The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-10-13
A NIGHT OF REPUBLICAN, ORATORY.

EDITORS MEETINGS ENDED
IN A BRILLIANT BANQUET.
An Array of Michigan's Finest Ora
tors Responded to Patriotic Toasts.
The banquet given by the citizens of
Owosso to the visiting members of the Michi-
gan Republican Newspaper Association
Wednesday night In the armory fulfilled
and exceeded the expectations of all who
were so fortunate as to attend. And this
was true not only In the appearance of the
banquet room, In the decorations, and In the
service, but also t&a degree unparalleled
In the history of the association in the pro-
gram of toasts which followed the banquet
itself.
AS far as the armory itself was concern
ed certainly no one could have suggested
change to make it more artistic and pleas
ing In effect or more appropriate to the oc-
casion. A huge Autographed portrait of
President Mckinley found fitting setting
in the alcove formed by the stage at the
end of the hall. This was framed In the
national colors which were everywhere in
evidence, in flags and bunting along the
gallery rails, In long gracefully dropping
lines OF the latter material in the same col
ors, reaching from the center of the ceilin g
to every side and corner of the room.
The tables, thirty In number, were so
arranged that at convenient and regu.
lar intervals rows of small side tables af.
forded the most convenient method of sery-
ing the banquetters with the least possible
delay. In appearance they presented an
unusually pretty sight. Bright flowers,
tall. gay colored banquet lamps, or hand !.
some candelabra with their smaller points
Of light which crept down and down in
seeming attempt to grow more sociabie, as
the evening passed, gave color and life to
the snowy whiteness of the linen and the
bright CLEAN of the silver. There may
have been banquets served where there was
a more elaborate menu and a greater
number of courses but 1t would be difficult
indeed to arrange one where the general
effect was prettier, the service quicker and
more nicely done or the eatables more
tempting to the palate and more nearly just
right in the kinds selected, while the
quantity was unlimited. The ladies of the
Congregational church who had this matter
In charge are certainly to be congratulated
on the success they scored in their manage.
ment of this banquet.
About nine o'clock the guests marched in,
to the notes of one of the popular marches of
Wesener's full orchestra, and soon stood
beside their places with bowed heads while
the invocation was being offered by Rev.
Carey V. Northrop, of this city, and then
took their seats AT the speakers table
besides those who had part in the program
were, Congressman Fordney, Judge Turner,
Representative =. N. Dingley, of Kalama-
zoo, Senator Collingwood, of Lansing, and
Mayor A. M. Hume.
AS soon as the guests began to show
signs of having finished the banquet Mr..
+. II. Watson, president of the evening,
rose and called the meeting to order Those
before him, he said, were to be congratu-
lated on the SPLENDID array of talent ready
to participate in the evenings program.
There was, besides the presence Of the dis
tinguished orators who were to address
them, still another reason for their con-
graduating themselves and that was due to
the number of candidates for the Office of
governor who were on the platform before
them. He wished 10 assure the people,
however, that not all those seated at the
speakers table were candidates for the
governorship, and he wished also to assure
the latter that not all of the candidates for
the governorship were there. Before in.
Producing the inveterate Joker, Hon. James
O'Donnell, as toastmaster, however, he
gravely informed the audience 1t had still
one more reason for feeling thankful
since he and DIR. Hume had been riding
around with Mr.. O'Donnell and had taught
him lot of new jokes.
The genial toast master Immediately pro-
ceeded to get even with his predecessor and
and kept the audience in a continuous state
of surprise and expectancy. He then took
up very brief survey of the political situa
tion letting himself down to the task very
gracefully by remarking that to err was
human but to stick to 1t, when you knew It,
was-more SO. When one considers the in
crease In the currency Of the country since
the election of President Mckinley, II Il
however hard to see why people who left
the republican party In that campaign
should stay away longer. In spite o.
the fact that the opposing party
had insisted that the only way to Sc.
cure any real increase In the vol.
ume of currency, 1t has already increased
422 millions, or Ss7 thousands every day
two hundred sixty.nine dollars ever,
minute, or four dollars and forty-nine cents
every time the clock ticks. Before callint
on the first speaker he had to add few
words about trusts and said that there wa