Article Text
ASKING THE EAST TO HELP THEM Chicago Banks Call for Money to Tide Them Ove the Trouble. Washington, January 3.-(Special.)-The situation relative to the banks in Chicago and other of the western cities is being considered by Comptroller Eckels and others of the treasury department. The condition of western banks is far more serious than is generally imagined by the public. The recent failures in Chicago and St. Paul have, according to the treasury authority, placed western finances in a tottering condition. For the past three days the Chicago banks have been telegraphing to New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington banks for assistance. So far it is not believed by the treasury officials that satisfactory responses have been made in the east, therefore greater trouble is feared, and unless all the western banks go to each other's support it is argued there may be a general western bank panic. Comptroller Eckels said tonight that he had no fear of the southern banks, as few, If any, had any great interchange of business with the Chicago concerns, but the seat of apprehension lay exclusively at Chicago and points west of there. Mr. Eckels is, in truth, apprehensive, and while doing all within his power to avert a break in the west, he is not without fear that