Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-18
FEAST Of ;F|AAncIERS
y IS
Have Pleasant Evening at
the Raleigh Hotel.
E.nr--
JUST FAMILY AFFAIR
BUT TT REACHED LARGE AND
GRATIFYING PROPORTIONS.
Toasts Responded to in Happy Vein
Elegant Menu served-Georgs
o'conner's Songs.
JUST FAMILY AFFAIR


made up OF about i25 men whose names are
bywords in local financial circles And II
| had been announced beforehand the affair
was to be merely an informal family meet
ing-with only one or two guests-accompa-
MED by an exchange of views In CONVEX
sational way. In reality the dinner
| proved to be a magnificent function and re-
| hected unlimited credit on the association,
and particularly on the dinner committee.
Messrs. B. F. SAUL H H. Mckee and Geo.
e. Fleming. Those participating were
bankers and bank officials, from veterans
on the retired list to the most recently
| elected director of the newest of the city's
| financial institutions There is no doubt
| that all present enjoyed themselves to the
| utmost. The occasion was a memorable
| one and, of necessity, must long be remem-
| bered by every one present.
The decorations in the Raleigh banquet
| hall and on the tables were little short of
| gorgeous. Many unique features were pro-
/ vided, and when they started homeward
/ during. the early morning hours most Of
the bankers were plentifuily supplied with
| souvenirs and looked as though they were
/ returning from german where favors had
been generously distributed.
| The hour for assembling was 100 o. clock,
| and it was long after midnight when adj
| journment was taken An elaborate menu,
1 the serving Of which required nearly two
| and half hours. was discussed; then Geo.
| H. OConnor sang several songs in rag time
| that made the staid bankers almost shout
/ with glee after which talks, not speeches,
were In order.
The Introductory Remarks.
Mr.. Albion K Paris. president of the as
| ISOLATION. extended an Introductory greet
| ing, and successfully called on Messrs.
/ Myer Cohen, Lewis J. Davies, John Joy
| Edison, John H. Moore, w. Riley Decide,
| George o. Watson. ]. Nota McGill and
| B. H. Warner and Representative Huff OF
| Pennsylvania to respond to toasts.
/ Mr.. John r. Mclean. who was expected
| to make an address, was unable to attend,
| but he sent the association floral remem-
brance nearly ten feet in height. At the
conclusion Of the dinner the gathering voted
| to surrender the flowers to Mrs. PARIS
| wife Of the associations president
The menu card was novel EFFORT: II
| showed a group cut Of the officers Of the
association-Albion X Paris. president;
| T. Brice, second vice president: Francis H.
| Smith, treasurer; William A. Mearns. sec
| rotary, and 8. Thomas Brown. William j.
| Flather. Clarence F.. Norment and Charles
| was also a group cut of the dinner commit
| tee, the members being CARRIED as walters
| and serving from dishes, bottles of wine,
boxes of cigars ana the like
| The party met I'm the reception room.
| where greetings were exchanged for half
/ an hour, and then proceeded to the ban
auet hall Mhen clgsrs had been lighted ed
/ singing, President PARIS fapped for order
| and formally greeted the members of the
| association on the occasion OF Its fourth
| annual dinner In brief address the pre-
| siding officer pointed out that the banking
interests of the District of Columbia are
| most conservaffvely guarded. and he re-
minded his associates that with added cap
ital and profits come added responsibilities
The Banking Association. President Paris
| said stands for something more than mere
bandueting 1t may be termed clearing
| house Tor financial IDEAS
| President of the United States.
The first toast proposed was to the Presi-
dent Of the United States, and Mr.. Myer
Cohen of the Commercial National Bank
was asked to make the response.
'It is an hour to respond to such toast
that no man should Decline especially at a
gathering of the bone. and sinew OF the
| He went on to say that all present could
properly drink, not alone to the office, but
Ito that great ana good man now In the
| White House-Theodore Roosevelt
Among other things. Mr.. Cohen said that
Immigration is responsible for the greatness
of this country, and that the greatest boast
an American can make is I am an Ameri-
can citizen" The speaker concluded by
proposing that all drink to the health of
Theodore Roosevelt, an American citizen.
The next speaker was introduced as
"the Nestor of the banking interests OF the
District of COlumbia-Our old friend, Lewis
j. Davis whose face, for more than two
general tons, has been known to everybody
| in Washington"
Old-Time Banking.
Mr.. Davis presented a comparison of the
conditions that prevailed when he embarked
in the banking business here more than
half century ago. and those that exist at
present. In the year 1880. according to Mr..
Davis there were only three banks IN
| Washington. They had a total capitaliza-
ton of $685.. 300, and the business consisted
simply of discounts and deposits.
At this point President Paris announced
the inability of Mr. Mclean to be present,
and directed attention to the floral gift.
Mr.. John Joy Edison. president OF the
Washington Loansand Trust Company, the
first institution of it's kind organized in the
District, then responded to the call of the
presiding officer. He declared that he was
to give mere talk but was introduced to
| respond to the formal toast: Our Associa-
tion.'' However, he promised to do the best
he could. The idea of organizing the asso-
| citation was happy one, Mr.. Edison said
During the panic Of 1893 there had been nc
such association in this city, when one was
badly needed. washington was the last
city of its size to. have an association OF
bankers. 1t is necessity in time OF finan-
cial emergency. q 40 St5
',The more we knows each other the more
| confluence we nave HI edci otucI anu TIE
| more we will cooperate in good banking
for good government land good society" Mr.
Edison remarked itss1 sincerely wish that
every one Of the local banks and trust COM
panies will grow and be credit to the city
| We will welcome ana help new institu-
| TONS 1o9i
q: Local Company Congratulated.
Loud applause rewarded Mr.. Edison when
he congratulated the american Security and
Trust Company on It's success and its new
building. Sa5 J.
.The public have Unlimited confidence In
you and expect lsgoBsto be accurate and
never falling in whatyou do" Mr.. Edison
speaking particuTafdyito the younger direc-
} tors. said:- .'Yopd Must recognize the re-
sponsibility. This association. as we go on
will prove very beneficial"
Mr.. Edison closed by paying tribute to
Mr. Davis spotless career as banker and
| as citizen.
Captain John H. Moore. who declared that
he had only had one minutes warning that
he would be required to take the front and
center, chose as his topic: The Welfare OF
the Association AT the first banquet. he
stated, there werefsonly thirty persons in
} attendance. At the next annual gathering