Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1903-02-05

Elect of the Gridley club.
Mayor w. Millard Palmer, of Grand
Rapids; Senator Charles Simons, of
Detroit; preventative Edwin Den
by, OF Detroit; General James II. Kidd
of Ionia; Rev. A. O. Carman of Bel
ding; Major Herbert Il. Johnson, of
Lansing. The table for the speakers
was gorgeous in its dress of candala
bra, roses, carnations and other dam
ty table garnishment.
President Watts address in opening
the intellectual feast was a fine one.
He outlined the splendid achieve
ments of the club, organized five years
ago, in 1899, and since the death of
Capt. Gridley whose name inspires
our success. No period in history
since the civil war has been packed
with history, achievement and swift
moving public thought. This club
sprang into life in that tremendous
burst Of patriotism and humanity
which finally swept LuzOn and de-
manded Cuba's freedom. At its first
meeting Quesada brought us the same
message of Cuba he today tells the
diplomats Of the world as minister at
Washington. The first gun was fired
at he meeting of this club and every
year since the party in Ionia has
strengthened from narrow margin
in 1898 to sweeping landslide in 1902.
AS Dewey summoned Gridley TO
lead on to Manila, on to triumph, on
20 a glorious death, so destiny has
called victory, into peace achieve
ments, into the very loftiest places of
the earth and endless national life.
We, as loyal republicans, as steadfast
citizens. will there follow him with
all our strength.
Therefore do we meet tonight as
republicans of lonia to unite all fac
tions, TO heal all differences, TO hear
the lofty messages of our creed, TO
rededicate ourselves to republicanism
its glorious past, its victorious pres
ent, and its boundless future.
Arthur Il. Loomis as toastmaster
had the audience with him from start
to finish and his droll, dry telling hits
in an Artemus Ward facial expessiou
and style made it very apparent that
in his selections to that important
place, the program committee made
no mistake Before introducing the
speakers he said in part.
"The honor of being selected as
toastmaster at the Gridley club ban
Fquet has in the past been more
worthily bestowed, but never was it
more highly appreciated than tonight
We are under many obligations to
those who have come, some OF them
from distant homes, to address us but
such is our pride in our Gridley club
that we believe it a privilege to meet
With us and that our distinguished
guests, in honoring us with their pres
ence, honored themselves.
We glory in the name we bear. We
are proud of our membership, guam
tity and quality, both Upon the rolls
are the names of oyer 800 of the re-
publicans OF lonia county A county
that has ever been, and is now, a po-
tent factor i'm the councili of republi-
canism. A county that furnished its
full share of patriotic men who aided
in the organization OF the republican
party. Men OF the type of John l.
Morse, Osmond Tower, Alonzo Ses-
sions and Hampton Rich. Men of
sterling worth and strict integrity,
fitted by nature and by training for
the work they had to do. "Men of
iron nerve TO true occasion true, who
stood four square to all the winds
that blew
His speech and his toasting and
roasting in introduction was loudly
applauded
Gov. Bliss could not be present and
introducing his private Secretary,
Mai. johnson, he said he was man
like himself with a military title but
no war record. Mr.. Johnson spoke
very briefly on the topic "The Com
monwealth'' referring with pride TO
Michigan with its vast resources de-
veloped and undeveloped and it's GER
tain future greatness.
Andy Fyfe of Grand Rapids was on
the program, and lent charm to il
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