New-York tribune., 1901-01-11
HOTEL MEN MAKE MERRY
WITTY SPEECHES BY SIMEON FORD
JOB f. HEDGES AND GEORGE
H. DANIELS

The annual dinner OF the Hotel Association OF
New-York City was held at Delmoncos last even
ting The local bonifaces had a good dinner and
good time. There is a tradition that class Of
men lives well hotel and railroad men. While
the hotel men were in the great majority there
was liberal sprinkling Of railroad Owing to
the Illness of James H. Breslin. Simeon Ford pre-
sided. The Rev. DR.. Van De Water unable to
he present, but DR.. Bedloe OF the Clover Club of
Philadelphia, spoke in his place. Mr.. Ford pre-
sided with his usual wit and humor. and kept up
running fire Of jokes at the expense OF the diners
In his speech he said in part:
lin Bresn says this is the one dav Of the vsar
when the Landlords sit down ahead OF the boarders
But that is only one of Jim's pipe dreams. We all
know. and no one better than Jim, that we get the
first creek at everything and the boarders take
vs. II we played second fiddle to anybedyi I claim
thai we the fattest best natured best nour-
community There are exceptions. but the excep-
ZION proves here me rqe s in ARE ARE not in business for
for the good Of mankind We delight in going about
New hotels are being built. but the Lord seems
10 provide boarders for them all. The fact is New
year that all the world must come here TO spend
money. We only hope that John Keller and his
Tammany friends will not insist making the
city too virtuous Virtue is its own reward but
Of the State that hotels place at the head
COMMITTEES will at least leave these reminders
of the happy days OF yore.
portance to the welfare of the community have
transpired-Willian Mckinley has been reelected
re-eIected president of the Hotel Association. Nc
Knsy won @ OUT IN pSn nor ea Snd ha6 1b ca 5
after a little tudicious wirepulling reluctantly
y5yiuf say that if Bill viii look out FOR his end will
endeavor 70 keep up mine. II biil wiil ProVlde Tor
5o propeTly rushed Biii went in on platform which
/ went in on the broad proposition that hotel
keeper will stand for anything. Bill believes in
s1nbody " with reasonable show of hand baggage
In his speech Job E. Hedges sstd in part:
Unlike the nineteenth century, good hotel never
closes The five stages OF progress can De L3ol
Gated in the evolution of the hosiery, descrlped
as the coffee house. again as the inn, and finally
the modern hotel The Soonis{s placed 6oSpl M
ouired each village to have an ordinary. and hned
viiiagers in 1855. History records that shortly
thereafter the hospitality Of the taproom was dis
gn Eo S49 ooactad h Tas fs @ Res for the church pre-
scribed the amount Of wine to be drunk ana wt9-
bilities OF the human race directed that not more
Know Of no other line of business activity where
a person engaged therein has ali the ofheials OF
payers in collecting his obligations and for such
original. primitive, simple and proper idea the
community a debt
George H Daniels said:
Of course I will not attempt to advertise the
New-York Central on an occasion Of this KIND kind'
bat need perhaps to explain you that as he din
counters are under the direction OF the passenger
department of the New-York Central am really
the responsible head OF quite a laTse holel DuSi-
one thing about the hotels 1 have charge OF is
that we never have to put person above the
first floor and rooms all on the Sunny
side with g Southern exposure. winter and summer.
The hotel business, as 1 have found II, is an
all round business; ii is great educator, for one
thing and will IN the twentieth century IN my
opinion take its place beside the great educa-
tional institutions of the country a developer
of human ingenuity and in furnishing the founda-
ton for the widest practical education
Your association is honored tonight by the pres
Of the most remarkable that the nineteenth
century produced. He carries the record In New
York Of a politician without a party. and yet a
man who has held Offices n a given period
than any before or since his time He Illus
trates the idea of Gilbert and Sullivan in the
'Mikado," of being able TO hold a number
Offices the time. to the entire satisfac
OF only himself. but Of the people generally.
This is the most remarkable thing about him.
I hardly think that the members OF this associa-
ton really appreciate the wonderful versatility OF
your president.
Mr. Ford is not only a most excellent hotel
keeper but his advice is sought after by the lead
ing fnsnciers OF New-York. he being associated
with a number OF banks either director or a
borrower OF money.
He was educated for the Church but. on account
of disa greement with the clerical authorities,
he decided 70 try the law. and very naturally
he has given s much Of his time as is consistent
with his other duties to literature His latest and
most valuable work has recently been published by
he Macmillans. of London and is entitled Pre-
historic Hotels.
In a volume of over seven hundred pages he gives
wealth Of illustration a Of statistics and
variety Of statements more or less reliable that is
only amusing, but highly Instructive.
Addresses were also made by W. s. Hawk and
" J. Tanning.