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Havre Stops Bank Run March to Bank With Deposits and Restore Public Confidence Havre, Jan. 23.—Following a meeting of business and professional men at the Elks' club yesterday afternoon, adopting a suggestion of F. A. Buttrey, most of those present went to the Montana National bank and if not depositors, opened up an account. The meeting went on record as believing strongly in the stability of the only remaining bank in Havre and every member of the Kiwanis club, of the Rotary club and most of those present pledged their support to the bank and agreed to open an account. A committee was also appointed to visit the railroad yards and shops and local business houses and explain the strength of the institution, as well as the necessity of maintaining a bank in Havre. The meeting was called through the efforts of a committee headed by Mr. Buttrey and was a result of the closing of the Security State bank and the starting of a small run on the Montana National bank. However, this run did not amount to much, as only 39 accounts were closed and many times that number were opened by new customers during the day. As those in attendance were leaving the hall they signed their names attesting their support of the plan for cooperation with the bank and 157 names were put down on the dotted line. The line of intending depositors reached almost from the club rooms to the bank, and extra help had to be secured to help take in the money and make the necessary entries. Officers of the Security State bank of Havre yesterday posted notice that the bank was closed and its affairs were placed in the hands of George W. Graff, deputy state bank examiner, sent to Havre on request of the directors of the bank to State Superintendent of Banks L. Q. Skelton. No statement of the financial condition of the bank was made yesterday by the deputy examiner or by the officials and it will be several days before a complete examination of its affairs is finished. The action of the officials of the bank followed a series of heavy withdrawals, amounting to about $105,000, last week, and was taken to protect the interests of the depositors.
