Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1937-09-16
Bankers Of Group Seven
Hold Fine Meeting Here

! ing in the M. & M. high school aud
! itorium, was the outstanding meet
! ing thus far of that association, i'll
attendance. There were 227 seated
at the banquet tables, and number
came in later for the entertainment.
! Many were present from each of the
IL counties in this district, which
| comprises Athens, Belmont. Coshoc-
| ton, Guernsey, Hooking, Monroe,
Meigs, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble
Perry and Washington.
Because of the illness of the chair
| man, Mr. Chester H. Steels, of Quak-
er City, who could not be present,
the vice chairman, Mr. C. B. Smith.
of Malta, presided, which he did in
a most capable manner. The elegant
three course dinner was prepared
and served under the management
of Mrs. Clara Young, supervisor of
the M. & M. cafeteria. Autumn
flowers decorated the tables. The
invocation was by Rev. Chas. J. CAL
lier of the local Presbyterian church.
During the dinner hour Frank VIII
son of GAINESVILLE favored with ac-
Gordon music.
Mr.. Cecil Glass, cashier of the
Citizens bank, here, made the well
come address, which was appropriate
to the occasion, and he was follow
ed with few clever remarks by
Hugh L. Wilson, president of the
Ohio Bankers association. The pur-
pose Of the gathering was not to
have much ''shop" talk, however
Mr.. Wilson said that banking should
be made responsive to present day
needs, and cooperation is needed to-
day as never before, and it is i'm
portant that we all pull together.
Hon. Samuel H. Squires, superin-
tendent of banks of this state, also
spoke briefly. He stated that while
he had attended many bankers
meetings, he classed the present one,
as outstanding. He called attention
to six laws passed by the last legis-
lature, which have placed Ohio in
the foremost rank in progressive
banking. He stated that the reports
of the condition of the banks show
that banking is getting back to nor
NAL; that in 1928 this country
was very near the precipice; and
that it took courage of the govern
ment at Washington to take the
stand that it did to stem that tide.
He praised Senator Carter Glass of
Virginia for the fight in congress
for our present banking system, and
classed him as the brainiest man in
the United States senate.
The entertainment features in
cluded some of Birch, the magi-
clans, tricks of magic, and xylo-
phone solos by his wife.
The guest speaker was Major Nor
man l. Imrie, of the editorial de-
Nf 81, 1,Yc fah
In beginning his address he stated
finest xylophone player in the coun-
try. Mr. Imrie and the Birches have
appeared many times together on
the entertainment platform. Major
Imrie recently returned from a trip
to Europe in which he visited nine
countries and was present at the
coronation. He is a splendid orator
with an inexhaustible fund of infor-
nation, and keen humor which he
uses to the very best advantage.
He stated that we fought to make
the world safe for democracy-to
take the world from dictatorship;
that the heads of the dynasties Of
Europe went-but making the world
safe for democracy proved to be q
thrown into the ash heap, and in
most of Europe today there is no
such thing as liberty. In Germany
where formerly there were 90 differ
ent parties. all have vanished, and
the people are under one man rule,
Hitler and the same things are true
in other countries.
Talking with newspaper man in
Germany Mr.. Imrie said, they had
discussion as to the newspapers
place in country, and the difference
between German newspapers and
those of America. He believes that
newspapers furnish a check upon
government which no constitution
has ever been able to devise. To his
German friend, Mr.. Imrie stated
that he could write a scathing,
scorching editorial against Presi-
dent Roosevelt, and no word would
be sent out of the White House to
punish him, or to close UP the news
paper office. But, he said to his
friend, what would happen to you if
you did that against Hitler?
England, the speaker believes, is
looked up to, and her friendship Is
courted because of the strength Of
her seven billion dollar armament
program Wars have been averted
because England showed disposi-
tion to take sides with certain coun-
tries.
While in England Major Imria
had a conference with Neville Cham
berlain, Prime Minister of England,
and one of the outstanding men of
the world. The speaker said he re-
turned from his trip abroad with
three epigrams in his mind-world
safe democracy, which he termed a.
failure; how the minority became 4
majority, and persecutes the ma
jority (dictators); and the third
Woodrow Wilson's words 1--WE stand
for the reign of law based on the
consent of the governed sustained
by organized opinion of mankind
Mr.. Imrie stated that we have many
things here that he does not like,
and he would like to see them chang
ed; but he said there are also many
things he does not want to see
changed, and after his trip abroad
he returned to America with 4
heart filled with glow and apprecia-
tion, for America, as expressed in
the words of Henry Van Dykes
poem, which he recited, "Home
again from foreign shores--it's
America for me-"
The program concluded with few
words from Belford P. Atkinson, as
sistant secretary of the Ohio Bank
ers' association.
At the business session, c. B.
Smith of Malta was elected chair
man of group seven of the associa-
ton for the coming three years; w.
G Eorcythn of Athcuc viao char