The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-03-16
WOE 70 DEAD BEATS
Merchants Protective Assoeia-
ton Celebrates Its Eighth
Anniversary.

The members and friends of the Mer-
chants Protective Association met in
Taylor's Hotel, last night, to celebrate
the eighth anniversary of the a~ssocia-
ton and incidentally to eat a dinner. For
once the member met and didn't discuss
some brand of condensed milk. They
couldn't resist talking about the famous
black list. however.
The dinner was held in the ~banqueting
hall, which contained, besides the cross
table for the guests, four long tables
placed at right angles to it. President
Robert Anderson. the vice president;
James t. Cough, William S. Meyer, a
trustee; F, w. Blume. the treasurer, and
Joseph Anderson, the learned counsel, in
fact all the officers sat at the head
table. while the common, everyday, ordi-
nary folk SAT facing them. Dinner was
begun with consomme en- taSse, a new
kind Of food to the gallant merchants,
and many showed their appreciation of
Mr.. Reeds fragrant bouillon by putting
Jumps of sugar in their cups.
That's queer kind OF coffee" said one
gentleman after ~depositing his third lump
into it and looking about for the cream
Jug
who knew it all.
Oh replied the other, assured, ''all
right, let her go then" and he swallowed
the mess and tried to look as if he liked
it. Then followed the Russian caviare en-
canape, as the menu said, and this both
cred some not little.
Queer kind Of jam that is" observed
n burly grocer from Bayonne; these
furriners do eat the darnedst stuff"
Cold ham, tongue and sandwiches APP
peared and as these comestibles were
ming. washed down with copious draughts
of lager, which flew like champagne.
Cigars came next and then the presi-
dents speech.
organization. made a capital address,
touching appropriately on the work of the
association and its aims, He Is a ready
speaker, having gained great facility ii.
that art after serving for some time on
the Board of Trade Committee which had
charge of the Nicaragua Canal. He re-
ferred briefly to equal taxation and wound
up with humorous sallies ait the expense
OF his brother officers. James T. Cough
came next with a brief speech on nothing
in particular, and then Mr.. James e.
terror to lead BEATS.
Mr.. Banks pointed out that the ssblaek
list, was the life and success of the asso-
cation. and take it away, he said, the
poor grocer would go the wall. Next he
tackled the credit system, which he in
sisted heavily Handicapped the merchants
In MT. Banks opinion THE railroad en-
ployeS We're the best customers, and if
only merchants would send in to the asso-
citation their list OF deadbeats they would
all be m~illionaires in a hurry.
Mr.. William G.. Meyer was the next
orator, and he talked of the duties of the
merchant. which he outlined in a very
able name giving the association
enough good ADVICE to keep them busy
for the mex half century at least.
A stout gentleman with a profuston of
black hair essayed some alleged funny
and when hat ordeal was over the
Orpheus. Male Quartette sang with ex-
quisite feeling and real artistic taste an
arrangement OF Chevalierss well known
song, Mrs. 'Enry 'Awkins." To a Wig
orous and well deserved encore they re-
Sponded with a son. as gracefully sung
as one would wish to hear.
Prof. Lowey Of Hoboken executed some
ter more singing the merchants went
home to dream about diminished black
lists and a decreased number of dead
heats Among those present were=Ex-
Assemblyman Edward Hoos, Joseph D..
bernstein. J. Newt2n, ]. B. Bruins, F. I.
Kelfers, w. /. Cloke, T. Wallace Black.
and c.. B. Creveling.