The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-04-12
ROYAL HOSPITALITY
Shown THE VISITORS

high esteem in which he Is held Dyt tas
people of Richmond gave It strength.
.srhat the need here of a public gov
erument building existed" he declafsd.
was beyond question. He asserted mat
the United States Circuit Court OF mp
peals had even threa tened to leayeS she
city because of the lack OF accommdda-
tons. He evidently made a tine fMptes
sion.
Mr. Wray T. knight. postmaster, gaze
the. visitors some startling information
that must have carried weight. He ds-
clared that the business OF the Richmond
office had increased sixty-five per cent In
the last eleven years. In the last Few
months the transactions had amounted
to $4,000 every thirty days.
Mr.. B. F. johnson, VINO has gone after
the new postoffice with heart and soul.
spoke after Mr.. Knight. He gave num-
Der of reasons hard to get around for =
creditable governuent building here
Richmond's almost phenomenal progress
was one Of them Here was a chance
for the government to stamp its approval
on a community's prospecting.
Governor Montague spoke next he did
so gracefully. The Governor said, while
he did not know so much ABOUT the
crowded condition of the postotf1ce. ne
knew that it was a good thing for tho
when a CITY, of it's own accord was max
ing long strides in advancement and IN
crease of wealth. He thought. too. that
it would be Il fine thing for the United
States to fit cut Richmond. the .ormee
Capital of the Confederacy, with a hand-
some Federal building He, with others
said such a thing as a great national
building here-something to be proud Of
would have tendency to make the peo-
pie more patriotic. Richmond was az
loyal now as any city in the Union, he
declared.
THE VISITORS SPEAK
The visitors turn came next Mr.. NJ
nor. was the first called on. He sat next
to Judge Minor at the table. and that
gentleman said he knew he was kin to
the Virginia Minors because he loved
mint julep- This nudge was heartily en-
joyed Mr.. Minor praised Richmond 8
progress and spoke in most compliment
airy terms of Captain Lamb and his pop
| ularity and weight with Republicans as
we'll as Democrats in the House.
Chairman Mercer. In his speech which
followed. made the statement. which is
given in the first paragraph and which
was greeted with hearty applause. Flo
said Richmond was zone of three places
which the committee had visited, though
600 applications had been received for pup
lie buildings. This showed the progress
| of the country.
| Judge Mers is the only Democrat in
! the party. He provoked a laugh at the
expense of the Republicans present. Mr..
| Knight had said that he did not know
whether he would be postmaster again
| or not. Judge NIiers asked him to what
| party he belonged.
| He replied: 1.-The Republican,"
''Oh. you'll get it all right" was the
| quick response.
| Assistant Secretary Of the Treasury Tay-
! Tor said Congress did all the appropriate
! ing and all the talking, while his depart
ment did the acting. 'If YOU get the ap-
| preparation he said. I'll see that you
! get every cent of it."
THE sOUTHs PROBLEM.
Mr.. Martin, OF South Dakota, spoke OF
| the pride of the whole country in Eir-
| ginia and her material progress. He was
| glad to see the old State keeping step
| in the march He. made Il fine speech
| Here is a significant thing he said: THE
South has problems OF its own She can
settle them as she sees fit; for one, snail
not interfere ~--s''---~---'--,-<
The meaning of the remark was not
caught at once, but some thought he re-
| ferrcd to the negro in politics in the South.
| and the effort to get rid of him. He was
warmly applauded.
| Judge Conner spoke briefly and we'll
Mr.. WynGIam X. Meredltn SPOKE pfisi-
| Iy also, SAYING that as he had prepared
| the speeches Of the visitors he ought to
| be excused from further effort.
| The company then broke up and the
| visitors went to their rooms at Murphy :;
| Hotel.
The following were among those pres
! ent. besides those who spoke: Messrs
| John P Branch. S. ". Travers. W. 3
! Copeland, John Lamb. +. A. Catiii. john
| S. Elicit. r. Lancaster Williams and W.
| Gordon McCabe.
To-day the visitors will see the post
office and the points of interest in and
around the city. They return to Wash
| inSton tonight.