ROLL OF HONOR

The year 1933, in departing into unlamented oblivion, has taken along in its wake a handsome company of notables. The old time elect, the salt of the earth the repositories of 100 per cent Americanism, have departed from the limelight and left only unsavory memories and economic chaos beyond anything Alice might have encountered in Wonderland.

The roll is a long one. Choosing at random the name of Albert Wiggins of the Chase National Bank comes to mind, and then Charles Mitchell of the National City. They manipulated their funds or rather those of their depositors, with masterly insouciance and in a devil-may-care fashion that compels the admiration of the less gifted; or, shall it be admitted, the less scrupulous. Working westward, the van Sweringens and Mr. Eaton of Cleveland have lighted their little hour or two and are gone. Only a tangle of smooth tar roads and buried sewer pipes out in the hinterland, and a railroad terminal that is a fitting mausoleum of their would-be grandeur remain to tell of their experiments in financial wizardry. Nothing, that is, except the city's principal banks shattered beyond repair, with the able assistance of the bankers.

And in the Bible Belt, what has become of the Insuil interests? Greece, all Greece, and only a sordid tale of a mistress who turns out to be somebody else's maid of Athens. Nor has the West Coast, the Gold Coast, forgotten to keep up its reputation. Hervey L. Clarke of General Theatres Equipment, and William L. Fox of Fox Films, managed to pull faster ones in the financial world than they would ever have dreamed of trying to foist off on their patrons in the name of melodrama. So the role of honor might be extended indefinitely. Those on it perfected a technique of cold blodded exploitation and ruthless betrayal of trusts which would make Captain Kidd and the Brotherhood look like second rate pikers. Some at least have met their due, and the only bright spot in the picture is that it's a rare prison of the better class that hasn't its Bankers' Row these days.