The age-herald., 1898-01-02
THEY BANQUET AND COUNSEL Montgomery's Business Men
 Hold a Merry Feast. THEY ALSO TALK BUSINESS Afew Failures Don't Appear to Have Fright eped Them-Boih the Speeches and
 the Lunch Were Good.
special to The Age-Herald.

Special to The Age-Herald.
 Montgomery. Jan. 1.-The big joint ban quet of the local post of the Travellers Protective association and the Cor,uerciai and Industrial association. which was held in the dining hall of the Exchange hotel last night was an enormous success.
 The dining hall was rendered cozy and inviting by lavish display of roses. palms. ferns, etc., banked in the windows, on the sides of the hall and arranged about the tables in beauteous style. The prevailing floral emblem of the fast dying Yuletlde was wound about the tall pillars of the room and hung about the. chandeliers in pretty festoons. About 100 sat down to menu prepared by Stayne, a celebrated New York and Cincinnati caterer. The dinner was a superb combination of all the relishable treasures which are evolved by the stu dents of high art French cookery, and the service was perfect Added to this was the wonderful versatility of the toastmas- ter, w. F. Vandiver. The banquet began at precisely 9:2o o'clock, and the last speech was not ended until Ills o'clock this morning.
 The tables were arranged in a square. the closed end being reserved for the in- vited guests, the assigned speakers and toastmaster. On MT. Vandivers right were seated Gov. Johnston, Jacob Griel, c. F. Moritz, and Fred s. Ball. On his left sat City Attorney D. A. Graham, Private Secretary t. the Governor Chappell Corey. President of the City Council E. B. Joseph and Attorney E. A. Wiley. Montgomery's silver-tongued orator.
 The governor when called upon began his speech with a humorous anecdote and encouraged the 0. & l. and the T. P. A. on to further endeavors. Among other things the governor said the removal of the capitol to Birmingham was mere newspaper talk. The great body of the people of Alabama, he said, were for this city. He had never advocated the removal of the capital to Birmingham. In the line of advancement the governor recommended the building of good roads and advised neighborly cooperation along this and other lines of improvement
 Captain Graham, the next speaker, said he was present in behalf of Mayor Clisby, who was detained at home by Illness. and his response was a happy and able one.
 MT. Jacob Greil responded to the toast, "Public Spirit" He urged revival and made a strong plea looking to the accom- plishment of a reform in this respect
 Mr. Charles F. Moritz was the next speaker. He handled admirably the very practical proposition. "The Credit Sys- tenn" He said in part:
 There is no absolute means of ascer- tainig a mans ability and intent to pay his obligations. It Is paSsibie, however. to approach closely to a solution of this query. Obtain the most important in- formation by cooperation and get com bined experience, favorable or unfavorable views-co-operation not only abroad, but cooperation at home-a credit clearing house. where each member furnishes cor rect and conscientious information, pro and con, where all transactions, both pleasing and dspleasing, are communi- cated and from this information your de- auctions are made. Such a system IS a step nearer the correct solution of how far to extend credit to the appliant. And yet this is not the panace for the evils which exist in our credit system"
 Private Secretary Cory in treating Methods of Advertising made happy hit. leaving the whole matter to those to whose individual efforts is due much of the enviable notoriety which the city has attained during the past. He said the best equipped city was the best advertised city. and suggested celebration of the opening of the new Union depot
 At this juncture just as the clock struck midnight and the new year was ushered In Levin's orchestra, which was stationed at the door, having played inspiring music during the repast, rendered "America," and sthe toastmaster, supported by Secretary of. Nthe c. and I Association Gilbert, melted the / 4throng of banquetters to vocal exercise When the first verse of this patriotic hymn : was finished the programme was resumed / MT. Joseph squoke on "Civic Loyalty" . He said in substance:
 NO time nor money that can be spared Is better spent or put to more business like 1. purposes than in the encouragement of home industries and public enterprises. The investment of our fathers in those great Arteries of commerce, the South and North, the M. and M, the Western Mont gomery and Eufaula, and our own in the Alabama Midland is shown in the wealth and business standing of many around this board tonight. It is seen in the hosts of those splendid citizens, the railroad men, who buy your goods. patronize your pro- fessional men and uphold good govern ment it is shown in your crowded ware houses, merchant princes. skilled me- chanics and improved condition of labor"
 Fred S. Balls topic. Municipal Immigra- tion." was treated in a masterful manner He was satisfied that in time Montgomery would be on par with Atlanta so far as business went.
 Capt. Wiley was assigned Public Order" In a speech enriched with all the subtlety r-.<. proper administration of the law of the land. He said this would help immigration amazingly well.
 L. V. LaTaste. the president of Post A,