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QUESTION IS RAISED ABOUT DESORPTION BY MUNSEY TRUST Many Think Congress Will Name Committee to Make an Investigation ISSUES INVOLVED IN. SUCH TRANSACTIONS Will the Munsey Institution be Able to Hold the Six Millions in Deposits Which Were Transferred By HOLLAND New York, December 11.—(Special.) ISome of the bankers of this city are In clined to think that Congress will ap point a committee with instructions to Investigate the transactions which re cently led to the absorption by t*he Mun eey Trust institution of Washington of another perilous situation. Apparently the only justification for an Investigation j of that kind will be based upon the al- j le-ged fact that the United States treas-, ury department had some share In the] transactions. The two trust institutions which were the principal parties in the bargains are not national banks. The authority of the treasury department therefore does not extend to them, ex cept, possibly, Indirectly. An Investigation of this kind will tend to Increase the now considerable interest which the transaction has occasioned among bankers In other parts of the coun try. If the views of bankers In this city are similar to those which bankers Jn other cities hold, then the great Interest will be centered In the results which follow' the taking over of the great trust company by the smaller one. Whatever Dreaming of Days When Appetite Was King Bring llftck Thonc JoyoiiM Health I.aden D«y» By Tiling n Stuart'a Dynpepnln Tablet After Benia. One of the sad memories of a stomach ■ offerer are the days when he could eat the meals that others ate. He re calls this joy and the relish of many special dishes, but to attempt the same thing now would be followed by dis tress, if not painful suffering. Just a single Stuart’s Dyspepsia Tab let eaten like candy after a meal will assist in quickly and harmlessly digest ing such a meal. In a brief time the faulty digestion will become normal and man may eat as he desires. •Anil Now I inn Only Knt Sufi, NIiimIiv Diet.” Then the occasional use of Stuart's Dyspepsia Tablets will bring to any one a more enjoyable ami comfortable feeling after a large meal Ilian one can possibly imagine. The entire secret of Stuart's Dys pepsia Tablets from a successful diges tion standpoint lies In the fact that they are composed of those elements which the system needs most ami would ‘supply If it could. Don’t delay. Go to your druggist and obtain a box this very day. Price 50 cents. these results may be, they will he likely to furnish object lessons which teach val uable lessons respecting some features of modern banking in the United States. Can It Keep Deposits? The first point discussed by bankers in this city Is this: Will the Munsey insti tution be able to keep all or the greater part of the deposits which were carried by the trust company which found itself in embarassment two weeks ago? Our bankers are inclined to think that there are two reasons in explanation of the transactions either one of which would be a suffelent explanation. First a panic like attack by frightened depositors upon the large trust institution might have de veloped cyclonic proportions. The bank ing fabric of the District of Columbia might have been seriously although only for a short time Imperiled. Therefore it was the wisest policy for strong institu tions to co-operate with intent to prevent panic. In the second place, there was the prize of some $000,000,000 of deposits. Any as sistance which saved an Imperiled insti tution to the extent at least of saving its depositors from loss might be regarded as fully compensated if the imperiled depos itors transferred their deposits to the in stitutions which came to the rescue. This is the most interesting question to local bankers. They point to a number of ex periences in recent years w'hich show that there is no good precedent to justify the belief that depositors will transfer their accounts to a safe institution and keep them there, while, on the other hand, there are examples of the transference in block of deposit accounts of one. institu tion which liquidated or absorbed that institution. . in unrerent rarcs 01 me country It is a curious fact that experience in New York city Is not in line with exper ience in other cities with respect to trans ference of deposits. It is the understand 1g In New York that some of the mergers or liquidations or purchases which have taken place in Boston In recent years by means of which strong institutions have taken over others not so strong or so large have not been followed In every case jy the retention of the depositors carried by tiie weaker institutions. Some of the Bos ton experiences are reported here to have been not very satisfactory in this respecr, although in every other respect the trans action which led to mergers or purchase of liquidation was succesful. The Boston experience is understood here to