Show STRONGER BUSINESS AND STRONGER BANKS by P F M na LAW president american bankers association D the crisis when confidence was shattered bankers were properly concerned in liquidity their main thought was to prepare tc meet any demand f 0 or r withdrawal of funds they were ZO more late interested rested therefore in collecting lorns than IL makin making them for this t they hey cannot be justly blamed it was a proper proc procedure colure now that conf lif LAW has been so largely restored banks will naturally resume a moro more normal lending policy this does not mean they will or should extend loose or unsound credit but bu that in the utmost good faith bankers will perform their proper part in recovery by a sympathetic and constructive atti tude in the making of sound loans nor should cominek commercial cial barks make capital or long time loans for the reason that their loans are made from funds derived from deposits payable tor for the most part on demand when the return of confidence Is further on its way business men will find need for credit in making their plans then good borrowers who for the most part have been so conspicuously absent from the market will return they will be warmly welcomed by the banks business mens fears business men have not yet laid all their tears fears they worry about what congress may or may not do they concern themselves about a trend toward control of business by government they tear fear taxes beyond their power to pay these are real sources of worry and when afien they are reassured along these lines they will bemore be more inclined to take a fresh look at the future and to make plans to go forward As a matter of fact there are tangible evidences of recovery the federal reserve board officially has stated that prices wages business activity and production were back to the highest peak since early in 1931 commercial failures in tile the united states are being cut almost in half as compared with the same period last year it has been reported that the decline in export and import trade was definitely checked in the middle of 1933 and replaced during the last half of the year by a substantial recovery movement among favorable factors is the improved co condition of the banks it Is doubtless true that the banking structure of the country has never been in a sounder stronger and more ii liquid aul condition than it is today my authority tor for that statement is the comptroller of the currency no longer is there any tear fear or thought of batik bank runs depositors once more know that their money Is safe and the banker thrice armed in the knowledge of his own strength is looking forward |