The sun., 1903-12-04
PASSAGES CIVIC PRIDE FEAST
AND REJOICE WITH THE AID OF
HERR BAHNSEN,S VINE.
President Woodrow Wilson Was Guest OF
Honor, and the City Showed Magma.
nimity by Inviting Mayor Hinchline
OF the Rival City, Paterson.


rose in all the beauty of It's civic pride
tonight and gave a dinner to itself and
President Woodrow Wilson of Princeton
University. The menu cards noted that
the dinner was given to DR., Wilson by the
citizens Of Passaic. Some Of the members
of the dinner committee insisted that the
affair was given by the Citizens Protective
Association of Passaic in honor of the
city's civic pride. A member of another
committee explained the dinner in this
way:
-The member of the Board of Trade, OF
which Judge William w. Watson Of the
District Court is the chairman. thought that
such a function would be good ad for the
town and 80 they got it up.
But however much those who had any
thing to do with the affair might differ
as to the reason for it, they all agreed that
it should properly be called civic pride
banquet. Passaic is proud of itself. has
been for at least six months, and it don't
care who knows it.
Something like six months ago the Board
of Trade planted hedgerow beside the
tracks of the Erie Railroad for two or three
blocks either side of the Passaio station.
The Board of Trade has watched over and
nurtured that hedgerow ever since, and
points to it as an evidence Of the citys
inherent love of beautiful landscapes and
of its civic pride.
Then, after the floods descended and
the winds blew and beat upon Passaic and
its bridges last October, the Citizens Pro-
tective Associat ion jumped into the breach,
stopped grab game on the building OF
temporary bridges, saved the city about
100000 and added new lust re to the citys
civil pride.
But, somehow or other, the world didn't
seem to hear Mulch about the Passaic variety
of civic pride, while it knew all the details
of the civic pride of Paterson, only four
kinds of things didn't happen in Passaic
as they did in Paterson, and Passaic was
glad of it.
Still Passaic had its flood this year, and
1t was Just as good food as Paterson had.
Moreover, it had a flood last year and it has
had few fires that were fairly illumina-
tive.
From it's foods Passaic has rescued itself
and from its ashes it has arisen unterriied
and undaunted and it has always been Just
as independent as Paterson about refusing
outside assistance.
But %hiio Paterson has had its horn
publicly exalted and its daughters drugged
Psssaio hasn't had either, so it is decided
to celebrate its own civic enterprises by
giving itself a dinner and bidding to the
FEAST as its guests of honor President Roose-
welt. President Wilson. United States
Senators John kean, Jr.. and John F. Dry
den. former AttcrEey-General Robert H.
MoCerter. Judge pitrey' OF the Supreme
that there Is no i'll feeling between the
two cities, Mayor John Hinchlihs of Pater-
son.
1t seems to be the general opinion that
Harry Meyers did more work in arranging
the dinner than anybody else. with the
And 80 Passaic in its civic pride, wants the
activity Of Messrs Meyers and England
made known.
Mr.. Meyers. it would seem, is something
OF a man of affairs in Passaic. In the first
place, he's a member OF the Passaic Repub
lican county committee. although, to show
his independence and his civic pride, he was
very largely instrumental in bringing
about the election last fall of Charles A.
Bergen, the Democratic candidate for Sheriff.
Apart from politics Mr.. Meyers is law
yer. brewer, coal dealer. banker, contractor
and builder In fact he has what might
be called an alright cinch on the industries
of PaSsaic.
most public spirited citizens of the city
and he has automobiled many miles in the
past week in the interest of the dinner and
to insure its success. Besides Mr.. Eng
{ land got President Wilson to accept an
invitation to attend the dinner and make
! a speech.
Both these men have civic pride to burn
+; and so have most of the other enembers
of the dinner committee. but, the real,
| simon-pure. all wool and yard wide article
| general uperintendent of the Gera Woollen
| Mills. When Herr Bahnsen learned the
! real object of the dinner, he insisted that he
! be permitted to show his own particular,
| private civic pride by making contribution
to i other than 50 for a ticket.
so Mr. Bahnsen announced that out Of
! his private stock of rare old claret he wanted
| to contribute to the dinner seventy-five
bottles to be served with the fish, when all
| good claret ought to be served.
1t is a pleasure to record that II Herr
| Bahnsen's civic pride Is of the same quality
| as his claret, it's the finest brand to be
| found in or out of the State Of New jersey.
The dinner was given at the Acquack
anonk Club, which, up to three or four
| st. Johns Protestant Episcopal Church.
| Where the organ used to be the clubs wet
grocery counter now stands, and the guests
| table was on the site Of where the choir
| stalls used to stand.
| The billiard room, turned into banquet
hall, was prettily decorated with holly and
! Virginia creeper, from which depended
small red bells, whose particular significance
was not explained.
Mayor Howe, who has been PASSAGES
Mayor for five or six years, presided At
! his right sat President Wilson and at his
| left was Senator Kean. on to the Mayor g
right among the shrubbery sat Mayor
! elect Greenlie.
Mayor Hinchliffe sat directly opposite
| Mayor Howe, and, in a spirit of hospitality,
| the diners gave to mention Of his name
| by President Wilson the greatest applause
offered to any other spoken Of at the dinner
with the Of that of President Roose-
welt. Judging by the applause which greeted
| the Presidents name, the Passaio section
| of Jersey is solid for Roosevelt.
| ;. The President got his when Mayor Howe
| after announcing that Senator Dryden
and some others couldn't be present, read
! the following letter:
| WASHINGTON, Nov 25, 1903.
My DEAR Mr.. HOWE: l am sorry that it
| will not be possible for me to accept the
courteous invitation which you extend to
| me to attend the P9ssaic civic banquet on
i should be more than pleased to be with
| you on that occasion. and to listen to the
! address Of DR.. Wilson on 'Civio Patriotism :"
to solve and many important things to do.
| and the doing the one absolutely essential
| quality which we must bring to every problem
| and to every deed, and without which true
| success il impossible. is Intense Americanism--
| to be American In heart. In soul In spirit and
| N