The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-10-23
BANKERS CONDEMN
 STATEMENTS MADE
 BY COMPTROLLER
Williams ReneWs Charges and the Defense of Acts of New York Bankers Is
 Feeble
By Associated Press

Washington. October 22.-Contro- versy over charges made by John Skelton Williams, comptroller of the currency, against certain New York bankers, came to a head today at the concluding session of the American Bankers Association convention with the adoption of resolution condemn ing '-utterances' of an unnamed in divfdual. Action was taken over the protest of several member bankers. who urged that the controversy was between the comptroller and the New York bankers and in no way affected the association.
 The resolution declared that if such misleading differences were made for personal qualification or profit. they cannot be too severely denounced IL added that the "utterances" complained O. had created an "unfounded hostility between bankers and the public and depiored such a destruction of public confiden
 coincidentally with adoption of the resolution, Mr. Williams renewed his charges in a formal statement which declared the defense of the alleged ac-s of the bankers in New York had been feeble"
 Reading of the report of the reso- lutions committee by Francis Il. Sis- sion of New York, opened the counter attack on Mir. Williams in the conven- t>u as well as his defense by several S kers. His principal supporter was D. Guin of Mahony, Pa, who as serN>N g sat Mir. Williams was the most efficient and faithful comptroller of the currency ever in offfice He called upon the convention to disregard the controversy as private quarrel, say ing the members of the association had --. ,fvxsx xxrh hcth thfra was truth in the charges. Kisses greeted reference to the comptrollers efficiency.
 ]. W Kehoe of Kentucky in reply asserted that Mir Williams had hurled the charges into the face of us" He added If we make any changes ln the resolution, let's make 1t stronger
 The resolution as adopted follows:
 TEXT OF RESOLUTIONS {
 Tn this hour when the element of Eenfidence is so vital in stabilizing and Sustaining business conditions we de- pIore utterances which. without war rant of fact, challenge the integrity nS Americas bankers as whole and call into question their motives and pvactices in the conduct of their busi- ness. Criticism based on harmful gem Ssalizing Is most unjust and mislead- Ing. slFE- -Ine lBeV1tADle eiiect OL Sh~i DtN'--'N ss | urroanded statements is to create SKtse differences in the minds of tie pssbiic. We protest against such re Elections as not only unfair but in the Present emergency most untimely, as Calculated to create an unfounded hos xsIity in the relations between bankers ard the public and in extreme in stances to breed violence of actions and sAangerons disturbances of the public mind.
 'If such misleading inferences s}ould be made for personal profit. or Qualification. they cannot be too se- erely denounced as outrages against fMe public interest. The delicacy or tae credit structure of the country xannot safely. stand such violent han aling. and intemperate and unfounded attacks must seriously threaten it's se- easrity"
 The convention received the report of It's committee on trade acceptances headed by Jerome Thralls of New York, es~llich urged American business men to c inch leadership in world commerce q stablished during the war. He said that the idea of loaning money on de- rrand notes and with trade acceptances as collateral was growing in favor and constituted means for both bankers and business men to maintain. if not increase. their grip on inter- national trade.
 A committee was named to give fCr- tber consideration to the subject.
 Several thousand of the bankers plan to visit Baltimore and Annapolis to- morrow as the guests of Baltimore financial house.~