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well-being and prosperity of the average man, woman and child in 

 the nation. 



Mr. CalwelFs splendid opening remarks bore on many of these 

 points which we must lay to heart. I want you to have in mind, in con- 

 nection with what I am saying on this subject, that I was born and bred 

 both a farmer and a banker, in Illinois, and I have been exposed to both 

 propositions from my earliest days. Earlier, I didn't appreciate the 

 agricultural side as I have later. Now a large part of my sympathy 

 is on the agricultural side. I am still in banking and farming, but above 

 all things I try to bear in mind that man has two great concerns in life, 

 one the conquest of his environment, the other is to express and interpret 

 what life means to him. Most of the bankers have gotten well along 

 in the conquest of their environment, and they, more than many others, 

 have the opportunity and leisure and the wherewithal, and are rapidly 

 and happily beginning, through public welfare work, to express ''what 

 life means to them." 



In other words, the basis of banking, like the basis of the rest of 

 life, is moral, not financial. We are all beginning to realize we must 

 be progressive in order to be conservative. It has been my privilege to 

 attend many state bankers' conventions, and this spirit undoubtedly 

 prevails and grows amazingly. 



The greatest feature of this movement is response, and the prompt 

 response that has come to the call for help toward a better agriculture and 

 rural life. 



In the fall of 1914 the Agricultural Committees of the State Associa- 

 tions are to be the guests of the Chicago Clearing House, and you will 

 see bankers there from all sections of the country, discussing the various 

 subjects I have referred to in such a way as to inspire any man and the 

 believers in citiz'enship. 



The banker is misunderstood in a great many instances,' yet if time 

 is taken to properly consider his attitude he will usually be found to 

 measure up to all that is for the public welfare. 



The bankers in fine spirit are recognizing that the business of banking 

 is not only the business of the banker but is also the public business, 

 and they demonstrated that at the recent currency conference in Chicago. 



The bankers for twenty-five years have wanted a new currency sys- 

 tem, and have called for it, and when they called for it the people felt 

 it was something the rest of the community didn't want. 



As a rule, the bankers fear political control as much as the politicians 

 pretend to fear the bankers in the matter of control of the banking system 

 of the country. 



The press of the country and the public of this country should feel, 

 as they really know in their hearts if each individual answers this question 

 honestly, that the banker in his own community is one of the most trusted 

 of men, for the banker knows and feels he must have that community's 



