The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-07-14
Let Your Common
Sense Guide You

The Star congratulates the Dexter Horton banks on
the open, candid manner in which they have met sim
lister propaganda that mysteri0usly began few days
ago.
A little group Of persons, with malicious motive,
started whispering around, 'They tell that the Dex
ter Horton hank Is near the rocks il you have any
money in II l advise you to get it out" There
variations this lie, but the general tenor the
same.
And, always, where there is a bell wether there
were certain number Of human sheep who followed.
small run developed.
The old-time bank president understood money, but
he wasn't very wise in the workings of the human
heart. He constitutionay dreaded publicity of bank
affairs. except okehed- advance, eulogistc stuff
But times changing and bank presidents learn
ing that the public has both a right TO know about
financial matters and determination to find out; and
that wise policy to tell the truth unpleasant
aspects Of the subject
Over in Tacoma few weeks ago malicious
started an institution that and is, sound
any in the country. The scare launched by
body with a grudge, haf-wit obsession, per-
verted desire to tear down.
The manager of the bank promptly called in the
newspaper men, laid the facts before them and invited
them to tell the whole world about the run and how
foolish il was.
This bank manager ordered the doors kept open night
and day and everybody paid promptly in full
Every hour for whole night and most of the next
day an % interTrban @ train entered the city with ONE
money piled in the vaults Of that bank than was
gathered in one spot in Tacoma before
IL
heap of money scarcely touched When people who
had planned Withdrawals began inquiring into the
FACTS they how foolish they looked, how like
sheep they acting and they went back to work.
That bank by its prompt, courageous laying of the
cards on the table, converted serious attack its
business into demonstration of strength and conf
dcnce. II taught whole city in day how unshake-
ably solid it was; 1t gained prestige that will endure
for many years.
Now history is repeating itself here The whispered
insinuations against the Dexter Horton banks Just
as unfounded, just as malicious.
The Dexter Horton banks constitute of the
strongest financial institutions the Pacific coast.
To that the Dexter Horton banks would fail to
meet every obligation is almost absurd predicting
that the Bank of England might collapse.
The banks amply able to pay every depositor in
full in good coin of the U. S. A. The persons who with
draw their money will feel just sheepish when the
little furry is over, the Tacomans did. And the
Dexter Horton banks by their frank, open policy will
profit in the end just the other did thru
thoro public understanding of its towering
Today's episode at the Dexter Horton banks is just
of those unthnkng exhibitions of mob psychology
which will break out occasionally in the sanest of Cities
II will pass quickly il began, The Star is conf
dent because the good of American citizens will
swing back to equilibrium in hurry when
derstandng of the facts is reached
Only fools rock boats and psint loaded guns. Only
small fraction of cent of population is foOs
and the other 99.99-pus per cent is well balanced
enough to handle the rest.
Don't be a mutt!