The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-27
FIRST ANNUAL BANQUET.
THE MERCHANTS PROTECTIVE AS
ISOLATION GIVE THEIR
FIRST BANQUET
A Large Concourse OF People Present.
Speeches by the Leading Citizens.
Fine Music and Refreshments
in Abundance--A Great
Time for Those
Who Were
Present.

several anu ali SeSiiSu " OO SA-
joying the occasion immensely. The re-
freshments were all that could be desired |
by the most fastideous and were served in
the most approved style.
When everyone was seated President
Dorsey, of the association, made a brief
speech in which he reviewed the organiza-
tion of the society, its purposes and the
needs of such an organization. He said 1t
was formed for protection. By protection
he meant combination by which man
who would not pay his debts could not go
about Systematically beating his way. 1t
was not formed to hurt the poor man in
any way but to prevent the man OF poor
pay from running debts he never expected
to pay. Mr. Dorsey then in a few well
chosen words welcomed the guests
to the banquet and invited them to
fall too and help themselves TO the bands
After each one had feasted to his full
pleasure, Toastmaster Dorsey introduced
Mr.. J. P Allen, who responded to the
toast, "The Old and the New" in the fol-
lowing words:
Mr.. Chairman. Ladies and Gentlemen:
The subject assigned me, 1.-The Old and
| the New is too wide and comprehensive
for the few minutes usually allowed for
the response to a toast, but the short limit
of time allotted me, is greatly to your
advantage. As the sentiment suggests
1 suppose you expect me to say something
about the old Wichita and the new-the
| Wichita of 1870 and the Wichita
| of 1891. Few present realize the
! changes which have taken place
! in the last two decades. Contrast
! the magnificent business blocks and the
! palatial residences of today with the dirt
| covered dug-outs of that time and 1t VIII
! give you slight conception OF what mas
| transpired in little more than twenty
| years. Society of that time and this differ
| mainly in quantity. Then, as now, we
| had the good and the bad; the pure and
the corrupt: the loved ana the despised.
| Then as it ever has and ever will be, the
tares and wheat grew together; hut with
! the arrival of yourselves and others the
| good has come to predominate and every
change seems to have been for the better;
| The old fashioned stage coach which USED
| to wind its weary way over the then tree
less prairie, while it almost wore the LIE
| as well as the patience out OF It's passen-
gers, has been displaced by the magnlncent
| palace cars on ten different railroads,
| centering here. The bucking broncho mas
been superseded By the no less dangerous
bicycle, and the sole-leather leggings and
! broad brimed sombrerO of his rider have
passed into history, while the knee pants
and skull cap of the bicycle rider make
change in our civilization, IN which dlrec-
ton leave you to determine.
The Indian war dance has gone from US
| forever but the numerous dancing acade-
mics we have today would Indicate that
soft eyes were still looking love to eyes
that speak again and all was going merry
| as marriage bell" Here long before the
davs of prohibition the untutored Indian
medicine man administered to the wants
of his tribe Now his more enlightened
! brother Pm G. administers TO the ARID
! stomachs of the people secundum arten
Where the gilded saloon once stood the
Joint with its junk bottle now t1ourlshes,
| Tcheersl and monthly contributions atone
for the sins of the past.
Instead of the prevaricating real estate
agent of those days we have the exem-
plary. truthful and even pious boomers,
who would scorn TO show and sell man
a fine piece of suburban property and then
deed him a lot on a sand bar or IN the
cemetery. TCheers. These kind of men
have gone as Longfellow says,
Gone like tenants git without warning
Down the back entry Of time"
Wichita's business men of twenty-one
years ago l will attempt to describe. Most
of them have gone either TO their reward
! or to PASTURES new. But one remains as a
sort of prehistoric relic to show what this
country will do for a man in the way OF
adipose tissue if he only stays with 1t.
Imagine man weighing 125 pounds com
J ing over Wonder hill, on a January after
noon, in 1870 and now standing before
you weighing $50 pounds, and still grow
ing. prolonged cheers.
But ladies and gentlemen, which IS the
old and which the new Wichita?
As wine and women improve with age
| Tcheersl so do communities, towns and
cities That was the new, this the ola
that the neucleus, this the partially De
veloped city; that the foundation, TINS the
incompleted superstructure which VIII IN
the future as in the past continue to grow
until it becomes mighty city.
And now, Mr.. Chairman, allow me tc
| congratulate you and others to whom We
/ are Indebted for the grand success OF thi;
, the first banquet given by the Merchapts
Protective association of Wichita Pro
lection is a grand thing when rightly di
rected but protection does not, nor does L
mean as far as this association IS concern
ed. the combining against any one, bu'
rather TO protect each other against thos'
who would prey upon us we beheve II
that protection which is broad enough x
invite all people and all forces TO unl1'
: with Us in advancing the commercial inter
T. ests of ourselves our people anC
> of our city, and in that re
ciprocity which has due regard Tor th'
rights of others, and returns just eq uiV
, alent for everything received
7 The speaker was roundly applauded
I at the close of his address.
The next on the program was recita
ton by Miss Miliison, entitled The Tele
phone" Miss Millison's speech was cor
: rect representation of the average woman
l who carries on conversation with
I TELEPHONE. aud was highly appreciated b.
/ the audience.
The POSTMASTER then called upon Nh
Finlav Ross. who by way OF excuslng him
) self. said II be could talk 70 each one sepa
: | rately he could talk ar arm OF him. bU
as he was no public speaker he wou!'
most earnestly beg to be excused.
As Mr. c. VI. Jones, 10 whom was allot
ted the toast. The Ladies" was absent
I Mr. Victor Murdoch was called upon I
: respond to the toast. Mr.. Murdoch upo'
\ takiu- the floor. stated that he was no
{ prepared TO make a speech upon tn
4 ladies and remarked that he had chose
asthe subject OF his remarks 'Nlrth.
He said: Il see DR.. Creditor here, ou
where Is Mr.. Debtors I believe in merr
, ueut. Talmage says sunshine IS ms Il
: licion. Ii Is mine too. We are create
: impure 1t is our duty 10 overcome tha
dominant impurity. True religion the
Is the ordeal O. virtue.
j. The elimination Of good lie is the e
! fort TO overcome vice. What is the easies
= wayg believe laughter is the easies
i vehicle OF virtue Laughter is pure.
= is religion. What privilege laCghte
, is. Why are we not grim and solemn a
wsys2
"a There is the blank before our birth an
n the uncertain darkness beyond. There al
- n,,r t-ials and trihulaEions through life. J