The Washington times., 1922-10-04
HARDING GIVES
BANKERS PRAISE
FOR WAR WORK
Recalls to Association That
New World Difficulties Are
lnsistent.

NEW YORK, Oct. 4.-America' 8
ice of her financial institutions was
voiced by President Harding today
in message to the American
Bankers Association. now in ses.
sion in this city.
The President emphasized the oD'
portunity that bankers have had in
the critical days since the war in
assisting the progress of the coun.
try.
Mr.. Harding regretted that lie
was unable to come to New York
to attend the convention.
The message, which was read dt
the general meeting of bankers, fol-
lows:
Thomas B. McAdams, president,
American Bankers Association.
MY Dear Mr.. McAdams:
Public duties and personal cares
seem to have combined to render
Impossible once more, my acceptan ,e
Of the invitation to the annual
gathering of the American Bankers
Association. My regrets are the
more poignant because ! hoped 20
be able to say some few things No
your members on this accession.
81 have so many times expressed
my admiration and appreciation OF
the part which the banking interests
played during and following the
war that l do not need to remind
you OF my sentiments in that re.
gard. Rather I wish to appeal 20
your great organization on behal:
OF my conviction that another, a
more inclusive and perhaps more
difficult opportunity OF service Is
today presented to you.
World Problems Increasing.
ITO the patriotism. steadfastness
and right thinking OF it's financial
leaders the country has owed very
much in connection with financing
the war and later in restoring
stability. confidence and security
throughout our economic structure.
The banking community has always
Co-operated splendidly in dealing with
these problems.
But today our country, the world.
all human kind, are demanding that
this cooperation be extended TO
wider realms: to those social, moral,
ethical problems which are crying
for understanding and attention.
They cannot be denied they grow
increasingly insistent. They call for
ali vi lUt SphlN VI
wise and willing cooperation which
is the very basis OF the bank.
Il have often thought OF the bank
as first among modern institutions
of social unifiCation. On the basis
of a complete confidence in its in
tegrity and aims, it's aggregates to-
gether in vast available masses, the
scattered bits of credit and resources
which otherwise would be unavailing
for great undertakings and which
makes possible the huge producing
organizing which characterize the
modern industrial community. We
have come to the times which re-
quire the like aggregation OF the
social sense, the ethical ideals, the
moral inspirations and the best
intelligence in order to promote the
true welfare of men individually and
in communities This | have come
to regard as the most pressing re.
quirement of our day; and to Its ac-
complishment l invite the assistance
of you men who have been foremost
among social Co-operators. The
world is not given to rewarding those
who serve It with opportunities for
case and pleasure. Instead on those
who have been tested and found use
ful it is wont to place yet Neater
burdens. To full share in these
obligations | am now urgently invit-
ing you.
Bankers Build Confidence.
by experience, knowledge AMI
aims you bankers are peculiarly
eouipped to render larger service in
this wider sphere. 1t has long been
my observation that the leadership
Of the banking forces in the local
community is effective and devoted
to the community welfare, and the
same helpful relationship must be
maintained throughout the nation
and in the nations outside relations.
Therefore, in reCommitting our peo-
plc 10 sane expenditures, to ways OF
economy and thrift. to the Considera- |
ton of municipal and national prob
lens in that conscience which builds
the temple of confidence, the bank.
ing forces must lead and we must
have the widest commitment to the
prudence, the deliberate understand
ing and the preference for useful
service which makes for the security
of our people as whole.
"The banker in extending credit
looks not alone to the schedule on
his customers tangible assets. he
gives thought also to moral consld'
GRAFTON, to those elements of char
acter which constitute the most com
manding of all securities. So he is
concerned to help develop these quail
ties throughout his constituency.
Every good citizen aspires to the
same end. and therefore it is per
missible to impose a special obliga.
ton on the bankers, organized and
trained as they are in such affairs,
to take very special part in this
work
Pleads for Cooperation.
There is everywhere a disposi.
ton 10 sCrutiniZe, to question, to
examine minutely into social and
economic institutions, to interrogate
methods of human integratiOn and
procedure which have been so long
accepted as to have seemed aXi.
omatic We shall gain nothing by
charging that this spirit proceeds
from malevolence and testifies
disordered state of mind.