Omaha daily bee., 1898-06-22
GUESTS OF THE ILLINOIS CLUB

visitors Gather Mt the Banquet Given
in Honor of the Event.
A banquet was rendered the visitors from
Illinois at the cafe at the south viaduct on
the exposition grounds last night by the llli-
nois club of this city. The affair took place
on the upper floor, which is open on all
sides, and the floral decorations, the plenti-.
full supply of bunting and the open space
on every side affording a view in all direc-
lions, made the surroundings ideal in every
respect. Five long stables extended the
length of the room and at right angles to
these, at the east N of the room, was the
table assigned to the distinguished guests.
On the wall at the back of these guests was
hung a large picture of General U. S. Grant,
with John A. Logan on one side and Mrs.
John A. Logan on the other.
Seated at the table assigned to the speak
ers and distinguished visitors was Euclid
Martin, POSTMASTER of the evening; on his
| right were Governor Holcomb, Colonel
| Clark e. Carr, Chairman w. II. Harper,
Manager f. p. Kirkendall, President Wat
| ties, Ferd. w. Peck of the Worlds Fair as
| ISOLATION, H. C. Brown, Chicago; E. A. Ban
croft, George F. Stone, secretary of the
| Board of Trade; DR.. Younger, Chicago; ex-
! Governor Beveridge of Illinois. On his left
| sat w. j. Bryan, Manager E. R~osewater,
| Henry d. Estabrook, Melville E. Stone, gen.
eral manager of the Associated Press. AT
| the other tables were members of the vari-
GUS commercial organizations from Illinois,
members of the Illinois commission, the
staff of Governor Holcomb and many men,
bers of the Commercial club and prominent
citizens of Omaha.
Just before the postmaster raped for at
tention the lights on the music pavilion on
| tho blrff tract warp liphtpa and above the
cornice blazed forth the words, welcome
Illinois," in letters of fire. The light flashed
on those seated about the banquet board and
the burst of applause was instantaneous.
The post-prandial exercises were opened
by POSTMASTER Martin, who stated that the
banquet was rendered to the distin-
guished visitors by the Illinois club
of Omaha and other people In
terested in the exposition who took tina
method of showing their appreciation of The
substantial assistance rendered by Illinois
He spoke of the liberal appropriation which
had been made by Illinois and of the hand
some building which has been erected OF
the grounds.
Beveridge Responds.
The POSTMASTER called on EX-Governo
John l.. Beveridge as the substitute for Gov
ernor Tanner, who had been called hom
by the demands of public duties. AS tn
venerable representative of Illinois arose t
respond he. was greeted with loud applause
After a humorous reference TO the lot OF
substitute the speaker said he spoke as
resident of California, having taken up hi
residence in that distant state. He said h
would repeat the words Of Ferd. w. Pee
of Chicago, one of the founders OF tn
Worlds fair, who said that the people O
: Omaha, with less than one-hfteenth @
, the capital of the worlds faii
had produced twice the result. wit
a complimentary reference to the beauty @
, the main court at night, the speaker close
, amid great applause.
. Governor Holcomb was assigned the topi'
a "our Illinois Guests" He confessed to
feeling of h~esitancy regarding his ability
. do such a subject justice. He said he woul
, like to correct one impression which OF
: tanned in the east regarding the west an
= he requested the visitors from the cal
to assure the people in their own sectio
that the people OF, Nebraska do not hay
horns and are not Wild and woolly'
+ humorous reference TO the bulls and teai
: OF the east brought down the house an
the governor said social amenities such
the one under consideration would tend
/, remove erroneous ideas in one section n
4 garding another section Governor HolcoH
II discussed the resources OF Illinois and NJ
N braska and stated that while the peop
d of the latter have the kindliest reeiinl