WOODS WILL NOT HEAD COMMERCE. ~ IS ELECTED TO THE PRESIDENCY, BUT RESIGNS.

November 20, 1908
WOODS WILL NOT
HEAD COMMERCE.

IS ELECTED TO THE PRESIDEN-
CY, BUT RESIGNS.

NEW CASHIER
J. T. BRADLEY.

W. T. KEMPER AND JOSEPH J.
HEIM VICE PRESIDENTS.

Committee Is Appointed to Recom-
mend a Man for Presidency -- Dr.
Woods is Chairman of
Board of Directors.

After a session which lasted two hours yesterday afternoon the board of directors of the National Bank of Commerce chose its new officers and filled the vacancies on the board with one exception. The following is a list of the newly elected officers:

President -- Dr. W. S. Woods, resigned and committee appointed to recommend man for president.
Vice presidents -- W. T. Kemper and Joseph J. Heim.
Cashier -- J. T. Bradley
Directors -- W. T. Kemper, John Kelly and J. T. Bradley

Immediately upon going into session yesterday afternoon the board listened to a personal reading of the resignation of William B. Ridgely, former president, George J. Cutts, former vice president and Edward Ridgely, former cashier. These resignations were accepted forthwith and the board set about to fill the vacancies at once. Dr. W. S. Woods was unanimously elected president, but, owing to the great responsibilities that were to be met by the incumbent of that office, Dr. Woods tendered his resignation, after having thanked the directors for the honor. Because of this fact the board did not discuss any other person for the office of president and placed the matter in the hands of a committee consisting of Dr. Woods, Mr. Kemper, Mr. Heim and J. Z. Miller, Jr. instructing the committee to recommend a man for the presidency as soon as possible.

The office of chairman of board of directors, which had not previously existed, was created yesterday afternoon. Since Dr. Woods, who controls the majority of stock in the institution, resigned the presidency of the bank he was chosen as chairman of the board. This office Dr. Woods accepted.


RIDGELYS TO STAY HERE.

William B. and Edward Ridgely will leave Kansas City for a short vacation and return here, where they will engage in business, the nature of which has not transpired. George S. Cutts, the ex-vice president will leave immediately for St. Louis, which is his home city. His family is there at the present time and he will join them for a short vacation.

Mr. Cutts does not relish the idea of being a victim of the official ax, and he doesn't hesitate to say so. "It was with the understanding that I was to come to Kansas City permanently that I gave up my former position and took the vice presidency of this bank. It was a loss as far as salary was concerned, but I had visions of helping to build a great banking institution here, so I left my home and good salary to come here. Anyhow, I am going to beat Mr. Ridgely out of town by three minutes."

Charles H. Moore, second vice-president of the bank will remain in hiS present position. Mr. Kemper, the new vice-president, will also remain vice president of the Commerce Trust company.

It is expected that the board of directors will hold another meeting before Sunday and the president will be chosen at that time. The newly chosen officers will take up their duties at once.