Mir. Wing is q son of Iowa and his early experience and training fitted him for the import ant banking responsibilities which were placed upon him in the way of gradual promotion until at last he be- came president of the First National bank of Boston.
 MT. Gaston went from active pro- fessional practice almost directly to the presidency of the Shawmut Ma tional bank, although he had served as director in several banking nstitJ- tions Probably his directorship was associated with professional service.
 He early in his professional career revealed not only liking but also a capacity for political life. He may have inherited that from his associa- tion with his father who, however. much preferred his professional career to political activity. In fact, it was due largely to his professional ability and his high rank at the Suffork bar that MT. Gaston was selected as the democratic candidate for governor, and the high respect which he had gained, the admiration for his brilliant qualities and his personal char acter made it possible for him to se cure sufficient number of votes to enable him to take the oath of office as governor of Massachusetts. The son, William A. Alexander, began his more prominent political service as a m ember of the staff of the much loved governor of Massachusetts, the late William A. Russell. There followed speedy recognition of him as one Of the, leaders of the democratic party of Massachusetts He was nominated twice for governor, once in 1902 and then again in 1903. He was a delegate to the democratic national convention of 1904 and was named by his party as it5 candidate for the United States Senate in 1905
 BANKER AND POLITICIAN
 When Mir. Gaston became president of the Shawmut bank that institution stood al the head, at least, in popular estimation. of the banks of Boston. Iie however, decided that it should be still further advanced. He adopted modern methods of banking and he was at lass privileged to see his institution num- bered among the s1oo ooo 600 banks
 On the other hand. MT. Wing was never interested excepting as citizen in political affairs. His was the experience which has been the good fortune of many Of the present day young leaders in the banking life of the country He was at first messenger in one of the banks of Lincoln. Neb. His promotions were rapid He possessed a native gift for finance and banking The govern ment recognized his ability and ap- pointed him national bank examiner. It was as national bank examiner that President Harrison nominated A. Barton Hepburn as comptroller of the currency, and after his service there was ended he was chosen President of the Third Ma tional bank of New York. and after ward to the presidency of the Chase Ma tional bank. So also Mir Wing, after having served as bank examiner, was made receiver of the old Globe Nationa, bank of Boston, and having successfully wound up the affairs of that bank he was chosen president of the Massachusetts National bank. Thereupon he began a movement toward consolidate which resulted in the taking over of the Massa- chusetts bank by the First National. When that was reorganized he became president of it. Then began a strenuous. earnest and yet honorable competition for supremacy in the banking world of Boston. MT. Wing at last reached the position where he was able favorably to compare the First National with the Shawmut. He abstained from politics