Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1922-10-26
BANKER TALKS
4 TO ROTARIANS
John S. RosseIl Reviews
Work of Convention of
FinancierS
DELAWARE WAS
WELL REPRESENTED

. the Hotel DUPONT. Of hearing John
S. Rossell. president or the Security
Trust and Safe Deposit Company
this city. discuss in broad, ksnera
way the work of the recent conven-
ton OF the American Bankers Asso
citation in New York City. His adj
dress was largely y review Of the
outstanding features OF that note
worthy assemblage OF financiers, and
OF publicists and others whom they
had as their guests and speakers. Il
was an exceedingly interesting re-
view. which was applauded heartily
by his hosts.
Mr.. Rossell briefly outlined the
history OF the association from its
organization in 1875. In that year.
seventeen bankers met at Barnum's
Hotel. in New York city, and re-
solved to call meeting TO he held
later at Saratoga. This meeting was
the first annual convention and the
organization effected az that time de-
veloped into the nationwide asso-
citation that now comprises $4,000
cf the $4,000 banks and trust c1m-
ranics n the United States.
For the more expeditions trans
action Of the associations business,
il is divided into divisions and sece
tons representing national tanks.
state banks. savings banks. trust
companies. clearing house and state
secretaries Each cf these sub-di-
visions has It's own separete organiza-
ton and its own program for he
annual convention. but ara merged
inc the general organization which
deals vitr the larger questions
One OF he largest gatherings Of
the association was in Chicago In
1909. when $500 delegates and
guests were registered. This was re-
garded as OF Of the greatest demon
STATIONS Of the banking interests OF
the country. II was the hope Of the
New Workers that they would be I
able this year 10 do better, and II !
was estimated that fully 1000 per- !
sons would attend the convention. /
To the great surprise OF all. the reg
istration ran far above this large ]
figure, and when Il closed. IL was ,
found that 1850 delegates and /
guests were IN attendance. Not only
was every sec on OF the United /
States largely represented, but there /
were persons present from England,
British Columbia, Canada, the West
Indies. Panama. South America.
Mexico. Holland, Norway and even
from far away China.
The arrangements Cor the enter
tainment of the visitors were IN
charge Of a committee OF one hun
dred. under the craftsmanship OF
Seward Prosser. the distinguished
president OF the Bankers Trust Com
7 my Of New York City. Every de-
tail had been worked out carefully.
70 that. notwithstanding the sur
prisingly augmented attendance
there was no failure whatever on
the part of the committee in carry
ing out it's plans in full. The great
est consideration was shown TO the
"out of town bankers. and prefer
ence given them on every occasion.
Delaware bankers have always
taken part in the affairs OF the as
ISOLATION. but have not always en-
joyed the highest honors, owing 20
the fact that for many years. the 4
State did not have an active State
association. Now Delaware ranks
with the other States and has its
representation in the association
proper. and in its various su0-divi-
sions, and also has a member on {
the executive council which defnes {
the policy and directs the admin {
istration Of the associations affairs. /
When the association met in New I
J ork in 1904. Delaware had only
four delegates present. At the re !
cent convention Delaware had forty ,
representatives in attendance.
Mr.. Rossell outlined the more i'm
portant features Of the great conven- ,
ton, and referred to a member OF ,
able addresses which were delivered. ,
One Of the most animated discus ,
sions was on the subject OF branch
banking, which is meeting with very
marked opposition. particularly in
the west where the national banks
are extending their facilities and in
terfering with the business OF the
state institutions bV establishing nu-
merous agencies. SO strong was the ,
feeling on this subject that the state
Bank Division adopted unanimously
a resolution declaring its opposition
ito branch banking in any form in
our nation"
Throughout the great assembly
there prevailed an admirable fra
ternal feeling. and confidence that ,
the many difficult financial and e,
commercial problems confronting /,
the American people would ulti-
mately be brought to a right solution r
but with this there was an evident :
people must do their whole part in
fairly, unselhshly and v
periodically to reestablish peace g
and prosperity throughout the y
world.
The greatest question before the =
convention was Americas Interna- 7
tional Relations and her duty to the Z
world at large. a duty so inter-re- h
lated to Americas own affairs as to G
preclude the idea of isolation. This h
was very forcefully expressed in the p
language of the resolution adopted Z,
by the convention which declared :,
that the time has come for the
Of our country to form h
ulate the principles on which 1t
will be able to cooperate with other Q
Nations to bring about the needed n
OF European countries /,
and peace in the world" n
The entertainment committee for
the day was composed Of Chester J. r
Moore, Albert F. Neutze and Charles =,
VI. Oberly and II was under its aus u
pices that Mr.. Rossell was intro h
auced.
Another speaker was John L. .