Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-06
A. B. A. HEAD CLOSE
BANKING STUDENT
LonsdaIe Started Career by
Building RaiIroad-Broker
Before Turning Banker.
BY EDWARD S. STONE.

ident of the American Bankers ASSo-
citation, later entered the banking field
and climbed steadily until today finds
him president of the Mercantile Com
merce Bank & Trust Co. Of st. Louis,
one of the great banks of the Nation.
When only 20 years old, he made a
successful fight to get railroad built
between Hot Springs and Little Rock
when many older men had failed. Some
times on horseback and sometimes on
foot, he travelled around and inter-
viewed the land owners until he got the
rights of way. The road is still in use
today as part of the Union Pacific
system.
Highlight No. 2 of Lonsdales career
followed closely on the heels of his rail-
reading success. Observing that bust
ness leaders on vacation at Hot Springs
had no way of keeping in touch with
home and Eastern markets, he fitted up
brokerage Office, building direct tele-
graph service. Thus he came in almost
daily contact with men of finance, and
1t was but natural that his engaging
manner should win him extensive pa
tronage and valuable friendships.
In short time. before he had reached
the age of 80, he had become a prom
inent figure in the brokerage world and
Eastern brokers were bidding for his
services. In 1904 he consolidated his
firm with the firm of Logan g. Bryan
and became their New York partner.
Within the next 10 years LonSdales
name was more firmly impressed than
ever upon Wall Street. He handled
large deals and won fame and success
a. q fnancier, his income being rated
at over 100000 year. Then he went
to st. Louis.
Amazingly Active Banker.
his activities, instead of diminishing,
have continued to grow from year to
year and now cover many national
problems as we'll as local ones. To read
the list one wonders when his work
ends. Here are some of his present
Bank e. Turst Co.: chairman of board,
Mercantile Commerce Co., the invest
ment unit of his bank; director, Federal
Reserve Bank, eighth district; director,
ouri-Pacif1c Railroad; president,
American Bankers Association: active
in United States Chamber of Commerce,
holding these titles in that organiza-
ton: director, chairman of finance de-
partment and member of foreign COM
merce advisory committee.
In addition. he is chairman OF the
advertising committee of the Industrial
Club of st. Louis, head of the railroad
consolidation committee of the st.
Louis Chamber of Commerce, and iden-
tilted with many other committees. Past
activities include the presidency of the
national bank division Of the American
Bankers Association, president of the
st. Louis Clearing House Association,
head of the Bankers Club of st. Louis,
membership on business mems commits
sion on agriculture and flood control
committee of the national chamber.
Service to humanity has been the
dominating note in his career. Scarce
~ day goes by at his bank that he
is not asked to do a personal favor
for some one. Any request that has
merit receives his prompt and courte-
Gus attention. and many times he goes
out of his way to remember a friend
with kindness.
Always Available to Public.
In order that he may retain close
personal contact with patrons OF his
bank and friends who call, his desk is
out in the open and accessible at all
times. 1t is not necessary to run
through a barrage of private secre-
taries and Office boys to see him. Never
too busy to see an old friend or make
new one is his motto. Often dicta-
ton Is interrupted in the middle of
sentence to extend hearty welcome
to a caller.
Having been reared in the fresh air
and sunshine, Lonsdale is still devo-
tee of the outdoors. and as recreation
enjoys swimming and horseback riding.
knowing that men of middle age and
beyond are inclined to develop an OBJ
jectionable waistline, he frequently donS
old clothes and applies himself Strenu-
ously in the garden at his home In st.
Louis County, or at his country estate,
Peaceful Valley, near Lonsdale, Ark,
when he goes there on visit. Then,
too he has love for the soil and
conducts q number Of agricultural ex-
periments on his country estate.
Close Student of Business.
more than half way, he Is close
student of business trends and eager
to benefit by new ideas. One Of his
original methods of keeping in close
touch with community developments Is
to direct his chauffeur almost daily to
vary the route from his country home
to his Office, so that he may observe
flrst-hand what is taking place in dif-
ferent parts of the city. His auto
mobile license invariably Is No. rs,
which corresponds to the number of
his bank In the st. Louis Clearing
House Association.
In school and college his schoolmates
used to remark admiringly that Ions
dale usually manager to keep two
jumps ahead of them. This advantage
he has never relinquished, for by close
application to whatever problem he has
In hand he manages to keep Jump or
two ahead of the crowd. IF I live
to be 100 years old" he says, Il expect
to keep on learning. No man should
close his mind to progress and sit back
aa1y 6o Hoc Loo
all there Is in his line of work. Ad-
vancement more than ever before is
founded on constant study Of times
and conditions"
A. b. A. President Next Year.
Rome G.. Stephenson, who has just
been elected first vice president of the
American Bankers Association, is a
personal friend of many Washington
bankers. He was one of the leading
speakers at the last convention of the
District Bankers Association, remain
ing at Montauk Point throughout the
sessions. He spoke on the detection
and prevention of fraud in banks, par
ticularly as it relates to the use of
fraudulent checks.
He is vice president of the st.
Joseph's County Savings Bank OF South
Bend, Ind. a wide-awake banker and
d SOOu opSdhcAs ASSot Oiii6 w VIC POlASy
of the American Bankers Association in
regard to the officers, Mr.. Stephenson
will be advanced to the presidency next
year.
Washington Market Active.
The Washington Stock Market
showed a lot of activity during the first
Fall Saturday session The trading
opened with Capital Traction SIS
changing hands in two 81 1000 sales at
SO and an $4,000 sale at 881s. City &
Surburban SIS opened with 81 900 at
SO and closed with similar sale at 80.
raa+a.,aaa Ellant+in &C 1ns2 Rn1irad IL,