The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-11-18


Members and guests of the chamber
Of commerce of the city of New Haven:
I have the honor and the pleasure of
calling you to order, and as president
of your organization extending a cor
dial and hearty welcome on this, the
twenty-fourth annual banquet Of the
chamber After the tolls. labors ana
perpleXities Of another year we come
together again for our -nnual frolic..
There has been but little mirth and
laughing among the business men dur
Ing the past few years, and, as it mas
been remarked here tonight, il is re-
freshing to see body of men together
enjoying themselves.
l congratulate you upon the attend
ance here this evening, and upon the
activity of the organization as body
during the past year. / congratulate
you upon having present upon this oc
casion so many distinguished guests,
all of whom I am sure you would be
glad to hear from. Many of them you
will have the pleasure of listening to
this evening.
| l have assured those in my imme-
diate vicinity that the chamber of COM
merce is composed of men of the high
est character and business standing
with most commendable mercantile
honor. To my personal knowledge ev-
cry member present who secured
ticket for this banquet insisted upon
paying spot cash, and in advance. and
II all business was transacted on this
line there would be no losses, no fail
ures. No better method could exist in
any city, in any state, IN any coun-
try.
At the present time when pride of
ancestry is so much thought Of, it is
eminently proper that we, as an Or
ganization, should share in the senti-
ment, and bring to mind the honored
age and distinguished character of our
organization.
Many of you have undoubtedly, in
looking over the list of officers Of the
chamber as published in our last year
book, been impressed with the charac-
ter, and the dignity, and the honor, and
the distinction that has attended this
organization from it's foundation in
| 1894
| | have now a most pleasant and
agreeable duty to perform in present.
ing to you the POSTMASTER of the even
ing-a man known in this community
and in this state as one Ct the most gen.
ial popular and foremost in our midst
! held in the highest regard and es
TEEN by all who know him. An earn
est, persistent and faithful officer of
the chamber, who, but for his mod
esty, long before would have been
elected it's president. And I will take
occasion to predict here, that in intro
ducing your toastmaster am also pre-
senting one of the future presidents of
the organization. His selection as toast
master will, / am sure, be as gratifying
l tosysu as it is to me. and 1t is mere
4 matter of form that I mention his
name.
I have the honor and pleasure of pre-
senting to you as POSTMASTER of the
evening, General Edward E. Bradley.
/ General Bradley announced that let
ters of regret had been received from
the bishop coadjutor of Connecticut,
Rev. DR.. Chauncey B. Brewster; assist
ant Secretary of the Navy Theodore
Roosevelt, John Addison Porter DR..
Chauncey M. Depew, President A. e.
Orr Of the New York chamber Of COM
merce and from Congressman E. Stew
ems Henry of this state.
General Bradley, taking the chair as
postmaster, spoke felicitously He
said: ''I hardly know why I have been
| invited to be your toastmaster on this
occasion, but the kindness and honor
shown me are highly appreciated Per-
haps I was chosen because in these
| . L., q
some kind or other, and the committee
in appointing me to preside over this
part of the festivities knew that l was
in the fashion and had wheels, but pre-
ferred to leave it to your individual
Judgment to determine whether they
were in my head or in my factory.
However you may decide that point, /
shall be entirely satisfied, provided you
find no fifth wheels in the combina-
tion."
General Bradley then spoke of the
first annual dinner having been held
in 1904, with the organization of the
chamber. He said: 1T would like to
enlarge on the growth and grandeur Of
New Haven here tonight, but forbear
in Difference to our guests from abroad.
It might arouse feelings of envy and
perhaps resentment on the part of pos
sble representatives of New York,
Philadelphia, Chicago and other impor-
tant cities"
He then spoke of the great growth of
our country, and said that it is a COM
forting thought that the leaders Of to-
day are more and more the business
men; that the workers, manufacturers,
merchants, mechanics, investors and tha
like are largely in evidence at the front,
and the various boards of trade and
chambers of commerce fifty represent
them.
j In conclusion, he said: '1n answer to
question by friend the other day
as to what I was going to talk about.
I replied that L hardly knew. Well
said he, TIL tell you what to talk about,
talk about a minute I guess 1 have
done that and so fulfilled his injunction.
I will stop, therefore, by asking to have
as much consideration for your toast
master tonight as a placard hung
| upon the walls of a western saloon
asked for the musician of the place.
| 1t said: Gentlemen will please not
shoot the pianist, as he does the best
he can.
General Bradley then proposed a
toast to the health Of President Nc
..Y+ IL, N1r,1- Al,