The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-20
Kansas Bankers See Better
Business Conditions Now.
Much Optimism Shown in
Southwestern Counties.
INTEREST RATES ARE LOWER
Most of Bankers Report Big
Building BOOms.
All Talk About Good Prospects
for Wheat Crop.

wichita, Kan. Nay 2O.-For the
first time in more than two years
business is on the up grade in Kansas.
Nearly two thousand bankers who at
tended meetings of their state organ
ization here this week. offered the
first real hope that has come IN a
substantial way to the investor in
many months.
There was a tendency on the part
of many bankers to discourage the
steady reduction in money rates.
some of them saw in the situation a
reduction in profits and a tendency
toward renewed speculation. Others.
tho, believe that cheaper money is
to mean a revival in business invest
ment and a solution of the unwilling
ness to put money in industrial enter
prises.
Optimism in the Southwest.
Probably the biggest bit of opti-
mism which came from any section of
the state was brought from the south
west country. This district has been
hard hit as a result of declines in the
livestock market and showings that
many banks were carrying more COW
. paper than conditions really warrant
ed This trouble has resulted in or
ders from the state banking depart
ment which caused stockholders of
many state banks to pay special as
sessments.
now lnele seems 10 De d new udJ
of hope. Some of the cattlemen are
actually getting back on a paying
basis. Returns which were brought
to the convention from the big cattle
producing counties showed many of
the stOckmen had actually made
material profit in the last few months.
In some instances this profit has
amounted to IS to S12 a head Now
with good grazing lands available the
stockmen who have caused the Kan
G1aPn1nEE NIGHTS for
years, are beginning to get their feet
on the ground.
Talk About Wheat.
Not one of the two thousand bank
ers failed to talk about the prospects
for a wheat crop. Since the middle
of February the situation has taken
a decided turn for the better. Now
most of the bankers are willing to bet
on the bread producers. Less than
six months ago they looked over the
wheat paper with a high powered
glass. Much the same situation ap-
plies to the men in the large corn
counties. There has been little corn
planted, but bankers in Wichita this
week mentioned the fact that growing
conditions are good and that there is
general evidence of big crop.
Money Is Easier.
Two big features stood out in the
discussion of banking and business
conditions. First was mention of the
was the fact that interest rates are
lower.
Most of the small town bankers re-
ported building reviyals- In large
measure the building activity this year
has been in the form of home build
ing. The bankers. tho, with their eyes
on the money market, pointed to the
fact that large sums might be made
available for industrial purposes If
conditions continue.
Some of the most prominent bank
ers and business authorities in the
middle west joined in statements that
conditions have improved. Thad c.
Carver of Pratt, the new president of
the Bankers association, asserted
there was a general betterment in
the wheat belt Mike Mallott of
Abilene. Dick Hill of Smith Center.
and r J. Atwood of Concordia, re-
portions of the state. Willis ]. Bailey
OF Atchison, Dan Callahan, J. II.
Stewart and c. Q. Chandler of Wich-
tia J. r. Burrow. Fred Freeman and
J. II. Lee of Topeka; Pete Goebel and
J. H Bradley of Kansas City, at
tested TO the situation for the big
clearing house centers-
The bankers continued to discuss
their troubles in secret caucuses to-
day Some of them admitted their re-
discounts are too high. Others reit-
terated complaints regarding the state
banking department But there was
a general agreement that business
conditions in Kansas are improving
Sessions of the Kansas Bankers
association adjourned here late Fri
day. 1t was the biggest convention
ever held by the Kansas Bankers as
ISOLATION