have been similar to that which In other cities followed the absorption by a strong hank of one or two weaker or smaller banks. The stronger bank has not always been able to keep these deposits. On the other hand, it has rarely happened In New York that the absorption or mer ger or liquidation of one or more banks by a single large institution has not been accompanied also by the retention of practically the entire lines of deposit. When the National City bank 20 years ago liquidated the Third National almost all of the deposits of the Third National were transferred to the National City ard re tained there, it may be that one reason for the success, from the point of view of strength, which has followed absorb-1 tlon or liquidation of smaller banking in stitutions. is to be found in the fact that the bargains were made in the open and upon reasonable terms and the asests and lesourees w’hich w'ore taken over found to be of value and in many instances liquid. There will. then, he in this city a goo! deal of Interest in banking circles cen tered upon the disclosures which will show whether or not Mr. Mutisey’s ’n stftution will be able to retain .all or the greater part of the deposits carried in the other trust institutions. An Indirect Object Lesson It may be that this recent transaction In the District of Columbia will be util ized to explain or to defend certain fea tures of tlie banking and curency bill which it is now presumed will become i law before the first of the year. One pro fessed object of {hat measure is to pre vent undue concentration of money or of credit in New York, in times of panic j in the past. New York has been the only city in the country where money could be' secured. Elsewhere banks have been dis posed In panic times, in fact if not in name, to suspend payments or to make payments only in devious ways. In the panic of 1907, bankers all over the coun try became very conservative. In some instances they accumulated reserves as high as 50 per cent or even tiO per cent of their entire deposits. New York, on the other hand, was depleting its reserves at one time, the aggregate deficiency in reserves of New York banks being at that time high up in the millions. These New York banks also sent to other parts of the country almost all of the $100,000,000 of gold which was within three or four weeks imported from Europe. The presumption on the part of those who framed the pending curency bill has been that if regional banks were estab lished and if state chartered Institutions came into the system, then there coul.l be no panics, or if there seemed to be n panicky disposition, the regional banks would so act as to prevent its spread. It is said here that were a system of that The Christmas Store FOR DISTINCTIVE GIFTS In selecting your gifts from our Christinas Store, your purchases possess an added value, being distinctive in quality, different in character thai. goods usually offered at this season. We Are Showing in Our Stationery Department Very finest of Writing Port folios in newest designs and leathers; $1.00 to $10.00. Bridge Sets, handsomely bound and embossed; $2.00 to $3.50. 1014 Diaries, beautifully hand finished, many different styles; 25c to $5.00. Gentlemen’s 'll i g h e s t grade Poeketbooks, Wallets, Cases and Bill Folders, in finest leath ers; 50c to $10.00. Brass Desk Sets; $3.50 to $10. Cut Glass Ink Stands and Ink Wells, $1.50 up. Exquisitely beautiful, dainty Art Calendars. Gift Books, Auto Trip Books, Photo Albums, Address and Engagement Books. 1914 Daily Calendars, Stand and Pads; 75c to $2.00. Emeralite Desk and Piano Lamp, llie perfect light; $6.50 to $36.00. Beautiful Hardwood Station ery Boxes, complete with fabric finish stock; $8.50 to $12.50. Fancy boxes Monogram and Initial Stationery; 50c to $12. ROBERTS & SON The Big Alabama House ROBT. W. EWING, Pres. Manufacturing Stationers 1810-12 Third Avenue DEMOPOLIS BECOMES BIG STOCK RAISING CENTER *•* ’•?* , , — - By JESSE B. HEARIX PETER B1LLIKEN, 2:10',4 One of the fine animals brought to Alabama from Kentucky by Warren A. Bacon. The Russian government tried to buy Peter Hilliken for $10,000 but was refused The possibilities of the black belt of Alabama were really only discovered a few years ago. Until that time this rich prairie belt was given over to the negro tenant and wage hand, who scratched the surface of our rich fcoll and produced cot ton and some corn. About three or four years ago the bus iness men of Demopolis took an inven tory of our present and potential wealth. They realized that new' people were need ed to help us to develop, that intelligent white farmers were needed to get the most from our soil and to build up com munities, erect schools and make this a more modern and progressive agricultural center. They began to tell the story of our beau tiful country, through agricultural papers and magazines they extended an invita tion to the intelligent white farmer to come and