The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-01-01
COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS.
Annual Dinner Occurred Last Eve
ming.
LARGE GATHERING OF KNIGHTS
OF THE GRIP.

Election of Oficers-Permanent Rooms
Talked of-speeches by the Invited
Guests
The annual dinner of the Maine Com
mercial Travellers Association occurred
Monday evening at the Union Station
Cafe. As would be expected from the
splendid body of business men, who have
done, and are still doing SO much for the
commercial prosperity of Portland, the
occasion lacked nothing4in cheer or ele-
gance. The tables were handsomely dec
grated with candelabras, potted plants
and cut flowers, and were loaded with
the most. attempting viands of all Chimes
and all. seasons.
Previous to the banquet the business
meeting was held, and these off GERS
were elected:
President-Henry I. Nelson.
Vice President-Bion r. Lane.
Clerk and William W. Rob-
erts.
Executive Committee-H W. Clark. j.
B. Dun bar, L. F. Senter and A. NJ. Mentish.
The treasurer reported 1858 IN the trea
sury and all bills paid.
An application was received from the
Young Womens' Christian Union. asking
for contri buttons for. {. headquarters near
the Union Station, where young women
travellers in need of friends can be asis-
ted. The association considered the mat
ter through a CO mmittee, for whom Mr..
Dunbar reported, that while they sympa-
thized entirely with the object for which
help was asked, they felt that the funds
of their association should be devoted to
such of their own. mum Der as might be
in need of help.
The subject of permanent quarters
was discussed somewhat, and on motion
of Mr.. Dunbar was left to the executive
committee to report at the next annual
meeting.
AS special'guests of the occasion were
General Manager Payson Tucker. j. E.
Blabon, ESQ.,, Rev. Matt S. Hughes and
Mr. Oscar R. Wish. Mayor Baxter was in
vited, but being unable to be present,
sent note of regret. Mayor Noble of
Lewiston was also unable to be present.
Governor Cleaves and Congressman Reed
also sent letters of regret.
Those present were: Henry I. Nelson
Thomas J.Weloh, Edward P. Merrill, J.
B.Dunbar, c.. f. Crockett, Frank View
EFT, D. B. Myshralh, Seth F. Clark, Bert
rand D. Knight, Frank S. Pote, H.
Carleton, CT. 1hoits, J.H. O'Neil, f.
C. Wentworth, F. A.Sparrow, A. M. Men
ish, W.E.Ayer, E. l.. Dresser, Bion r.
Lane, Harry Hanson, Winfield Trefethen,
Oliver Hay, Conductor John Jewett,
Sethley H. Hall, William ". Roberts, Oscar
R. Wish,J. E. Blabon, Payson Tucker,
Matt Hughes, Edwin A. Gray, R. H. 1or-
dan, S. II. Davis, Giles o. Bailey, f. r. Fay,
Asher c. Kinds, 6. W. Mitchell.J j. W. Cum
mings, C. w. Thomas, o. S.Gilman, G.F.
Eaton, Fred A. Thompson, Harry B. Eddy
S.W. Roberts Walter M. Jordan, Thomas
J. Murphy, W. H. Robinson, Jr. j. Marshall
Hobbs, OK Gage, Fred Il. Rounds, II.
L. Damon, &c. Brown. Us. Ham. Els.
Heilburn, A. D. Bowman. CO. Bickford,
Ben Ilsley. c. E. Dunlap, Lincoln r.
Loring, FL. Berry, NJ. Lane, j. Put
nam Stevens.
Chambers orchestra furnished delight
full music.
1t was twenty minutes past ten when
President Gray called the assembly to
order, and introduced Rev. Matt S.
Hughes. Mr.. Hughes began with hum
orous compliments to the toastmasters,
and went on to express his fellow feeling
for travelling men. His denomination
had adopted enthusiastically the system
of the tcircuit riders, who were the pro-
toypes of the modern commercial trav-
elIers The Union Station was ansappro
priaas place for the meeting of a body of
men whose business was the direct out
growth OF the application of steam and
electricity. s.There are said to be 100000
travelling men in the United. States,
spending So, 900, 900 day,a of which of
course goes to the railroads and hotels.
(Laughter.) All this system has been
built up within half century. MIR.
Hughes then went on to comment on the
advantages of the travelling man, who
acquires an expansiveness of mind that
is not obtained in the narrow routine
of office work. Our travelling men may
be mum bered among the broad gauge men
in public affairs. They also have an
abundant opportunity to study human
nature, which is the most interesting
and most deserving of all studies. Mr.
Hughes spoke of the high character of
the present generation of travelling men,
VINO stood between the house and it's
customers. They welded great influ-
ence by their example upon the commu-
mites in which they moved. In conclu-
sion he. expressed his good wishes for the
association for the coming year.
At this point vote of thanks was
passed to Mr. Woodbury.. who had fur
nished the supper, and to the corps of
walters who had served it.
President Gray then spoke appreci-
atlvely of General Manager Tucker, who
was present. but declined to speak.
Joseph E. Blabon, Esq, next spoke APP
preciativeIy of.the work of. the travelling
men, and of the interest which the mer-
chants should take in their associations.