The New York herald., 1922-10-03
Restriction Except in Cities
of 100000 or More Fa-
vOred in Report.
TURNED DOWN IN DEBATE
r. S. Hecht Says He Has No
Fear of Mother Institutions
Monopolizing Business.

Developments in the war against
branch banks left little doubt yester-
day that the out of town bankers
waging 1t intend to carry the fight
right to the main floor OF the Ameri-
can Bankers Convention.
If they are successful in having the
question Of branch banking put up to
the American Bankers Association,
they are likely to meet stiff opposition
from the branch bank adherents.
1t is generally admitted that the
majority at the convention and that
they are more solidly arrayed than
they have been at any previous time
when the same question was projected.
1t is said that the one underlying
reason for the presence of out of town
bankers in such great numbers at the
convention was the eonviction that
the time had arrived for a showdown
on the branch banking question.
49, Enemies to Get Fair Hearing.
According to the Anti-Branch Bankers
Association, Thomas B. McAdams. presi-
dent and John II. Puelicher. vice-presi-
dent of the American Bankers Associa-
tion. have assured the committee of
anti-branch bankers that it would get
every courtesy and that outside influ-
ences would not be permitted to strangle
the debate or prevent q vote on the
proposition and the resolutions.
The State Bank Division yesterday
afternoon passed a resolution in which
1t said II opposed branch banking in
any form. This resolution or a similar
one will be presented to the National
Bank Division probably tomorrow af-
ternoon at the first meeting OF this
section. II the resolution Is carried, IL
probably will go before the whole con-
vention the same afternoon.
Through work by their steering COM
mittee" and personal canvasses the
arti-branch bankers are said to have
assembled a bloc Of 1900 delegates to
support any resolution they may offer
The question will go before the conven-
tIon under the following designation in
the program:
"Wednesday. October Z. 11:35 A. NJ.
Forum. Question: Shall National
banks be prevented from establishing
branches within their home cities where
this privilege is exercised by State
baDks?'
"Note-This discussion. lasting one
hour and fifteen minutes, will be opened
by Mr.. Andrew ]. Frame, chairman of
the Board of the Waukesha National
Bank, Waukesha. Wis, and Mr.. Waldo
Newcomer. president of the National
Exchange Bank. Baltimore. Md"
The committee of anti-branch bank
ers designated by ]. ". Powell, chair
man of the Cook County Bankers Asso-
station, Chicago. who presided at Sun
days meeting of the bankers at the Ho-
tel Astor. worked all day yesterday in
the Hotel Commodore framing suitable
resolutions for the general session.
The branch bank question arose at
the State bank meeting. presided over by
r. S. Hecht, with the reading of the re-
port of the Federal legislative commit
tee. George T.. Allen, deputy manager.
read the following for Guy f. Bower
man. chairman. who was unable TO be
present:
II approach with some hesitation the
question of branch banking. although
II was discussed at the Chicago meet
ing. where there was an absence OF
I COltipiclc HdfIhOuy oI tnOuRnk. Dul
. all. no such divergence of opinion as
TO prevent an amicable agreement.
None Of the committee present have
been I'm the past are at this time. or
expect TO be in the future. advocates
of branch banking as an integral part
of our great financial system. At the
same time we all acknowledge. think.
that we are confronted by a fact and
not theory. We recognize that branch
kn Iva Aaa rwl. - -
ten or twelve States either allow or
authorize State chartered institutions TO
engage In branch banking. and. such
being the case. we believe there should
be no discrimination against national
banks In those States. The spirit OF
justice and right. the spirit of fair play
and the American spirit Of equal op-
portunity make no other attitude ten
able.