The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-04-16
Official City, State and County
Newspaper)
Foreign Representatives
! SMALL, SPENCER, BREWER
, UncorporateO
CHICAGO NEW YORK BOSTON
About Vice Presidents

CHICAGO NEW YORK BOSTON
About Vice Presidents
BY the very nature of politics, can
didates for presidential nominations
frequently wind up as candidates for
the vice presidency instead
And in that connection, do not
overlook Melvin A. Traylor, Chicago
banker or Harry Byrd, Virginia's
former governor, as important figures
in the Democatic picture. Friends
are propagandizing for both men and
it is easy to get the idea that they
are unusual individuals. This is true
OF Byrd his partisans say: "As g
man he chose to be farmer and be-
came the greatest orchardist in Amer
lea; as governor he brought the
Old Dominion new administrative
structure that survived 1881 with
surplus; as Democrat his career has
rivalled that of Thomas jefferson and
Andrew Jackson" There are other
pleasant things which may be said
Of Byrd but the above quotation gives
the rough outline Of the picture.
Traylor offers perhaps the most
spectacular public career in America
IN Inn HI ~
miles from where Lincoln was born
more than half century before, the
son OF pioneer ancestors. Until he
was IS years old he never wore shoes
except on Sunday and in the coolest
weather. Until he was 20 he neve:
saw a railroad train and his formal
education took him to the fourtc
grade of a rough, mountain school.
Then he went to Texas and got
Job as a grocery clerk, studying law at
night. Having been elected states
attorney Of q frontier Texas town. he
became interested in pulling a bank
out of bad hole and did a good job
of it. Then he went to a larger bank
in Houston.
In the big Texas city he made many
friends and became a leading finan-
cial figure In the livestock industry
and so. in his early forties, he wa,
called to the presidency OF bank in
the stockyards district in Chicago. It
needed man who knew cattle and
the livestock business as we'll as bank
ing.
Having made good there, Traylor
was made president Of the First Ma.
tional Bank OF Chicago, one Of the
nations great financial institutions.
He arrived at this position when he
still was on the sunny side Of so.
Anyone who feels that romance IS
gone from the American scene need
only look at Traylor's history to find
a man whose progress rivals the he
roes of even the ancient Alger books
With Traylor, so to speak, it was
sink or Swim" but he was Bound
to Rise"
The presidential boom for Traylor
was begun and is being financed by
his Texas friends, although in that
state it ran afoul of the preference
for Speaker John N. Garner, native
son who stayed at home.
Traylor has gained national recog-
milton for his outspoken comments
on American business and political
conditions. A rich man today, he has
not forgotten his humble origin or the
days when shoes were a real luxury.
More than most rich men, perhaps, he
retains the view of the less-talented
man in the street who knows what it
is to worry about paying the rent and
rearing family.
Because 1t fits into the present po-
litical situation, it may be we'll to re-
call the bombshell Traylor threw into
the meeting Of the international
Chamber Of Commerce meeting at
washington last May. Speaking OF
the stock exchange and It's activities.
he said: II would urge complete abol-
ishment Of so-called floor trading,
which, I am informed, has about it
most of the characteristics Of plain
crap-shooting and few, If any more
redeeming features than that delight
full Ethiopian pastime." Strong lang
uage, that, for banker.
OF the farm situation he had this
to say in the same address: In my
opinion. no great division Of human
society has ever been lied to, and lied
about. as much in the same period OF
time q has the American farmer in
the last 10 years"
And testifying before the senate
subcommittee on banking and cur
rency last December, Traylor offered
this pungent remark: Il believe ! am