Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-02-27
FIRST ANNUAL. EVENT is GIVEN
BY oTTUMWA RETAIL MER.
CHANTS ASSOCIATION.
BUSINESS MEN TALK
Growth Of Retail Business in ottumwa
Theme of Interesting and Excellent
Addresses by Business Men Of City
Story Of Wonderful Progress.

The first annual banquet given by
the Ottumwa Retail Dealers associa-
tlon in the basement of the Market
street theatre last evening was by
common consent one of the most bril-
liant successes of the season. One
hundred of the representative business
men OF this city, who have helped to
make Ottumwa the important COM
mercial center that 1t is today, en-
joyed the splendid repast and the ex-
cellent program which followed.
The affair was perfect in it's ap-
pointments and this annual event will
be looked forward to with pleasure by
all who attended last night. After DR.. f.
oltz,pastor of the First Presbyterian
church invoked the divine blessing the
banquet was served by the ladies' of
the First Congregational church.
Mayor Pickler voiced the sentiments
OF all present when he stated that the
ladies deserved a vote of thanks for
the sumptuous repast and the excellent
manner in which it was served and his
motion to that effect was carried by
a unanimous vote. ~
The com mittee on arrangements had
spared no effort to make the evening
a most enjoyable one During the
evening music was furnished by the
Schuberts and several OF the selec-
tons Including a vocal solo "The
World is Full of Sunshine" by Harry
Swenson, were heartily encored The
addresses were by practical men on
subjects of vital interest and received
the closest attention from all present.
The Association.
The Retail Dealers association was
organized only a few months ago. The
first m eeting iookin toward the per-
fecting of such am organization was
called by ]. f.. Kerfoot 4and G. o.
Arnold. The plan met with general
favor and already the association has
been of much benefit to the members
and has grown rapidly until nearly
every retail merchant in the city is in
cluded in it's membership,
!. J. B. Sax, Toastmaster.
h j. B. Sax, president of the associa-
ton, who was selected to preside as
POSTMASTER proved himself especially
adapted for that position and by his
timely remarks and witty sallies in
introducing the several speakers ad-
ded much to the enjoyment of the
evening. In his opening remarks Mr..
Sax said:
I feel very much honored to be Sc
lected as toastmaster and to preside at
this, the first banquet of the Retail
Merchants of Ottumwa.
have been told that good toast
master is one who does very little talk
ing, and does not anticipate the bril-
liant thoughts Of the eloquent and dis
tinguished gentlemen who are to fol-
low.
If this be really true I think / shall
fill the bill very well.
/ desire to dwell moment. however,
upon the Importance of this magnifi-
cent gathering Of the business men of
Ottumwa at their first annual banquet
and love feast and what it means to
us.
If it means anything more than the
pleasure of delightful social even
ing,it means that the era of bitter strife
and at times misguided rivalry for
business has given away to a more
open and healthful competition, to the
broader sentiment, that there is room
for US all, to live and let live, and the
knowledge that what helps one, helps
all.
We are all engaged in kindred pur-
suits, not alone to undersell everybody
on everything but to endeavor to keer
the Profits well in advance Of the ex-
pense account.
These meetings will help us to get
far away from the condition which
prevails only too often among compe-