The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-01
RETIRING MANAGER RECEIVES A TOKEN Street Car Men Present Me-
 CIary With Watch THE PRESENTATION SPEECH Norman Morrison Talks In a Happy Vein, and MT. Mcclary Responds
 With FeeIins-Gift Very
 Very Handsome.
THE PRESENTATION SPEECH

Last night in the presence of more than two hundred dispatches, conductors, mo- tormen and other employees of the railway department of the Birmingham Railway. Light and Power company, J. B. MeClsfy. the retiring manager, was presented with magnificent watch, chain and charm on the second floor of the general offices Cf the company.
 The presentation speech was made by Norman Morrison, dispatcher of the Ems ley lines, who, although young man, is the oldest employe in the service in point of time. The gift represents the es- teem and good will of the entire force of employees of the railway department.
 As MT. McClary entered the room about o'clock he was greeted with loud and rrolonged cheers which were hushed as Dispatcher Morrison mounted a desk to make the speech. His remarks were full cf feeling and love for the man who was about to leave them. He said:
 Presentation Speech.
 MT. McClary, we know this is sur prise to you You see here tonight the faces of men with whom you have strug- gled for the past sixteen years, and we want to tell you how much we appreciate your efforts in our behalf. You see here your boys-boys who feel that they are simply part of your family.
 ''We don't generally call you McClary, we call YOU the old man, but we all love YOU as children love their father and we want to tell you how much indebted we feel to you for the business principles you have instilled into us in years past We feel indebted beyond any money con sideration but as small token of the esteem and love which we have for you we want to give you something substan- tial
 "This watch was manufactured especial ly for you. Do you remember, MT. Me Clary, the time when I was a mere boy and you patted me on the head and said Norman my boy, you can't do that work; you are not educated enough?' But you helped me along just the same and just as you have helped all of us and we have received the greatest inspiration in try ing to follow your example.
 Now, Mir Mac, let me put this watch on you Let me take off that old biscuit and see how you will look with this one"
 MT. McCIarys Reply.
 MT. McClary's reply was full of feeling. He thanked them all for the spirit they had shown and said that he felt more like shedding tears than anything else. He said he was very sorry to leave them to bie host interest to do so. He asked them to as- sist in holding up the hands of his sue cessor and to help MT. Harris just as they had helped him in the past.
 George H. Harris, who becomes super intendent of the railway department of the company, was called upon for few remarks He asked all present to gather at one end of the room, and large fash light photograph was taken of the group.
 Elegant Watch.
 The watch presented to MT. McClary is one of the most elegant ever seen in Bir- mingham, and was designed by the lobe Rose Jewelry company and manufactur- ed expressly for MT. McClary. It is very heavy IA karat gold, hunting case, with J. B. NJ. in raised monogram set with diamonds. On the inside cap is engraved the words, "J. B. McClary, from the em- ployes of railway department of B. R. l.. & P. Co.,, Dec. Slst '03." With the watch is a handsome chain and Masonic charm, the charm being set with dia- monds and rubies.
 Mir. McClary rendered his resignation some time ago as manager of the rail- way department. The position of man ager has been abolished and that of superintendent of the department ere ated. George H. Harris was elected us- perintendent, and will enter upon his new duties this morning.