The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-08-26
ADDITIONAL CITY NEWS.
Mr.. LEHMAN BLUFFED ONCE
Travelling Men Present Two Elegant
Golden Oak Desks.


Travelling Wen Present Two Elegant
Golden Oak Desks.
The Lehman Higginson Wholesale Gro
Gerry company are now installed perma-
nently in their handsome new building
east Of the Santa Fe tracks, and yester-
day a reception was given the local
travelling men In the new Office. Invita-
tons had been sent out and the recep-
ton, with cigars and refreshments, ETC.,
began about o'clock and lasted until ),
in which time 80 travelling statesmen
visited and admired the new building and
its beauty OF large space and elegant
finish.
The afternoons entertainment began
with the presentation to Messrs Lehman
and Higginson by their travelling men Of
two-fn oak desks for their private Of
fee. Everything had been prepared while
Mr.. Lehman was at noon lunch. Mr..
Higginson is in Chicago. All doors but
one were locked, the travelling men were
on the inside, and when Mr.. Lehman
came in about O'Clock W. H. Cooke
met him in the outer Office and asked him
if he wouldn't take a seat for few min
utes, as all the boys were there and de-
sired to see him about an important. pri-
vate matter. Certainly" said Mr.. Leh-
man, and took a seat impatiently. Mr.
Cooke then asked the men all into the
room and proceeded with this elegant
roast and bluff, which leads TO a pleasant
climax without the slightest indication
of the final outcome:
Mr.. Lehman: Your travelling statesmen
have a unanimous protest that they de-
sire to offer to you and Mr.. Higginson as
their employers.
Most of US have been with you for
several years, some of US since you first
began business in this city. We have
worked through these years with the con-
seriousness that criticism of our efforts
would not have been always out Of place,
and also in due appreciation of the fact
that you as our employers have been
generously consderate, that you knew
the rough places 'on the road and that
you understood as we'll where the shad-
ows fall as we, and that you have been
prompt TO relieve the pressure and to
polish down and tighten our burdens.
But we have felt for some time that
there was something growing out of your
conduct toward us that was unjust if al
lowed to continue, and we have decided
that immediate reversal is the only avail
able method of treating ourselves and
yourselves right. And so we have a pro-
test to offer today.
"The protected delay in presenting this
protest should not be understood to mean
that we consider the matter lightly, for
we certainly do not. We have considered
it often and cordially.
1.-THE business of the Lehman-Higgin-
son Grocery company has been of phe-
nomenal growth in this city and the sur
rounding territory. Pluck and energy
have won from the first; steadily the
business of the firm has increased until
today we stand in a magnificent monu-
ment to active and intelligent commercial
enterprise, which is the result of your
careful planning and we'll considered, yet
liberal management.
eff we may claim just one small part
of the honor of this achievement, we
want simply to profess our pride in the
great accomplishment reserving the one
right of presenting this protest.
Besides this, we do not complain You
have been not only just to your hundreds
of patrons, but more than kind to US.
To this much we are more than anxious
to testify. You have placed here and
there not only the Powered lights that
adorn and keep the heart awake, but the
substantial kindness that makes the way
still clear, though sickness or misfortune
overtake US. We know that In memory's
monument of gratitude to you, in this
and our next generation, will outrise and
outlast this building, and so we protest
against allowing your kindness to con-
tinue toward US without an attempt to
indicate genuine appreciation, and we ask
to be allowed to place before each of you
in your office, our protest, these two
desks. Walk in and see.
IF you shall have only half the pleas
ure in receiving that we do In giving,
our qualification will be complete"
Mr. Lehman, who had moved about
nervously watching Mr.. Cooke impatient
ly during the entire speech. his face col
oring red and white by turns, simply col
lapsed ar the close.
First time he was ever bluffed." the
boys said. Then he looked at the desks,
which are of the finest make in the
United States. and looked his apprecfa-
ton. He could not speak It for some
time, but finally replied to Mr. Cooke in
very expressive terms.