The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-02-02
RETAIL MERCHANTS DINE
THE ANNUAL FESTIVE GATHERING
 ENJOYED LAST NIGHT.

lh& ~ NN C@ @1A H Eo L4 ' S od HI GhANo
 ENJOYED LAST NIGHT,
 Speeches Made by Mayor Farnsworth,
 Alexander Troup, Rev, W. F. Dicker-
 man, Judge Rorabaek and Others-Sev-
 erai Guests Present From Out of the
 City-A Successful Affair.
 There have been banquets and again there have been banquets, but the one given by the Retail Merchants asso- citation in the New Haven house last night was one of the most successful and enjoyable ever held in this city. It was the fourth annual of the associa- tion. The banquet room presented in- deed a very pretty appearance. Those present numbering about 100, number of whom were invited guests. were seated at fifteen large tables tasteful somely set and decorated. The menu was an elaborate one and the several courses were served in faultless style. One pleasing feature of the evening was the very admirable and artistic musical programme rendered by Wells orchestra, which was stationed in the small dining room. The toasts were happily interspersed with musical numbers.
 Dr. D. A. Jones, an invited guest, whistled the ''Intermezzo," from Mas cagnrs "Cavalliera Rusticana" in a highly entertaining manner.
 President Howe was postmaster He began the speech making by tell ing of the successful schemes and 1 projects which the association had un- dertaken during the year just passed. He said that he regretted very much 1 that all the members of the associa- | ton were not present, and he felt sure | if those absent were only told of the success of the banquet they would all besorry they were not present. He also urged that all interested in the asso- l citation should use their efforts to in crease the membership of the associa- | tion by adding that out of about 800 retail merchants of the city only TAP were members of the association. The first to be called upon to speak was Mayor Farnsworth. He was re- ceived with great applause. In brief i he said: T am happy to be permitted to sit with the merchants of New Ha- ven. I have a great deal of respect for business men, as l am one myself, I have always had an interest in the mu- nicipal affairs of the city, and for some ltime past have been obliged to be iden- tified with the business affairs of this municipality. Business men should have a more serious regard for the af- fairs of the municipality than they do. think the business interests of this city have been cared for as we'll as those of any other city in the country. The present situation shows that am confident that every department of the city government is now in the hands of competent business men, who will do everything in their power to show how much can be done with reasonable outlay. We must have a reasonable tax rate, and having the tax right, men will be encouraged to live here.
 "The board of finance is deserving of the thorough appreciation of every citizen for the interest it bestows to have the money expended to the best possible advantage. It has brought the city outside the danger line, so that the expenses will not exceed the income. We have a bonded indebted ness of three million dollars, and the recent consolidation of the city and town calls for loan of at least seven hundred thousand more The taxes are now q mills. We can well afford to wait for expenditures.
 | President Mullings of the Waterbury association was next called upon. He said it was the intention of the mer- 1 chants of his city to make it the west ern Connecticut business center and that they were already rivals of New ] Haven and Hartford.
 1 The next speaker. J. B. Judson, said that he had the interests of the asso- citation at heart and was sure it was the proper medium by which other merchants could help each other. i Walter Leigh, when called upon said that he always believed in pulling to- gether Don't say one thing in a meeting and go and do something else when you. get outside. All work with a combined movement, have unanim- ity of action and try and help the community.
 Rev. w. F. Dickerman, of the Church of the Messiah, was the recip- | tent of hearty applause when he was introduced. He said that he didn't al- together understand why he was in- vited to be present. He didn't know of any ministerial duties that had to be performed or that he was called to inculcate morals, but he said to come from prayer and fasting to feasting Is l indeed exhilirating. He thought that 1 1t was sometimes good for the man behind the pulpit to associate with the man behind the counter. "It is," he said, always a question in my mind which are doing the most to increase i civilization, the minister or the mer- chant, and I think that the commercial world has accomplished much.'' The business people make the trade and set the standard and they are to be reminded of it. He thought the term business principle should be Hive and