Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1901-01-31
REPUBLICANS BANQUET.
Gridiey Clubs Third Annual Again IA Very
Successful Gathering.

/
TIE third annual meeting and ban
quet of the Gridley Club OF Ionia coun.
W was held at the Maccabee hall in
Ionia city last Friday evening and
another grand success scored. Plates
were laid for 400 and very few we're
unused. The large hall was profusely
decorated with flags and patriotic col
ors and the walls were adorned with
portraits OF patriotic republicans and
statesmen. Large flags were grace
fully hung at either end OF the ban
quet rooms, and at the north hung a
large picture of Captain Gridley, the
hero after whom the club is named,
and who though dead, lives in the his
tory OF great country. Portraits of
Lincoln, Grant, Mckinley, Roosevelt,
Bliss and others also found place upon
the walls. The speakers table occu-
pied the usual place in the center of
the two rooms and around it with
Toastmaster John b. Chaddock sat
President Clute, of the Gridley Club,
Judges Montgomery and Hooker and
Clerk Hopkins, of the supreme court,
Senators Nichols and Kelly, Major
Johnson, Gov. Bliss's private secretary
Capt. E. NJ. Allen and State Game
Warden Morse, of Portland, Judges
Perkins, OF Grand Rapids, and Palmer,
Of Big Rapids, Hon. Philip T. Col
grove, of Hastings, Judge Davis, Judge
Webster, Judge Morse, Quarter-mas-
ter General Kidd, Rev. w. H. b. Urch
and others.
The menu was in charge of landlord
V. X. Brown OF the Bailey House and
he certainly done himself credit. The
quality was fine and there was great
abundance for everyone. The Opera
House orchestra furnished splendid
music during the evening.
After the menu had been served
President VIM. X. Clute welcomed the
guests. 1t was hearty greeting and
welcome to the honored and esteemed
guests, extended in behalf Of the club,
which he referred to as political or
ganization whose purpose is to advance
the interests and principles OF the great
republican party. The club is repub-
llcau in principle and patriotic in char
acter, and in its small way seeks to aid
the party that has SO nobly helped TO
build the nation from one half Save,
half free, to one whore all are free,
from nation whose highest duty is TO
bring peace into the world and estab-
lish law. order, justice, liberty and hu-
manlty in every kingdom. 1t has be-
come power in Ionia county politics,
and IL believes in honest ballot and
fair count, careful attention to and cor
rection of iniquitous conditions sur
rounding caucuses and the restricting
of the pardoning power.
The Hon John b. Chaddock was in
troduced as toastmaster and that gen
teman filled the post of honor with
dignity and honor to himself
Mr.. Chaddock introduced Capt. e. NJ.
Allen, of Portland, department COM
mdnder of the G. a. r. Of Michigan, as
the first speaker, and as an orator
whose inspiring eloquence is known to
every guest. Capt. Aliens toast was
to the president of the United States,
and more glowing tribute to the great
statesmen who have occupied that high
position is seldom heard
In the absence Of Governor Bliss,
who was detained at Lansing by illness,
Private Secretary Johnson responded
in his stead He told the club that the
governor requested him TO extend his
congratulations on its hustling quail
ties and the effective work it did dur
ing the campaign. He wanted the club
to understand that the governor appre-
ciated the honest and sincere support
1t gave him in the election. Toast
master Chaddock said in introducing
Senator George E. Nichols that he had
but one blot upon his character, that
was in the fact that he had licked mis-
brother-in-law, ex- Attorney General a.
A. Ellis, Democrat, twice ia three
years. The brothers-in-law are both
chairmen Of Ionia county committees,
and while they are closely related in
family ties, the relationship does not
interfere with their party loyalty, and
when they get in a contest against each
other they never allow draw to be
called
Nichols didn't even take issue with
Chaddock, but replied that II Ellis
kept on advocating the same 16 to
politics be could knock him out every
six months. All this tickled the crowd
immensely. The senator's toast was
Equal Taxation up TO Date The
speech indicated that there is going to
be tussle between him and Atwood
Tor leadership in the senate. Nichols
after referring to the Nichols Kelley
taxation bill saying that ? 900 assessing
officers take an oath every year, to