make this his home. Among the first results of this campaign of ad vertising was the location of active, legiti mate real estate men—men attracted by the richness of our soil and the great possibilities for conservative development. They Joined hands with our business men, and they, too, sent out to the argicultural world the story of our undeveloped wealth In agriculture. They first brought ex perts who analyzed the soil, made a study of climatic conditions, measured the rainfall and then reported the result of their investigations. These experts them selves made investments, and then they gave to the agricultural world the truth— that the cane brake section of the black belt of Alabama, that section immedi ately around Demopolis, was possibly the greatest alfalfa belt of the south, if not of the entire country. From Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Tennes see and Kentucky came intelligent home kind now established It might have been possible by the utilization of Its strength and resources to prevent the possible ^anic which might have been cQuyeguQBt upon the embarrassment or the trust insti tution of Washington and the attitude of frightened depositors toward that insti tution. But the feeling in this city is that the establishment of regional banks will not absolutely Insure the country against money panics. There may come a cyclonic financial storm affecting many parts or the country at the same time. In that case, tlie regional, district of which New York city is the center would still he com pelled to bear much the greater part of the responsibility and burden of resisting the panic and then allaying It. it Is sold here that the proposition contained in the pending scurrency bill whereby in times of stress In one region enforced loans can be obtained from another is nothing more than an amplification of the co-operative and voluntary loan making system which is characteristic of the clearing house as sociations throughout the United States. It was the utilization of this clearing house reserve power which enabled the country to weather the panic of 1907. seekers. They were men who owned their own homes and farms, but men who sought better conditions and greater pos sibilities. They bought small farms and plantations, built homes and called Ala bama “home.” It has been the best blood and best brains of the “middle west" that has come to make the Demopolls section home. They came with capital, energy and In telligent views. That they w’ere satisfied after one or two years among us is Indi cated by tlie fact that their friends and relatives are coming to join them. The past two years has brought a “Ken tucky colony.” Not a colony of Immi grants, but men who have come and In vested from $10,000 to $60,000 dollars each In farms. They sold their high priced “blue grass" lands to come to the land of al falfa. Only within the past few days at the National Alfalfa Growers’ associa tion, held at Chicago, the Demopolls sec tion was the toast of this great conven tion. Such national characters as Holden and Wing, men recognized throughout the nation as men of experience and experts, added their word of approval to the great possibilities of the alfalfa belt of Ala- I bama. Within the past two years there has grown up around Prairievllle, just east of Demopolis, a new neighborhood, composed of splendid, prosperous, highly educated Western men, quite a number of them from Kentucky and adjoining states. They are men who have come to make this their home for all time, to add to our wealth and our citizenship, men who brought brains as well as capital. They have undertaken to add to cotton and corn a new wealth in alfalfa and live stock. Their plantations are busy with the saw and hammer. New homes, nf*.' barns and tenant houses are going up. The places are being stocked with lino j horses, high bred cattle and hogs. I Probably one of the most signal vic tories Alabama lias scored over the "blue grass" of Kentucky has been within the 1 past few weeks, when W. A. Bacon, own er of the famous "Maplehurst Farm" of Paris, Kv., was persuaded by Alfalfa Clay (C. C. Clay) of Demopolis to turn his back on the bluegrass of his native state and move his great stock farm to a 180-acre farm a few miles east of Demop olis. There is not t*» be found anywhere a more beautiful tract of land for a stook farm than the place chosen by Mr. Bacon, f It is in the very heart of the richest sec I tlon of the black belt, supplied with an abundance of pure artesian water, and near the Southern railway. On this place Mr. Bacon will operate I a stock farm more pretentious than the | Kentucky "Maplehurst." The place will be planted down In alfalfa and oats, and | will be given over only to the finest breed | of cattle and tin* highest bred race horses. Some of Kentucky's most famous horses will have this for their home. It will be the future home of "Laconda," the fastest horse ever bred in Kentucky. "La