-TEe CHICAGO BANKER
A Weekly Paper Devoted to the Banking and Financial Interests of the Middle West
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F. M. Lockwood
After much hesitation, F. M. Lockwood of Kankakee has decided to come out boldly for the secretaryship of the Illinois bankers. He spent a part of this week in the city and was much encouraged by his interviews with Chicago members of the council. He will be at the A. B. A. convention and expects by that time to have things pretty well in hand. He has many enthusiastic friends who are assured of his ability to win and to make good after he is in.
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The directors of the First National, Scottsboro, Ala., have declared a semiannual dividend of IQ per cent.
Entered as Second-Class Matter January 15, 1903, at the Post Office at Chicago, Illinois, under Act of March 3, 1879
tlemen associated with him on the committee, there is assurance that nothing will be neglected and that a canopy of harmony will spread over the assembled concourse, and that beauty will reign supreme.
The committee ■on hotels, headed by August Blum and W. T. Perkins, vice-chairman, has its work well organized, and the bureau of information, presided over by S. R. Flynn, chairman, has been making preparations to assist visitors in every possible way. Joseph T. Talbert, chairman of the committee on clubs and invitations, and Lucius Teter, vice-chairman, of the same committee, have about completed their duties.
The Green County Bank, Broadhead, Wis., elected J. L. Roderick to succeed FI. C. Putnam.
SEPTEMBER 4, 1909
The Convention
One of the brightest spots in the outlook for the Chicago A. B. A. convention is the probable attendance. Information from various ■sources is to the effect that the larger cities will be very well represented, not only in numbers, but by many of the most widely known bankers and financiers of the United States; and advices from secretaries of many state associations indicate that bankers will come from all parts of the country, totaling several thousand. The date this year is earlier than formerly, and will insure a strong representation from the South, as the movement of the cotton crop will not have reached the high mark before the latter part of September. It does not seem unreasonable to hope that this will prove one of the biggest gatherings in the history of the organization. That is what local bankers would like, and that thought has been uppermost in arranging entertainment.
Mention has been made heretofore of the program to be carried out by the local committees, but now on the eve of the convention intending visitors may like to know that the plans for all functions are going along smoothly and with promptness. The committee on the dinner to the executive council will have everything in readiness by Monday evening, September 13th. George M. Reynolds, chairman, and other members of the committee are perfecting details which will mark this as an important meeting. Tuesday evening will be spent most delightfully at the Coliseum, where the committee on theatres has arranged for Ferullo’s Band and the Italian Ballet. Refreshments will be served. David R. Forgan, chairman of the committee, has been taking a vacation and recuperating his energies for convention week, but in his absence the vice-chairman, W. N. Jarnagin, has given persistent attention to this part of the program.
Pleasure and opportunity for profitable investigation will combine to make the boat ride to Gary attractive. This will occur on Wednesday, the 15th. Two commodious steamers have been chartered. Many of the excursionists will no doubt״ wish to see the great steel mills where astonishing quantities of iron ore are daily converted into finished steel. One of the boats will dock at Gary long enough to permit an inspection of the plants. B. C. Sammons is chairman of the excursion committee. At the Stock Yards on Thursday gentlemen will be impressed with the enormous volume of business there transacted; and it will surprise many to learn what wonderful economies have been developed, making it possible for the companies at the Yards to profitably handle a very considerable portion of the meat supply of this country with a comfortable margin for export, thus swelling both the income of the farmer and the foreign trade of the nation. The leading packers have charge of all arrangements for this trip.
The reception and ball Thursday evening will be the crowning event of the week. It would be sufficient to say in this connection that President Taft is to grace the occasion with his presence. The committee feels that it was rare good fortune that made it possible to secure on this evening the most distinguished public citizen of the United States. The music will be sublime, and the reception and ball being under the direction of John Jay Abbott, and the accomplished gen-