The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-01
A BANQUET OF BUSY MEN
RICHMOND MANUFACTURERS ENTER.
TANNED AT THE BATES.
The indianapolis Manufacturers Club
Acts as HOst-Severnl Short
Talks Made.

About 100 people were present last night
at the dinner given at the Bates by the
Indianapolis Manufacturers Club. OF this
number about thirty represented the man.
ufacturing interests of Richmond, Ind.
Last summer, when the indianapolis man.
ufacturers went to Dayton to be enter
tanned by the National Cash Register peo-
Pie, they stopped at Richmond on the way
home and were well treated by the Rich
mond manufacturers. Last nights dinner
was one of the regular events given by the
Indianapolis club. and it was heartily
shared by the Richmond guests.
The members of the club and their guests
sat at two long tables in the large din
ing room at the Bates. In addition to the
out-of-town guests invitations had been
extended to a number of men in the city
who are not interested in manufacturing.
d. NJ. Parry, who is president Of the Man.
ufacturers' Club, presided as POSTMASTER,
and about 10 o'clock, after coffee and cigars
had been brought in, he introduced Charles
Commercial Club. Mr.. Coffin told a good
story on John w. Kern, who, when he
found an opportunity, declared that the
story was an ancient one, and said he had
read it when a boy. Mr.. Coffin said the
Commercial Club was proud of the Manu-
facturers Club. He said that Indianapolis
was not only great railroad center, but Is
a city Of homes and a manufacturing city
a place where honest manufacturers pay
honest money to honest workmen. Mr..
Coffin asserted that the people of Indian
apolis. including the Manufacturers Club.
have 1t In their power to make Indianapolis
the best place in the world in which to re-
side.
John L. Griffiths was introduced, and
pleased the Richmond manufacturers by
saying that a few days ago he read that
in the average distribution of wealth per
capita Richmond stands third among the
other cities OF the country. Like Indianap-
oils, he asserted, Richmond is a city of
happy homes. where peace and content
ment abound In speaking of the State at
large and its citizens, Mr.. Griffiths paid a
high tribute to the memory of General
Lawton and Colonel r. w. Thompson. Mr..
Griffiths said he was looking forward to
the day when there will be clearer UNI
derstanding between employer and en-
polye. 1.-THE man who tries to keep cap
ital and labor apart" he said. lis public
enemy"
The toastmaster introduced John w.
Kern as the man he believed would be
nominated as vice president Of one OF the
great political parties. Mr.. Kern said this
vice president story is RIDICULOUS, anu
declared that there is no foundation for it.
He said he had just begun to understand
why he had been invited to the dinner. He
believed it was because he is 1.-The only
Democrat in the United States who does
not drink Mr.. Kerns remarks for the
most part were in a facetious vein and kept
the guests laughing heartily. Benjamin
Starr, of the Starr piano works. Richmond.
made brief remarks, telling how the manu-
facturers of that city appreciated the in
vitation extended by the Indianapolis man.
ufacturers. Mr.. Starr declared that Rich
mond was known as manufacturing town
long before Indianapolis came into promi-
nence as such. He recalled that silk was
made in Richmond forty years ago. Col
Gray, of the Pennsylvania Railroad. spoke
point Of view, and was followed by James
w. Barnes, of the Richmond Item, who
said 1t was the business Of an editor to
write instead of speak, and asked that he
be excused from speechmaking. A. III. Nor
dyke, who formerly lived In Richmond,
when asked to make an address, became
reminiscent, and recalled that he and Benz
jamin Starr both courted the same young
woman when he lived in Richmond years
ago. Neither got her, he said, for some
one else came in ahead of them.
H. z. Kinney, ex-president of the Board
of Trade, gave short talk on the scheme
nishing light and power to small manu-
facturers George Merritt was called on
for a speech, and was applauded when he
arose and said: YOU'D scare expect one
Of my age to speak in public on this stage"
John NJ. Westcott, of Richmond, was the
last speaker. He talked of the greatness
of Indianapolis and Richmond.