17
THE CHICAGO BANKER
July 5, 1909]
( Department of Chicago Banker )
An Open Forum Dedicated to the Associated Chapters A. I. of B. in Which to Advance the Great Movement for Independent Action and Universal Membership
Associated Chapters at Seattle
issued hereafter in the name of the ‘American Bankers Association, American Institute of Banking Section,’ and signed by officers of the American Bankers Association, together with officers of the American Institute of Banking. Work of Education
“The educational work has consisted of :
“The maintenance of study courses by the chapters and examinations under the supervision of the educational director.
“The compilation of the material for a textbook on practical banking under the direction of the educational committee.
“The competitions for prizes for the best essays on the subject, ‘American Currency Problems.’
“Interest in the study courses has been general and the work done can best be judged by the results. While reports are not yet complete, it is safe to say that more members have passed the institute examinations in one or more subjects this year than in all the previous history of the institute.
“We have reached a turning point in the history of the institute. Its development has been extensive, a spreading out ; a perfection of organization. Its future development will be intensive, a cultivation of what we have ; a more general participation in study classes, the development of a body of speakers and writers on economic subjects, and the training of teachers in practical banking.
“With self-government has come a grave responsibility. We are accountable to the American Bankers Association for the education of the bank clerks of America in the things which will make of them better clerks, better bankers, better citizens. We are proud of our organization, proud of its parentage, proud to receive the support and approbation of those who have made possible the development of this splendid educational organization.
“This report would be incomplete without an acknowledgment of the splendid service of our educational director, George E. Allen. In the conscientious, thorough, intelligent direction of this office, he has done more to improve the condition of the bank clerk than any other man. It has been an education to be associated with him in the administration of the institute, and it is a pleasure to testify to the importance of the work which he has done in bringing the institute to its present state of efficiency.”
Temporary Secretary Named
At the conclusion of his remarks President Johnson said he regretted to announce that the secretary of the institute, W. E. Bullard, of Detroit, could not attend the convention on account of serious illness from which he had but recently recovered. The name of D. J. Lyons, of Cincinnati, was then proposed as secretary of the convention, voted upon and carried. Mr. Lyons asked that the meeting
Full news report of the most interestin¿ session ever held by the junior bankers. Warmly welcomed and richly entertained by whole northwest
destined to become a shining star of the West.”
Mayor Miller said he hoped the convention would bear the best possible fruit in the shape of fixing a mutual reliance among the banks of the country, their officials and depositors, and that the present meeting would turn out to be one that will long be remembered in Seattle. Just before closing his remarks, the mayor launched into a word painting of Alaska, giving it as his view that the country of the North would ultimately prove the richest possession of any nation on the face of the earth.
President Johnson Speaks
President Franklin L. Johnson thanked Mayor Miller for his words of greeting, and said that the one predominating thing that impressed the visitors on their way across the country was the bigness of everything; the bigness of the mountains, the rivers and fields. He also said that the fame of Seattle is abroad in the land and that was the reason the convention is being held in this city.
President Johnson said in part:
“The physical organization and educational facilities of the institute are necessarily the result of a development in which we could learn only by experience. This development always has been forward. Each year has shown a growth in membership, an increased interest, more real work done. There has been no deviation from the purposes of the institute as originally laid down.
“The convention is a milestone in our progress. It is the time to consider the work of the past year and make plans for the future.
“The administrative work of the past year has been the completion of our physical organization.
“Acting on your request of last year, the American Bankers Association has made our organization the American Institute of Banking section of that body and has admitted the chairman of our executive council as a member of the executive council of the association. At the request of your executive council our plan to maintain a recognized standard of banking education by means of official examinations and the issuance of certificates was approved by the executive council of the American Bankers Association at its annual meeting at Briar Cliff. N. Y., and such certificates were authorized to be
Seattle, June 21.—Representing practically every state in the Union, delegates to ¿he seventh annual convention of the American Institute of Banking in Seattle, this morning gathered in Elks’ Hall in the Alaska Building, this being the first meeting of a session that will continue until Wednesday night.
The convention hall is tastefully decorated, the walls being draped with greens and flowers which blend prettily with the appointments of the room. In the gallery to-day were the guests of the convention, a large number of whom were women. From the railing hung a large American flag, which formed the patriotic background of the decorations. The officials of the meeting sat within the cloister, which appears like a veritable bower of roses.
Due to the heavy registration of the-visiting delegates at headquarters in the Hotel Washington this morning, the convention did not get under way until after 11 o’clock, an hour later than the appointed time. The session was formally opened by Franklin L. Johnson, of St. Louis, Mo., president of the institute.
President Johnson introduced Rev. M. A. Matthews, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, who delivered the invocation.
Mayor Miller Welcomes Visitors
Mayor John F. Miller of Seattle delivered the address of welcome, which was frequently punctuated by enthusiastic bursts of applause from the delegates, who crowded the hall. Mayor Miller said in part:
“I am exceedingly glad of this opportunity given to me to say a few words of welcome to you, the members of the American Institute of Banking, who have gathered in our city in the first convention ever held west of the Rocky Mountains. That you concluded to come to Seattle speaks well for the great Northwest, of which our city is the figurative capital. I am happy to learn that many of your great chapters have gained life in this wonderful country out here.
“We of the Northwest make use of everything that figures in the progress of the country, still adhering to the principles that have gone to make up the success of the East as a great financial center. The city of Seattle is now in its thirty-fourth year of organized municipal government. In that number of years we have accumulated a population that it took the city of New York 206 years to gain.
“To the south of us we have the beautiful city of Tacoma, yet farther south there stands the city of Portland, which rests upon as firm a financial foundation as the city of Boston. Still to the south we have Oakland, and across the way is San Francisco, which has so heroically recovered from the terrible disaster which threatened it with utter destruction. Then comes San Diego, which I may say, by virtue of its position and natural resources, is