The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-06-12
SLOPE BANKERS
in CONVENTION VII
TALK BUSINESS
President James E. Pkelan Of
First National Bank of Bow,
man Makes Fine Talk
TO HAVE SHOW TONIGHT
Visitors Will Be Entertained at
Grand by Provident Insur-
ance Co. This Evening


Bankers from all parts of western
North Dakota, serious. minded bust
ness men, assembled here to talk
business, gathered at the Grand
theatre this morning for the annual
convention of the Slope group of the
North Dakota Bankers association
The group was called to order by
Pres. w. A. Lanterman, of !Mandan
|'The invocation was offered by Rev
H. G. Postlethwaite of the First Pres
byterian church, after which Pres. R
R. Fields of the Bismarck CONNER
cial club welcomed the visitors IT, the
capital city. President Lahtfe n
responded, fSss5tf 4 '
The address of John N. Hagan,
commissioner of agriculture and la.
bor, on the Missouri river bridge, was
decidedly interesting and instructive,
and it made every banker present a
loyal booster for this improvement,
and better friend of the commits
sioner of agriculture. Mr.. Hagan
went unqualifiedly on record in favor
of the bridge, adding his support to
that of Governor Frazier Mr.. Hagan
elaborated on the great part which
this span is destined to play in th~
development Of the country west Of
the river. 5 y
The election Of officers and reports
Of committees and selection of th~
next meeting place occupied the early
hours of the afternoon An address
by Director F. W.. Cathro on the Bapb
of North Dakota followed, and ther
FJ. e. Phelan spoke on the industrial
program in North Dakota. ..,,..
At 5 o'clock the bankers embarked
for an auto tour of the city; at =
they will enjoy banquet, and at "
they will be entertained by the Provi.
dent Insurance Co. of Bismarck. a.
the Grand theatre, with specialize
imported film, For Better or Worse,'
a De Mile comedy which is cork.
err ~ Mg
FEW FACTS ABOUT NORTH g. q.
DAKOTA K
Speaking before the association to-
day, Pres. j. E. Phelan, president Of
the First National bank Of Bowmai,,
offered "A Few Facts. About North Da-
~ tszs' 't,S i. 39
""The North Dakota Bankers asso-
citation is not a political organization.
it is broadly interested in affairs Of
state. When politicians encroach on
business without due. regard for. ths
integrity and the honor of. the STATE,
it is time for individuals OF any; anu
Ill aassociations to- act. Ia,4 5eaJ sTe,
What / say, today must not be taken
as voicihg the sentiments or expressed
will Of the Bankers association. I am
speaking for myself, not; independent
of the will and desires Of the associa-
tion, but dependent on my associates in
every day business and in social life
BY social life 1 mean the >fraternal and
industrial life of. the country and the
remote districts among the ranchmeA
and farmers !; the cities and towns near
and far; among the good people Of the
earth who are earthly and human.
with feet on the ground, respecting God
given natural laws, and not seeking
the ultra theoretical utopia Or the i'm
possible
-, . NOT LOSING SLEEP 4
"Within the last two months I have
Travelled as far as Seattle, San Fr%l
cisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and the
Twin Cities. During. the winter many
of the press dispatches starting some
where in North Dakota and spreading
out over the country, have been alarm
ing, disgustingly sensational, and dis
tressing. People of prominence in line
of brain and common sense have asked
what we were coming to and where we
were drifting. All 1 could say was,
that in my 62nd year, everything I had
as the. result of a very active indus
trial life, starting at 16 years OF age.
was ill North Dakota, and 7 was not
losing any sleep over it. Somebody
was stopping over, and the good sense
of the people ultimately would require
moderation and some action. .
1T has been said that God must
have loved variety. Each face type;
each heart a type; each race a type.
For any one class to dominate unjustly
when the ballot is free is out of the
question for any considerable time.
Looking at the situation in North
Dakota from afar or near, some aspects
are tragical, some are on the order Of
burlesque, while now and then situa-
tions exciting ones sensetof humor.
Consider the fundamental example
of democracy as practiced in the New
England town meeting-'as simple and
intelligent>an expression of democracy
as ever devised Then consider our
democracy in North Dakota.
HE'LL BENT ON THE ROAD
"Vernon Kellogg in the Atlantic re-
Gently describes German officer, who
at the height of prospective German
glory, contended that if America wish
ed to be great, she should acquire as
soon as possible. a kaiser and general
staff. Do you realize that we in North
Dakota have acquired a kaiser and Il
general staff and are now Ill bent
on the road to greatness?
"One of the elements of prospective
greatness is the wiping out of the in
dependent press, while at great head
quarters, the general staff will select
one subservient paper in each county
as the official organ representing the
kaiser and the general staff, independ-
ent Of the people. Furthermore, the
general staff is provided with 100000
without any strings to it, to spread
propaganda and employ satellites to in.
duce immigration and incidently en-
courage emigration.
NOT UNFAIR TO LEAGUE
"Many here can testify that have
not been unfair to, the Nonpartisan
league. I have contended and still con-
ICo,finuod ON pn 90 Souonl