The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-12-04

spirit, / wish to say to you gentleme
that l thank you from the bottom of IN,
heart for your courtesy, your kindness
and your appreciation of the Difficult
circumstances in which a general agen
is often placed | came here not quit
four years ago, stranger. | am prouC
to say that after four years in business
which is oftimcs very trying, l leav'
here with rs many warm friends as any
man left any territory.
Again, gentlemen. thank YOU ant
say to you that so long as L shall live
the memory of you and of this night
shall remain with me-"
Following the banquet a number Of
the gentlemen responded to calls from
Mr. Pitcher, who acted as POSTMASTER
All spoke in the warmest terms of Mr.
Rice, saying that he had acted toward
them in a spirit of fairness, was always
courteous, was kind and generous en-
ployer and there was none but what ex-
| pressed regret at his leave taking, but
congratulated him upon his promotion
| to wider field of usefulness. 1t was
a spontaneous outburst of good feeling
toward one who has been their wise
counselor, ever ready to assist them over
the toughest places which beset the path
way of those who are engaged in labor
not always full of sunshine. When all
had concluded a. A. Smell, assistant
general agent, proposed toast to MIR.
Rice and it was drank, the liquid being
bright, sparkling water, Gods own bever-
age for man.
Again Mr.. Rice was called to his feet.
Mr. Rice stated that he felt more deep
ly than ever the kindly expressions
which had been made in his behalf. He re-
ferred to the loyalty the employees have
always displayed toward the company
and hoped that they would continue to
do SO in the future; that they would
give to his successor, Mr.. White, that
same hearty support that has been his,
impressing upon them the necessity of
working together in order that success
may crown their efforts. Mr.. Rice gave
the gentlemen present some excellent ad-
vice, calling their attention to the fact
that men are recognized for the conscien-
tions performance of duty, and that a
man to rise in the estimation of his en-
ployer must put forth his best ener-
gies and that promotion to better posi-
ton viii surely be the outcome of labor
performed well; that no man should be
satisfied with his work, but always
strive to do it better as time goes on.
AT this juncture j. R. Snow appear
ed on the happy scene and took a flash
light picture Of the company as they
were gathered around the festive board.
The next few hours were spent in
card playing, and story telling. 1t was a
most enjoyable gathering and one which
the participants will long remember.
The gathering included local agents,
travelling statesmen, blockmen and ex
perts, and various other classes of en-
ployes.
The following gentlemen were pres
emit:
p j. Moran, Faribault; A ]. Manley,
Faribault; P. Fl. Martin, Watertown; w.
P. Remple, st. James; L. L. Calby, Ma
della; Chas. Jacobson, Owatonna; Jay j.
Conway, Sleepy Eye; w. w. Kennedy,
Montgomery; A. A. Smell, Owatonna; C.
1. Buxton, Owatonna; T. A. Giere,
Rochester; w. T. Wilcox, Redwood Falls;
o. c. Halverson, Minneapolis; j. H.
Mclaughlin, Winona; o. j. Lee, Sleepy
Eye; L. j. Lee, Brookings, S. D.; R. M.
Minnick, Marshall; w. H. Sender, Mar
shall; Paul Guestin, st. Peter; E. A.
Arnold, Nicollet; j. Charles James, Lake
Crystal; Paul Kanne, Waterville; Sim R.
Bunch, Redwood Falls; O. T. Sunde,
Vesta; F. HI. Retzlaff, New Ulm; F. r.
Flanagan, Mankato; II. Thielman, st.
Clair; S. B. Taylor, Montgomery; P. w.
Pitcher, Mankato; c. E. Luce, Ovation
ma; j. A. johnson, Sleepy Eye; M. H.
Whalen, Sanborn; c. w. Hager, Manka-
to; Ed Holman, Slayton; Chas. Boucher,
Waseca; B. R. Morrill,, Mankato, j. E.
johnson ,Mankato.
The majority of these were local
agents.