The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1922-11-17
WALL STREET DIRECTS Ma
TION-WIDE DRIVE IN PLOT TO
CANCEL ALLIES DEBT TO
UNITED STATES

Never before in the history of Man
haitian has the out-of-town banker
received such a welcome as at the an
nual convention of the American
Bankers Association, held in New
York during the first week in October
From Wall, Broad and William streets
and up Broadway and Fifth Avenue
to above Forty-second street, banners
greeted him, offering the Fluctuations
of Father Knickerbocker. The. event
was extraordinary and unprecedented,
Entertainments, receptions, dinners,
theatre parties, sports--everythlng
possible that hospitality suggested
was arranged for him.
Wall street is foresighted. When
ever it wants anything, it spares no
pains or efforts to get it. 1t wanted
the country banker, and, today it is
sending him back home to spread the
gospel of it's propaganda, for the vast
machinery of the American Bankers
Association is probably the most in
fluential body ever organized to mold
public opinion in the U nited states,
The views Of financiers on pubic
questions are rarely in accord with
public opinion, and with respect to
this particular campaign they are ex-
actly contrary to those of the Admin
istration, yet the bankers of New
York's financial district naturally
have their own interests at heart. And
the medium they have taken for the
purpose of crystallizing banking opln-
ion throughout the country is the
convention of their association, held
in the metropolis for this purpose for
the first time in IL years.
Eighteen years ago-that is, In
1904--an American bankers, conven-
ton was held in New York. At that
time little attention was paid to the
men from the interior banks. Their
wives were left sitting in hotel lob
bies, ignored at social events and neg
lected by New York hostesses, while
the bankers themselves attended per-
functory meetings in which small at
tention was paid to what they said.
It was a cut-nd-dried affair, in which
no rare enthusiasm developed, and Fa-
Their Knickerbocker showed himself an
Indifferent host, because Wall Street
at that time had little use or need for
the banker from out-of-town.
But the Bankers Association meet
ing of this year was far different
occasion. The country banker has
lately become an important factor In
the estimation of Wall Street. The
financial district made an unusual ex.
etion to impress its guests. AS the
delegates began to pour into New
York, on special trains and chartered
steamships, more than 1900 persons
were engaged in registering them, 81
at time being assigned to meet tht
Ourush Of newcomers at the registra
ton desks. The clerks were worn ou
so quickly that new shifts had to b.
put on duty every little while.
Wall Street in Lambs Clothing
Only two conventions in the hiStor!
Of the United States surpassed thi
on in point of numbers. The attend
ance at the bankers convention wa
5000 more than was expected, for tn
total number of persons who regis
tered at headquarters reached IL ,5O9
Out-of-town banker delegates aggre
gated 1858, including some women
There were 2,196 women guests from
outside the city and 1902 men guests
The record attendance at previous
conventions of the association hat
been 1900.
Smokers, fashion shows, dinners
sightseeing excursions by motor ant
boat were arranged. Social affair."
we're organized to pay special atten
ton to the wives and daughters of thu
delegates. Wall Street Toasted it,
guests, toasted, fattered and cajolet
them. A partner of the leading bank
ing house tried to persuade the as
torished delegates that New York was
"just like their own cities, except fol