The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-12-26
Pauline Hertzheim, Emma Hamburger
and Mrs. j. H. Miller.
CHRISTMAS AT O0RO0RAN'S.
Congressman McEwan Speaks and
The mnl0Yes Racefva 6sIffa

| The Eln pIoyes Receive gifts.
| The annual festivities Of the employes
of Andrew J. Corcoran, the windmill
manufacturers of Jersey avenue and Thir
teenth street took place Thursday even
ing. In addition to the sixty or more EN-
ployes there were present about Thirty
guests, among whom were Congressman
Thomas McEwan and William j. TAFT
Secretary of the Board Of Trade. The sec
ond floor of the left wing of the factory
was where the exercises were held The
workshop was profusely decorated witt
American, Irish and Cuban flags.
In the centre of the room loaded dowr
with good things was long table. At the
upper end, on a raised platform, sat Will
lam A. Corcoran. son of the windmill
manufacture. Behind him were Mr.. Cor
coran and the guests. In temporary loft
at the other end of the room. was a string
orchestra which furnished music for the
occasion. There was singing and recita-
tons by the employees Charles Dodge,
lighted the audience with a budget Of sto-
ries he had picked up on the road.
Robert Murphy, the ten-y year-old nephew
OF John Casey. recited several pieces and
scored a big hit. W. A. Corcoran as usual
gave the employees few sad stories to
think over, while Rob. Corcoran, another
son Of the manufacturer, led the singing.
quartet rendered several popular selec-
tions. At half-paSt seven the distribution
OF gifts began. Every employe and guest
who was fortunate enough to be married
received a fine fat turkey and a box of
cranberries. The single men. including
Congressman McEwan, were presented
with a box of cigars. Some of the old and
trusted employees received in addition
small envelopes which contained large
checks.
Speeches We're made after the gifts had
been distributed. Before calling upon any
one Chairman Corcoran read letters of re-
gret from Mayor Waneer and john =.
voorhees,. formerly President of the Board
of Trade
Congressman McEwan made a brief
speech. After declaring that Jersey City
would amount to something if there were
a few more men like Mr.. Corcoran In it,
ne said he saw in just such occasions a
solution of the problem of capital VS.. la
Dor: 1t was rare thing, he said, for one
to crop INTO factory at any time and see
employer and employed working in har-
nony and enjoying themselves on an equal
footing. Mr.. Corcoran was a man so
much after his own idea, the Congress
man said, that in eulogizfng Mr.. Corcoran
and commencing him for his treatment of
his employees and his actions on public af-
fairs he had by witty friends been referred
to as 'one of Corcoran's windInills''
In conclusion, the Congressman told of
q Aght he made week ago to prevent the
passage OF an act In Congress which al
lowed the purchasers of a defunct rail-
road to escape the payment of back wages
to workmen who had not been paid for
the road. He was cheered vigorously
when he finished speaking.
Mr.. CWcoran spoke briefly. He thanked
the men for the manner In which they
had PERFORMED their duties and told them
that upon their energies the success of
the enterprise depends He advised them
that when they made mistake in the
construction of any part of machine
not TO be afraid to report 1t. He urged
them to throw away nything defective
declaring that they would earn the re-.
spect of everyone by doing so. 1t Is an
easy matter, he said, to detect an error
by a banking clerk, and such errors can
be remedied readily. In the case of an err
ror being made and not reported in the
construction of a windmill there was no
telling the amount of damage it would do
the manufacturer Mr.. CorcoTan said the
last year had been a slow one in business,
but he expressed the belief the coming
year would see them all kept busy.
During the entertainment refreshments
were served and it was a merry throng
that left the factory late In the evening.