The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-02-22
RETAIL MERCHANTS DINE.
THEIB FIRST ANNUAL DINNER 1T
 THE TONTINE HOTEL.

Dr. Smyth, Senator Johnson and Others
 Dr. Smyth's Remarks on Appointments.
 The first annual banquet of the New
 Haven Retail Merchants association
 was held at the Tontine hotel last even
 ing and was in every way a signal sue
 cess. There were about sixty present
 including members of the association
 and invited guests,
 Promptly at 7:3O o'clock the members
 of the association and invited guests
 met in the parlors of the hotel and form
 ing in line marched to the dining room
 to the music furnished by Wells or
 chestra. The orchestra was stationed
 in one corner of the dining room and
 throughout the evening discoursed
 sweet strains while the members of the
 association and invited guests regaled
 themselves with the delcacies of the
 season which had been prepared for | them
 The march to the dining room was led | by Walter Leigh, president of the asso-
 citation, and Mayor Hendrick Follow l ing them in the order named came the
 guests of the eveRng, Rev. Dr. Newman | Smyth with Representative H. G. New | ton Corporation Counsel William H. Ely with ex-Police Commissioner Fran l cis b. Hum, Senator Lyman H, John son, followed by the members of the | association.
 When they arrived in the dining room thaXy fot1n6 toh1a fo ir1Ir oyroonincr Xuit h
 the delicacies of the season and pro-
 fusely decorated with cut flowers, while
 in front of each ones seat was a bou-
 tonniere of carnations and smilax. While the cigars were being enjoyed after the more substantial edibles, speeches were made by the invited
 guests and several members of the asso-
 citation. Walter Leigh, the president of
 the association was toastmaster, and
 after briefly stating the objects of the
 association he introduced Mayor Hem
 drick to respond to the toast "The City
 of New Haven"
 Mayor Hendrick said: q am highly gratified 10 meet with such an intelli- gent set of gentlemen as l see before me this evening. I will simply talk to you for later you will have a chance to listen to eloquence from the clergy, the press and your own members. The city of New Haven is prosperous and in an excellent condition, and much. in fact most, of it's success is due to your efforts and cooperation. Its welfare is as dear to you as it is to me and you are daily working hard for it's interests. The mayor then spoke in favor of the passage of law protecting the mer- chants of the city from the itinerant class who come to this city and stay a few days pay no taxes, but take away from the city many thousands of dol lars for cheaper and inferior goods. Prolonged applauseD
 Rev. Dr. Smyth was the next speaker of the evening, his toast being "The Merchants Influence Toward Good Government" Among other things he said: "I am glad to know that you are putting into practice the keynote of success, organization. By this I mean that you are organized not for selfish purposes, but the combining of good citizens to gather not only to build up your own business, but also to work for the best interests of the city. New Haven is not suburb of New York, but city where the citizens are of sufficient intelligence to cope with the management of their own affairs What is wanted is more civic Your organization as merhants have a great deal to do in solving the practical matters of con ducting the citys affairs. It is your duty to see that the people who pay the taxes should get their moneys worth out of every department of the city government and to know how the affairs are conducted
 During the course of his remarks | he paid a glowing tribute to Mayor | Hendrick, who he said, was faithful | and conscientious officer in every way. | Continuing he said: q do not feel ! that the government of the city should | be used to pay bad political debts. It | is the right and duty of you merchants | to know and to inquire into the way | the government is conducted If it is | the policy of any board or commits | sion, for instance, the police commits sion, to appoint on the police force | any man who has the record of the police court behind him, to set thieves to catch a thief, to appoint a man who has been fined in our police court for assault and battery, to look after the custody of your property, you mer chants have a right to know and ought to be persistent in enquiring whether such board is to be used as ! public trust or to pay bad political, private debts. Dr. Smyth's remarks were frequently interrupted byloud and orn1nOoa6 ann1nI1cp
 James D. Dewell responded to the .oast "The Relation of the Wholesale Merchant to the Retailer" He was fol- owed by Alexander Troup the editor )f the Union, who responded for the press. Then came a solo and chorus, Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean," which was finely rendered, Harry leigh being the soloist
 Other toasts were responded to as blows: "The Relation of the Lawyer O the Retailer" by Corporation Counsel William H. Ely; "The Senate" by Senator Lyman H. Johnson; Repre- entative Henry G. Newton, Lewis D. Ihidsey, eX-Police Commissioner F. E. Iunn, Joseph c. Johnson, E. A. Cooper, g. J. Atwater.
 The arrangements for the banquet vas made by the officers of the asso- iation, as follows: President Walter |