Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-12-31
NOTABLE GATHERING.
Banquet by the Boston Merchants
Association.
THE NOTABLE GENTLEMEN PRESENT,
Three Hundred Plates at Table,
Speeches on Prominent
Topics Made.

BosToS, December 30.-The banquet
given by the Boston Merchants Associa,
ton, at which several distinguished Ssns-
tors and Representative of the United
States were the houored guests, was q
notable event in the club history in Boston.
It was held in the spacious banquet hall OF
the Hotel Vendome, which was beautifully
decorated with bunting and flowers.
Plates we're laid for over 300 and
all places were filed. At the
head of the table sat President
Wood Of the Merchants' Association, who,
acted as Chairman. At bis right were in
order named; Governor Robinson, Semi.
tor Edmunds, Senator Allison, Senator
Dawes, Ex-Governor Rice, Of MAssschu,
sets; Congressman J. Randolph Tucker,
of Virginia On his left Mayor o Brien,
Of Boaton; Senators Evsrts, Hosr,
Frye and Jonathan Caase; Con.
gresham Benjamin Butterworth, of Ohio,
Hon. Oliver Ames and Hon. John D.
Long. The other tables we're flied with
Boston's representative business men, with
a copious sprinkling of professional gentle.
men and others well known in national
and State politics and journalism, among
whom were Hon. Henry Cabot Lodge,
0akes Ames, Hon P, A. Collins, Hon.
Leopold Morse, R. NJ. Pulsifer, Col. C. H.
Taylor and R. ". Emerson.
THE DINNER
itself occupied four hours in discussion and
The post prandial exercises occupied four
hours more. The invitations issued to the
guests who were expected to speak nomin.
ally confined them TO the leading national
issues OF the day" But ss the night wore
on there was more or less struggling
from the main points A vein
Of humor ran through all
of the speeches and it was evident most oil
the orators did not consider the occasion
one upon which to put forward decisive
measures. The post prsndial exercises
were opened by President W. B. Wood
who made a brief address and introduced
Governor Robinson, who was greeted with
three cheers and a tiger, as indeed we're
sll the succeeding speeches. The Gov
erncr welcomed the guests OF
the evening, referred to the existing differ
ences in value between the gold and the
silver dollars, and said upon one thing the
merchants OF Boston were united-the
prompt passage Of national bankrupt
law.
Senator Edmunds was the next speaker
On the subject Of bankruptcy bill he
said: II rather suppose that among the
gentlemen present there is not one who
does not believe such Law essential to the
business interests Of the nation"
oOh,-.c- SSsltonstall followed Egarts
He eulogized the nOhas1y of nnrnose Of
President Cleveland, strongly aRsss aePRPsssred e.
the continued coinage OF silver, and advo-
Gated a plain, simple tariff law to raise
enough revenue TO meet government
needs.
The next speaker was Senator William
B. Allison, of Iowa he favored nation
al bankrupt bill and might say was one of
the few Senators who had believed that the
Law shou;d be amended and not repealed
that there will be no difficulty on that
question. The tariff is q larger question,
and coming from an agricultural State, II
might be suspected that there wss g shadow
OF difference Of opinion there and in
Massachusetts,. Il think | can say to you
believe the prevailing opinion IN my
State is in favor Of encouraging the man
ufacturers Of our country, and so far as
legislation can properly accomplish it is
our duty to take care Of the American
lsborer rather than the lsborer OF other
countries" Mr.. Allison pronounced him
self GO decidedly in favor OF bi-netallism,
and argued at length in support Of his
position.