The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-10-27

Mr.. Tompson's very interesting address
was listened to with the closest a00entlon
and was one of the happiest enorts Oh tne
evening.
| Mr.. Franklin M. Lawrence responded
TO tho toast "The NJ. G. Nd "A. he
said that the custom of holding these tri-
ANIMAL festivals had come down in this
association from very early date There
was time when it was customary to
serve at these triennial banquets liquor OF
some kinds and we find in looking over
the record of the association that many
wears ago the association voted to request
the committee of entertainment not to
serve ardent liquors at the banquet and
this has never been done since that date.
Tt was also voted by the association at
another time to ask that the custom of
ringing the bells at seven o'clock be dis.
continued. The bells were rung in those
DAYS at this hour to inform the workmen
all over the city that the time had arrived
or all of them to knock of work and
go and get their grog. When this custom
was ended the practice of getting grog
|
the speaker said. he knew of no our
when it was the practice for men to stop
work and all hands take drink. Mr..
Lawrence paid an eloquent tribute to the
memory of Gen. Neal Dow who was an
honored member of the association for
many years. He also spoke OF the pros
perity of the association and it's increas-
| ~otl H. to1s hot
mechanics were not as we'll trained in
their work now as they were in former
years when the apprentice system was In
vogue. In place Of the apprentice system
we have the training school which does
not begin to supply the deficiency. The
country is suffering from the incapacity
of many workmen and the best. kind OF
work Is now performed by some of the old
guard who received proper instruction in
their youth. The speaker thought that
the solution of the problem which now
confronts the country lies in the estab-
lishment of training schools, as part of
the public system of education. In his
last years in school the youth should be
taught more practical things. Then he
should have an opportunity to learn
mechanics at the public's expense in
training school.
Mr.. Lawrence believed that the NUM-
cipality should establish such schools and
that the Maine Charitable Mechanics
association should help bring this about.
Mr.. William H. Chapman responded
to the toast "The Mechanic" His re-
marks were extremely interesting and
very eloquent. He paid glowing tribute
| to the mechanic whom he termed the
"bone and sinew of civilization" No
other class of men in this country are as
honest as are the mechanics. Professional
men may be dishonest and be successful
but the mechanic must be honest to sue
coed. He is Obliged to follow the laws
of nature and cannot depart from them
hairs breadth. In employing the me.
chanic you must tell him the truth, the
whole truth and nothing but the truth
or he will be unable to perform your
work. A good mechanic is in the highest
sense an educated man for his senses and
Ibis brain and hands are all trained to
work in unison.
Mayor Charles Fl. Randall responded
to the toast of "Our City," In eloquent
| language he pictured the remarkable
growth and development Of Portland dur
ing the past three years and showed that
the nee hanics of Portland had been re-
sponsible for it all. He told of the hand.
some buildings which had been erected,
the railroads which had been constructed
and the great public improvements which
| had been made. He told of the great good
| the NJ. g. M. A. had been to the citizens
| Ct Portland and in closing his interesting
remarks paid glowing tribute to the
| members of that organization.
| "The State" was responded to ia a
m ost happy manner by Senator Il. G.
| Reynolds. He is always most eloquent
| after dinner speaker and he did full JUS
tice to his subject. His remarks were
| interspersed with humorous stories and
laughable anecdotes and for five minutes
| he held the closest attention of the large
assem- lage.
Collector John W. Deering responded
to the toast "The United States" He
began by referring to the great problem
| which now confronts the nation and re-
marked that while he did not know what
the policy of the government would he,
vet he was entitled to his own opinion
| upon this matter. Shall the United States
| hold the islands of the sea which she has
obi aimed by war or shall she relinquish
themp This is momentous question and
one fraught with great danger to our
country in it's solution. He said that
tho Philippine islands are today inhab.
tied by ten millions of ignorant, fanatioal