Evening star., 1937-05-30
Induction of New Officers
and "Fami|y Dinner" Are
Closing Events.
THOMAS GROOM NAMED
AS ASSOCIATION CHIEF
New Leader Has Served as Acting
President Several Months and
Has Outstanding Record.
BY EDWARD C, STONE,
Special Correspondent of The Star.


WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS. w.
Va, May 29-1nduction of the newly
elected officers of the District of Co.
lumbia Bankers Association featured
the closing business session of the
nineteenth annual convention here
today. Tonight's family dinner" was
the social high light of the convention.
The new officers are:
Thomas j. Groom. vice president
and cashier of the Bank of Commerce
& Savings president; Hilleary G. Hos
kinson, vice president, Riggs National
Bank, first vice president; Ord Pres
ton. president, Union Trust Co., sec
ond vice president: A. M. McLachlen,
secretary, McLachlen Banking Corp,
third vice president; Albert S. Galley,
vice president, Lincoln National Bank,
treasurer, and Donald w. Larson, sec
retary.
President Groom has been serving
the association as acting president for
several months. He has held all the
Offices in the association and many
committee assignments. His election
was expected and fully deserved, as
he has made an enviable record in
banking circles in the Capital.
McLachlen Honored.
The other vice presidents were
moved up with the exception of A. M.
-McLachlen, who was general chair
man of this years convention and
has done much other work in the in
terest of the association. Today's
election puts him in line for the pres
tdency four years from now.
= Albert S. Galley, treasurer, has
served the association in this capacity
for the last 25 years. Much praise
was heard regarding the work of Sec
retary Larson during the past year,
the work OF the associations Office
having expanded materially.
DR.. William Mcclellan, president Of
the Potomac Electric Power Co.. gave
q most interesting review OF present
national business conditions. AS
guest speaker he presented the views
OF an outsider not connected with
banking
:. Sees Bright Washington Outlook.
p DR.. Mcclellan took most cheerful
view on the outlook for the Capital
Washington Is huge market town.
he said, with the Government as the
greatest industry. Business has gone
Forward by leaps and bounds since
the depression and is bound to con-
tlnue to do so. The population is cer-
tain to grow rapidly, having a most
helpful effect on business.
DR.. Mcclellan declared the national
outlook to be more perplexing because
of varied business risks, taxes, labor
situation, prices and Government reg
,ulations Of business affairs. Safety in
making haste slowly is what is greatly
needed he said. The claim that in
natlon is under way to any serious ex-
tent is hardly true, he added. If it
comes 1t will come very quickly and
everybody will know it. Furthermore.
nfatlon can be checked by Govern
ment powers which already exist. Only
wild spending spree" not now in
sight would prevent such control, he
said
DR.. Mcclellan Goes not believe the
country is yet ready for the 3O-hour
week. Most people have to buy their
amusements, he said If people are
not happy in their leisure hours. they
will not be happy workers Business
would have to pay for a huge amount
OF amusement in addition to the hours
of toll. The problem has many seri-
ous aspects.
Il still have unbounded faith in the
United States. I would not sell it
short, no matter what troubles we may
have to wade through. Hope and
trust and at the same time work." he
concluded.
Eccles Given Warm Welcome.
Mariner S. Eccles, chairman of the
board of governors of Federal Reserve
System, was given an ovation when in
troduced to the convention. His re-
marks were wholly informal. He said
he did not believe there had ever been
q time when business men and bank
ers had more reasons to look with con-
ndence at the future than now.
-Four new members were added to
the associations council of administra-
ton, Frederick P. H. Siddons, Ameri-
can Security g. Trust Co.: A. Scott
Onutt. City Bank; Wilmer J. Waller.
Hamilton National Bank, and Francis
q, Addison, jr., Bank of Commerce &
savings. Other members are the pres
ent officers, Charles H. Doing as past
president OF the association and George
o. Vass member Of the executive
council Of the American Bankers As
oociation.
Officers were elected to represent
che association in the American Bank
.ers Association as follows: Vice presi-
dent for the District of Columbia,
Charles H. Doing; vice president for
national bank division, w. T. Van
doren: savings bank division, Willard
T. Barker; State banks, Frederick H,
Cox; trust companies. Irving zirpel
member Of Nominating Committee,
Robert V. Fleming; alternate, C.. H.
Pope.
The association adopted resolution
opposing the postal savings system so
lar as it is in opposition with the
banks, urging that it be made only
supplementary to the banking system.
Winners Of the weeks golf tourna-
-snents and other sports events were
announced. A new golf trophy, to
be known as the Karl w. Corby
Memorial Cup" was presented the
association by ]. Thilman Hendrick
and w. w. Spaid as tribute to
.thetr former business associate