Paragould soliphone., 1922-04-24
.EX-C0V. BROUCH
 ENTERS UP ON LECTURE TOUR
Interesting Review of the Banks In Arkansas- Facts Presented by Com missioner Mckee.

Little Rock, April 22-Former | Governor Chas. H. Brough left Lit | tle Rock yesterday for a five months Chautauqua tour. He is l lnder the direction of the Red Path | Bureau of Chicago and will deliver 1 his celebrated lecture on America g Leadership of the World" in 15
 states, including Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Ten 1 nesSee, Alabama, Illinois, Kentucky. l Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin. He will assist in the dedication of the First Baptist church at Shreyc- i port. La. next Monday and will open his regular tour at Columbus, Ga, April 20 and will conclude at Aurora, H., August 30. During this time he will deliver his lecture 114 times and as is his custom will cial occasions and he may be de- pended upon at all times to sound the praises of Arkansas, Mrs. Brough will accompany him on the tour. lThe governor has become one of the most popular lecturers on the Amer ican platform.
 Review of Banks.
 Since the organization of the State Banking Department in 1914. there have been 750 state banks chartered in Arkansas. The rec ords of the department show that there are now 403 doing business. This leaves 3i7 to he accounted for; of this number 115 were closed, liquidated or merged with other in Istitutions or went out of business for one reason or another. This leaves 232 banks closed, liquidated or merged prior to the organization of the State Banking Department. these institutions is difficult to sc cure. It has been learned, however. that 32 failed, 22 were reorganized or liquidated without loss to de pOsitors, F were converted into National banks, 55 surrendered their charters and no information is available about the fate of the no other banks.
 In an address delivered before the State Bankers Association at Hot Springs. Bank Commissioner Mckee paid a high tribute to those who have been at the head of the insti- tuition when he said:
 When it is seen that 750 banks have been organized by the men of the state, merchants, professional men and farmers, some of them well managed and successful, some of them neglected by the directors, some of them run by inexperienced officers, and all of them permitted to do business without restrictions of law or regulations, or supervision of any kind, it is surprising that so many of them survive; and again l must say il is a source of grat- ifieation that in the main these free banking institutions were of ficered by men of integrity and ability IL is also tribute to the soundness of the securities and the integrity of the business people of the state and the customers of these institutions. l think when we com pare the number of bank failures iof this state with the number that | honnnnnI ud inin n Q states we must feel that our men and securities are better seasoned and that the banking business has
 been conducted on more conserva-
 tive lines"
 The first suggestion of the neces-
 sity of banking department is found in the minutes of the State i Bankers Association in a paper read
 by the late Judge w, $. Mccain on
 What Bank Legislation, If Any, I Is Needed in Arkansas April 19
 1894. At that time Judge Mccain
 called attention to the necessity
 of some form of regulation, but il was not for ten years afterward that any definite action was taken 1 For several years the State Bankers
 Association and the legislature
 wrestled with the proposition ant the law creating the State Banking Department was finally passed il
 1913 and approved by Gov. Joe T Robinson.
 Since 1914 there have been or
 ganized and chartered by the de
 partment 80 banks with capita
 of $2294,000 and surplus of $277,
 400. During the same time 10!
 banks have increased their capita stock a total of $3,196,S50 and II banks have decreased their stock total of $1S5,S50. During the eigh years administration of the law, II! banks were closed, merged or failet and great many weak banks wer
 saved by the prompt action of tn
 commissioner. AS a matter of fac :. therc are frequently DanKs that al