Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-03-23

Journal publishes the addresses deliv-
cred at the Board of Trade banquet
Monday evening. We thoroughly be-
lieve that the suggestions made and the
facts adduced by the speakers on that
occasion are in every way worthy OF
the careful consideration of all our
readers, whether or not they may in all
cases acquiesce in the views expressed
Nothing will conduce more to the
growth of true local pride and the de-
velorment of broad and civic spirit
than this frank and able discussion OF
questions which touch vitality upon the
life of the city. and which should be OF
interest and Importance to all our peo-
pie. We regret exceedingly that more
of those who attended the banquet
were unable to remain and hear these
addresses, for they constituted the most
valuable feature of the occasion. 1t IS
to consider these very problems that
the Board of Trade is organized. and on
occasions of this kind. while care should
be taken to provide Il suitable repast,
this feature may at best be considered
Of secondary importance.
1t is unfortunate that our Board oil
Trade banquets have extended so late
into the morning hours, and some way
must be found to shorten them IN the
future, if the greatest good is to result
from them. As these banquets are held
at our hotels, it is practically impossi-
BILE to START them at an early hour The
regular guests must have the dining
room until at least O'Clock. after
which an hour or so is necessary to
clear away and get the tables in readi-
IS for the formal spread. AS a rule,
it has been 9 or 10 o'clock before those
attending these banquets have been
seated at the tables. With an hour and
a half or two hours consumed in serv-
ing the banquet in courses, it has usu-
ally been in the vicinity of midnight
before the post prandial exercises have
been reached. The result has been that
very many of those present have not
felt able to remain into the morning
hours and enjoy this interesting and
valuable feature of the program.
We do not recall an annual banquet
of the Board of Trade since its estab-
ment at which able addresses have not
been delivered. which were in every
way worthy of the careful and thought
full consideration of all our citizens. and
OF those actively connected
with it's professional and business life.
1t is exceedingly embarrassing for a
speaker to rise at 4 late hour and UNI
dertake to discuss vital questions of
local importance with stream of citi-
Zens who should properly constitute his
audience filing out of the dining room
and il is Il problem which may we'll be
considered as to how this condition of
affairs may be avoided at the future
banuuets Of the Board of Trade. 1t has
been suggested that these spreads
should be given in some hall by ca
terer especially employed for the occa-
sion. and that everything should be in
readiness for n prompt start at $50
O'Clock. BY having Il considerable por-
ton of the food already on the table at
the commencement of the repast, it is
believed that the post prandial exer-
cises could be reached by O'Clock at
the latest. An hour and a half or two
hours would then be devoted to listen
ing to the addresses of the evening and
the members be out and at home before
midnight.
The question is one that deserves
careful consideration in the plans that
may be made for the future annual
banquets of the Board of Trade. SO far
as our hotels have contributed to these
occasions their work has been i'm all re-
spects creditable, but the conditions un-
der which tGey are necessarily forced
to operate make it practically impossi-
BILE for those in attendance to get seated
Mt the tables early enough to avoid run
ming into the morning hours. if any
thing like satisfactory program is to
be carried out.