conda" has a record of 2:02 on the track, having been timed separately in a race in 201*£. This horse holds the world's rec ord for one and one-ha If miles in 3:14V*. Mr. Bacon's recognition of the black belt of Alabama as being superior to the famous grass lands of Kentucky, Is prob ably one of the greatest compliments ever paid this section, for Mr. Bacon is a gen tleman of highest intelligence, and one of the most substantial and noted breed ers of fine horses in the United States. Such enthusiastic workers for Alabama as C. C. Clay of Demopolis claim that within a few years, on account of these activities, a majority of the breeders of fine horses will come to this section, be cause it has the advantage of cheaper and better pasture, milder climate and lower price lands than the bluegrass sec- I uiuis ui ivemutA) miiu umu. From the association of alfalfa growers ■ at Chicago quite a number of delegates came to Demopolis to survey this section. They say the black belt offers greater possibilities for live stock than any sec tion they have ever visited, and they pre dict that within a few years our large | farms will have to be cut into small farms ; to make room for homeseekers. During last year alone one real estate ! firm at Demopolis sold over $o(X),000 worth! <»f land in this immediate section. Each purchaser brought with him capital to equip his farm, and every man is more than satisfied and pleased with the results of the past year. Such splendid developments as we are now witnessing in this section will do much to overcome the effects of the boll weevil. Our people are beginning to real ize that fine horses, graded cattle, good hogs, fed on alfalfa, corn and the many other forage crops so easily raised in this j section, will soon turn this into the great- ! est live stock country in the world, and will result'ln keeping the black belt the richest and best section of the south. The new blood and additional capital brought to this section from the west is proving to be the leaven that is making tl?is entire section rise to its great possi bilities. BERKSHIRE HOGS BRING FAIR PRICES Buyers From All Over North Ala bama Attend Sale at Hunts ville Wednesday Huntsville, December 11.—(Special.)—-*.11 of the 50-odd hogs that were offered for ! sale by the Tennessee Valley Berkshire association at its first annual sale \\'ed ! nesday were sold at fair prices. Buyers were here from all parts of northern Ala bama. The prices paid were not as high as expected. Mrs. Clara Jones McDowell of Hunts- I villa and Mr. J. C. McFarland, a w'ell know'll business man of Decatur, were married Tuesday evening at the home of the bride's father, J. <\ Jones. The cere mony was performed by the Rev. J. ,j. Johnson of the First Baptist church. The police have begun a crusade against certain forms of raffling that have de veloped here during the holiday season. Some of the raffles have been nothing less than lotteries in which the first prize was a large sum of money. The report of Chief Kirby of the police department for the month of November shows 235 arrests. 178 convictions and the collection of 1820 in fines. I You are a “Spug” The President of the United States is a Spug; Cabinet members, Senators, Con gressmen, Judges, everybody from work man to captain of industry is a “Spug” or wants to be. “S-p-u-g” is made up of the initial letters of the Society for the Prevention of Useless Giving. We recommend Hart Schaffner & Marx Suits and Overcoats to all Spugs Useful gifts. That’s the whole idea in the word Spug, not to spend less for Christmas, but to spend wisely. Come and see some of our “Spug” over coats, fine, warm, winter coats at $20.00 to $65.00. Excellent values at $25.00 Useful gifts. Join the Spugs today. You are a member the minute you buy a useful present. M. WEIL & BRO. 1915 and 1917 First Ave. The Home of Hart Schaffner & Marx Suits Captain of Union Gunboat Dead Woodward, Okla., December 11.—S. Carlisle, captain of the Union gunboat Nlnerva during the civil war, died at his home here last night. His boat was [active In transporting soldiers and sup plies on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. Natives Perish in Tornado Freetown, Sierra, West Africa, t)e cember 11.—Over 250 natives perished today when a tornado blew 20 canoes with 100 natives on board entirely out to sea. The storm swept the town and port. It did much damage. I Every brewer knows | I that light injures beer j KEEP THIS COVER (HU LIGHT INJURES BEER A. Gettleman Brewing Co. frankly admits — that light affects the quality of beer, that the light bottle is insufficient protection. It is not enough to make pure beer—“light injures beer.” It starts decay even in pure beer. Schlitz in Brown Bottles is pure and wholesome from the brewery to your glass. " See that crown or cork is branded “ Schlitz a Telephone, Bell Main 1863 Fies Liquor Co. 17th anti Second Ave. Birmingham, Ala. eer That Made Milwaukee Famous *