Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-01
STEPHENSON GUEST
OF D. c. BANKERS
President of American Asso-
citation Pleads for Better
Management.


khe American Bankers Association,
speaking before nearly 700 bankers and
eheir guests at the twenty-seventh an
hual banquet of washington Chapter,
American Institute of Banking, at the
willard Hotel last night, urged upon
the younger generation in the profess
sion the pressing need of greater study
0f economic conditions and manage
knent as the best means of making the
banks Of the future even more sound.
It was the first time Washington Chap
Der has ever entertained the head of
che national organization, and his pres
ence aroused great enthusiasm. In
brief summary of the causes of bank
failures and their remedies, Mr.. Stephen
son said:
Two of the main classifcations of
he causes of bank failures the past
gear nave been stated as being faulty
management and economic conditions.
These two classifcations, therefore, de-
note clearly what qualifications are re-
ouired of the modern American banker
IN order to make his bank successful
end keep 1t out of danger-namely,
proficiency in scientific bank manage
nent and understanding economic fac
sors affecting banking.
Must Be Good Manager.
"The banker must thus be a manager
md business economist. For, II faulty
management has been a major element
n bringing about the 1900 bank clos
anRs of 1880, sound management is es-
eential to prevent weak banking. AND
II the effects on banking Of economic
conditions in general and specific lines
Of business have been another major
element in causing weak banking, why
then 1t is self-evident that sound
grasp of economic conditions, either to
kuard against their Ill effects or take
advantage of their helpful phases, Is an
essential part of banking.
Fortunately for the American peo--
Die, fortunately too, for banking and
Cor bankers both younger and CIDER,
Che American Bankers Association,
Through the American Institute of
Banking. presents exactly the answer to
&his double demand. It develops pro-
aciency in all lines Of scientific bank
management among the rising genera
lions of bankers. 1t brings them un-
derstanding of the multifarious eco
nonic conditions that come to bear on
Che operation of q bank. 1t makes
modern bankers expert scientific man
egers and sound business economists.
u constitutes the greatest force, there
fore, we have in the Nation today MAX
ing for q sounder, more serviceable and
more successful banking future than
shis Nation has ever known.
Ben Alley Also Guest.
'By the same token, it places the
9mperative Injunction on bankers to in
Sast that The earnest pursuit of the OPP
portunities offered to young bank peo-
pie to make better, sounder bankers OF
themselves. through the American In
gtitute Of Banking or its equivalent, be
q prerequisite to their employment and
advancement In bank work" he con-
alluded.
The chapter also had the distinction
M entertaining Ben Alley of Denver,
rational president of the American In
9titute Of Banking, who spoke briefly on
hhe organizations present very pros
berous condition. Mr.. Alley, who has
climbed from the bottom of the bank
ing ladder TO the responsibility of q
ktce presidency and obtained law de-
gree in the meantime, stressed the ad-
$antages which the institute offers.
He has recently visited many, OF the
most prosperous chapters all over the
country, and his observations proved
highly entertaining and informative
The national institute now has over
rs 900 students taking various courses.
Frank NJ. Perley, president of Wash
kngton Chapter, presided at the dinner.
Rev. George L. Farnham, pastor of the
Cleveland Park Congregational Church,
ksked the blessing, while the entertain
knent features were IN charge OF Harry
Raylor as master OF ceremonies.
Other Guests Present.
Many prominent guests were seated
1t the speakers table Among those,
m addition to the guests of honor,
MesSrs. Stephenson and Alley, were
Francis O. Addison, jr., president of the
Security Savings & Commercial Bank;
Clifford K. Bergman, William S Corhy,
Victor b. Deyber, president, Second
National Bank; Joshua Evans, jr- presi-
dent, District National Bank; William
\. Flather, Robert w. Fleming, president
hf Riggs; Albert s. Galley, Raymond B.
Dickey, dean of washington Chapter;
y. =. Hen7e, former chapter president;
Prank s. Hight, Charles e. Howe, VIII
lam ". Hoxton, agent Of the Richmond
Federal Reserve Bank; Hanse Hamilton,
3 E. Herrell, George H. Reese Of the
Richmond Reserve Bank, and John B.
kArneF, president Of the Washington
&oan g. Trust Co.
Others at the speakers table included
RAnier p. McLachlen, president of the
District Of Columbia Bankers Associa-
aon: Howard Moran, Miss Wanda @.
Pearson, John Poole, president. Federal
american National Bank; G. H. Pope
Games B. Reynolds, John M. Riordon,
=. p. II. Siddons, Frank B. Simonds,
W. W. Spaid, Corcoran Thorn, president,
American Security g. Trust Co, and
Eliot II. Thomson, member OF the In
Btitute faculty. The wives Of many of
the above guests were also at the head
table.
A happy incident during the evening
gas the presentation Of watch to A. E.
Henze, who was president Of Washing
Don Chapter last year.
Tollnwing the dinner an entertain
knent program was presented, composed
81 music and dancing nunnberg.