The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-23
The 18th Annual Banquet
of Association.
President Vernon Makes An
Interesting Address.
Speeches Made by Mayor McGuin-
ness, Mr.. Elder and Others.

Never in the history of the BanK Clerks
Mutual Benefit Association was there an
anniversary SO enjoyable and memorable
as the 18th, held at the Trocadero last
night. Fully zoo OF Providence's fore
most citizens in commercial and financial
affairs were gathered together in honor of
this silver anniversary, and In the aggre-
gate there were more millions represented
under one roof than has been the case in
many years. On account of the large at
tendance Ii was found necessary 10 use
1iliing hast's psrlors, as well as the Tro-
cadero, in order to seat the guests at the
banquet table. But in this, as we'll as in
the other minor details, the social COM
mittee, consisting OF j. q. Massie, chair
man; William A. Sayles. IL. u. Manches-
ter, George A. Freeman, Joseph Baich,
BoraIio A. Hunt and Il. a. Grace, paid
rs much care and attention as they did to
the principal features, and in consequence
the affair proved TO be grand success,
and not only reflected credit upon them
selves, but upon the whole association as
we'll
During the banquet LaDgstaf's orches-
ira and Professor Arthur j. Josselyn
furnished the music in the Trocadero and
Tilling hast s parlors respectively. At the
exercises began in the Trocadero, where
the guests anc members from the parlors
had adjourned, when President John w.
Vernon, cashier of the Merchants National
Bank, read a concise business report ana
statistical account of the years work, and
stated that the following officers had been
elected for the ensuing year: President,
}. w. Vernon; yre-president, William ".
Paine; secretary, Howard fuller; trea-
surer, Eben McGregor, and three-year
oelegates John Foster and George Newell:
After few Introductory remarks Presi-
dent Vernon then addressed the assem-
blage on the ever-interesting topic of
manners, explaining the beneficial re-
suits of courtesies, conduct and good
manners. lie talked IN an Instructive
and interesting way as only believer in
and practitioner OF such customs can.
In brief, ne pointed out the parallel OF
unmannerly, almost boorish coue OF man
ners as practced by the American Gnd
English nations, and thon bringing the
matter nearer home showed that the
| public schools OF our country in their en-
deavor 10 ''teach the young jceu hoW to
shoot" have practically overlooked this
important factor In the cbtlu's education.
Thus through dfdixiiye method he
brought the subject III nearer the heart
OF his hearers and pointed to the neglect
of the parents in this respect. In tong
and impressive words he emphasized the
| truth h that no investment pays sucn large
returns on the capital invested as court
esy-in other words the child imbued
with principles OF manly conduct
can not help in his mature years being
and acting the gentleman born and bred.
Unmannerly actions, he declared have
perpetrated a financial crisis upon two
countries, the Venezuelan controversy
brought about by words not even hid
under the common diplomatic or polite
| veil of suggestiveness has strained the re-
. lations OF thousands of business men, has
resulte In n financial cricis and the i'm
| pertinent OF labor. All OF this has been
. the result of manners both crude and
unpolished and il is for this reason that
he advocates betterment of one's standard
of action, as II will unquestionably result
. in the betterment Of the nation.
Mr.. Nernon's speech was heartily re-
ceIved and after the rendering OF vocal
selectioon by the Hank Clubs Glee Club,
organized especially for the occasion, His
Honor Mayor Edwin ID. McGuiness was
/ introduced. After the conventional words
of welcome the Msyor took up tresi-
dent Vernon's topic TO degree and ey-
planned where In some respects the fol-
| lowing of the examples setoy our English
cousins would be beneficial ii np-
piled to ourselves. That Is, on the
other side of the water the representa-
tive men consider IL an honor as well
as a duty TO take an interest IN the city's
government and II the Representatives of
our peCple, Hdiuely. the inuucntlal c1ll-
zens evince an interest ia municipal
legislation akin to that shown in
their business in generation from
now we viii have made step for
ward in the political advancement
of the world and will have passed over
the unbusiness like ways OF the past.
The Mayor pointed strongly to the fact
that the citizens ehould 10 in touen with
city affairs, they should hsve committees
to make suggestions and offer advice
whenever il was needed and ia this way,
aided by sound currency, honest govern
ment and the supremacy OF law above all
things the distance between the present
and he unattainable end could be some-
what abridged.
Samuel J. Elder OF Boston, a talented
and interesting speaker, followed some
what on the general lines laid down
by the Mayor, and especially upon the
municipal government and legislation.
The next speaker was also a talented
Boston orator, Hon. Thomas j. Gargan,
memg ber of the Rapid Transit committee
of Boston. His address uron government
tai reform was deeply interesting as well
as instructing and vas thoroughly enjoy.
ed and appreciated. Tf
Last but by no means least on the list
of speakers was Rhode islands Chauncey
Derew, Hon. John Z. Wyman. who as
usual blended wisdom ana anecdote in q
most interesting manner.
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