Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-19
THE GROCERs ABROAD.
The Big New England Excursion Party
Have Reception at Willard Hall.

Commissioner Douglass was for while the
central figure on the stage at Willard hail last
night. He was there to formally welcome to
Washington the great body Of Wholesale and
retail grocers, members of that party OF l,O5o
gentlemen and ladies, all residents OF New
England, which came to this city on Tuesday
night. The hall was crowded with the visitors
and with New England folks whose homes are
here.
Mr.. T. J. LASER presided and on the
platform with him were Representative b. A.
Morse. Col Fred Bracket, chief clerk Treasury
department.; Mr.. VIM. ii. Hutchinson, who has
been very active in his endeavors to make
things pleasant for the visitors; L. G. Emery
and W. II. Webster.
The Commissioners speech was pleasant and
brief he comp.imented the climate of the
northeast, lauded the grocery business where
ever 1t conducted, eulogiZed Washington
and Its inhabitants and expressed the hope that
the visit would be an enjoyable one.
MR.. MoRsE's SPEECH.
He gave way to Representative Elijah A.
Morse of Canton, Mass, who was down on the
program to respond MIR. Morse's speech was
received with good deal of enthusiasm. Mod
estly he referred to the fact that he would rep
resen Mt a portion OF Massachusetts In the Fifty
first Congress and then he stated boldly that
enterprise the grocers of New England were
unequaled by any body of men ON Gods green
earth. he deprecated arraylng of the rich
against the poor and denied the truth, SO lar
as this country was concerned, of the state
ment that the rich were growing richer and
the poor poorer. The first part, he said, was
true, but the latter far from correct.
Here the poor shared in the prosperity of the
rich. lie said the New England grocers asked
for but little; all they want Is to be let alone.
THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE Law.
I'VE want" said he, that miserable law
known as the interstate commerce law repealed.
1t should be styled the law to discourage COM
mercial intercourse between the states. We
demand and will submit to no hostile legisla-
ton. We believe in protection to American
industries against the pauper labor OF Europe,
but we want the largest possible free trade be-
tween the great states of the union this miser-
able law interferes with. 1t was born in Texas,
where the Mills bill was born. 1t blow
aimed at the manufacturers of New England.
We demand Its repeal and return to the let
alone policy under which we have enjoyed
Prosperity Unprecedented in the history OF
states or Nations" [Great applause.]
Dir. Morse was complimentary in his allu-
slons to Mr- Benjamin johnson and Mr.. A c.
DoWse. the publisher and editor, respectively,
OF the New England Grocer, who organized the
excursion party. In conclusion Mr.. Morse
said:
Grave problems confront the state and
nation now; questions vital to the welfare and
perpetulty of our Institutions are before the
people for solution, and think Mr.. johnson
has done a patriotic service in bringing such
large number OF our people TO the pational
capital think II well the people should ac-
quaint themselves by a personal visit to the
national capital with our forms and system of
government" IApplause.l
LETTERS AND ADDRESSES.
letter Of regret from Representative Henry
Cabot Lodge was read In it Mr.. Lodge said
he believed it to be he duty of all Americans
to journey 10 the city OF Washington. there to
stuIy, II only briefly. the methods OF conduct
ing the government and the many means of
eduedtlon to DC found here.
Addresses were delivered by Geo. B. Wallis
ir., of New York, Henry L. Cobb Of Boston,
and A. Z. Manson OF Boston. and then Manager
johnson announced that there would be a pill
grImage TO Mount Vernon at 3 pm. today
Vocal music was INDUCED IN by the entire au-
olence, after which the crowd dispersed Quite
a large number of the exeursionists went 10 the
pariors of Wizards hotel and sang until mid
night.
This morning the visitors were photographed,
after which they scattered all over the city.