Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-07

Interested guests.
BANQUET LAST NIGHT
During the afternoon the visitors re-
mained at the jefferson. and at o'clock
there was served In their honor a mag
n.ficent banquet.
Covers were laid for twenty-five guests.
and there were eleven from New England
and the same number from Richmond.
The table was beautifully laid. and the
menu was In point OF excellence equal to
any that the palatial hostelry has yet
served. Around the festal board were
Messrs. G. +. King, f. NJ West. ". II.
Ross, Frank Hendry j. w Reardon, Joe
Strand, +. II. Grader T.. i. Critcher, a.
II. Newman, +. "A. Davidson. and NJ. a.
Hays, OF the New England League, and
Messrs. Henry Lee Valentine. Mayor X.
NJ. Taylor X. A. Dunlop, X. Il. Harrison,
G.. NJ. West, Charles j. Anderson, h. h.
Munford, II. ID. Eichelberger. II. l.. Ca
bell ". 5. Campbell. and c. T. Boykin, Of
Richmond.
THE MAYORS WELCOME.
The menu was discussed with evident
relish by all present, and after the many
courses had all been served and cigars
had been produced, Mayor Taylor was
presented, and IN a happy vein he spoke
as follows:
Gentlemen Of the New England News
paper League ana Friends: In your jour
neying through our happily united coun-
try, you have h0nored rs with a Visit.
Nowhere shall more heartfelt welcome
greet you, and while We may not De as
lavish as some Of our more favored citles'
our cordial grasp of the hand Will show,
that our hearts are in the right place,
and we are glad 10 have you with US.
The mighty engine OF the press, properly
used will bring US M closer communion
with each other. To-day, with our mvu-
ern appliances, the news H. easily gotten
and il only requi-es a. proper DISRUPTION
through up-tO-d9te newspapers such as
YOU represent 10 bring about this result
and We are sure that the impressions We
may make upon your minds VIII leceNe
a Just ana proper consideration.
We do not fear an honest criuclsm
However, you are not amongst US as
critics. but on pleasure bent, and We hope
we may be helpful TO you in your mission.
1 am surrounded by two OF our growing
institutions-the Young Mems business
Association and the Chamber of Com
meTce-whO are your hosts on TINS Oc-
casiOu You have fallen amongst
princely set Of fellows and with all the
assistance We can render them IN thelr
efforts TO properly entertain you, we nope
you will not regret your visit. As Mayor,
/ bid you welcome on behalf OF the city.
MIR. MUNFORDS TALK.
H.. -. -.
words OF cordial welcome TO the New
Englanders. New England and Virginia.
he said. had stood together i'm almost
every crisis of this country, but he was
not unmindful Of the fact that they had
had a slight difference in years gone by.
He alluded elOqucntly to the manner IN
which the breach had been bridsed ana
the wound healed by the American-tils-
pano war. and paid glowing tribute 10
Dewey. the hero OF Manila. Mr.. MuniOti
concluded with a happy expression oil the
honor Richmond felt in entertaining
representative body Of newspaper men
from New England.
MIR II. l.. Cabeu, yice-president Of the
Chamber OF Commerce spoke eloquently
of the power of the press likening the
light shed by it 10 that shed by the noon
dav sun. lie hoped the mission OF the
newspaper men would be fraught with
much good for the South and for New
England. and bade the press representa-
tiyes a hearty welcome.
RESPONSE FOR THE LEAGUE.
Mr. G. f. King, the head of the New
England League. was next called upon
and i'm the outset, expressing ms pIlue at
being natiye-bOrn southerner. he toiu OF
the necessity for enlghtening the New
Englanders concerning the vast resources
of the South. asserting that they We're,
while well-read people, densely ignorant
as TO the progress which has been, ana
may still be. made in the country south
of the Potomac. II was the purpose or
the New England Newspaper League ne
said 10 shed light I'm New England con-
cerning the advantages offered by the
South. and he Was more titan srdune" at
tbe reception which had been accorded
rhe league i'm Richmond. lie interspersed
mis- remarks with several humorous
but pointed, stories, each one forcing
home his remarks.
Upon the conclusion OF Mr.. kings re-
marks. toast was drunk standing, 10
New England. Mr. Frank \. Davidson
followed i'm an humorous talk. I'm which
he also outlined the objects OF the tour
of the league. asserting that IL was the
plrpose Of the newspapers Of the North
10 endeavor To show what vast opportunl-
ties offered for investment IN the South.
Three usty cheers were given Tor New
ENGLAND and three more for Virginia,
after which the company dispersed.
WHAT THE TOUR MEANS.
The Boston Traveller, in commenting
on the tour OF the league, says:
'The great railway tour OF the Ne"
England Newspaper League means Much'
both 10 the section it represents and the
districts through which IL travels. Inc
South and New England naturally have
mutual commercial interests OF the great
est importance. Each is the best Of mar
lats for the products of the other and
x no more than the fulhlment Of des-
tinv that they should be bound together
bv frmer and more extending ties than
now exist
"Despite the writings and reports now
.evtant which concern the industrial con-
dition and possibilities Of the Southern
States. there is much TO be told New
England. and the purpose or the News
naner League which left Boston to-day
is 10 present the trulh iesaIu'Hs uii9
,itat subiect through newspapers whose
ranutation for reliability is one Of the
strongest guarantees of yeracity.
",rhe league comprises the best Of New
r,rglond newspapers. and they have com
t,t,sd for the commendable purpose OF
nromoting the trade Of the communities
Wherein they are published. No greater
good could happen to Maine, Massachu-
etts Vermont Connecticut and Rhode
rslord than that the States Of the South
ebould fulfil i'm development ana progress
tbe nromise of their wonderful agricul-
turai and mineral resources. Ihe pros
peritv of the South means there a larger
market for the mills, shops ana business
i,n,,les ~ his section, and it will be- still
-, for both regions II the develop
- is fostered by New England capital.
"For years Boston has mo- more than
,otd IT,. own in trade competition with
n,,ar cities and 1t is time that IT emulat-
od iass fortunate centres OF the pop
,,Iotio, i'm the South and sought 10 find
-. ,,,arl,ets and increase its business In
NV oId public spirit counts for as much
IN commerce as in government The South