The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-04-14
IGNORED MIR. VANDIVER
DINNER TO RETIRING PRESIDENT
 OF POWER COMPANY.
Officials and Employees Wed With Each other in Paying Tribute to Excel- lent Citizen-Presented
 With Umbrella.

Power Company last night gave mate rial evidence of the love and esteem 1n which the retiring President of the company. W. F. vandiver. is held by rendering him an elaborate dinner in
 the dining hall of Yung's Cafe. during the course of which Mir. Vandiver was presented with a very fine umbrella. MT. Vandiver it will be remembered,
 sold all of his securities in the PoweB Company several days ago and retired from the Presidency on April 8, after con tinuous service in that official posi- tion of thirteen years. He was succeed ed by Emerson McMillan of New York.
 Robert J. Chambers of Montgomery.
 formerly General Superintendent, was l elected Vice-President and General Manager.
 From the General Manager to the | humblest employe of the company all
 were present and participated in doing honor to Mir. Vandiver and nearly eve- ry one voiced his love for the great | hearted. successful citizen of Montgonl- cry
 General Manager Chambers presided l as toastmaster and MT. Vandiver sat | opposite him at the table. On his right and left sat H. c. Davidson. s. Roman. Simon Gassenheimer, members of the | Board of Directors and F. W. Bowen, Secretary and Treasurer.
 The table was decorated exquisiteIy
 with cut flowers and a splendid mend | accompanied by choice wines was serv- | ed.
 l When the brandy and cigars were
 served Mir. Chambers arose and a hush | fell over the assembly,.
 T welcome this occasion with a
 great deal of pleasure" said MT. | Chambers, flor the reason that 1t gives
 me the opportunity to express the pro- found esteem and unbounded respect | have for our honored guest. There is perhaps, no one present
 who has been in a business way, more | intimately acquainted with Mir. Vandi- yer than myself, and, taking all of the years of my association with him into consideration, I can truthfully say that never had man a better friend, wiser counsellor or more considerate
 superior officer.
 Nearly all gathered here tonight are
 fully acquanted with the history of our company, how from an extremely small lighting enterprise. in a few years 1t has grown to be one of the local giants of industry. Curbed in
 its further rapid expansion only by the less swift increase of population,
 and 1t is also known to you gentlemen that our honored guest was the master | planning and execution made 1t possi-
 ble for this company to obtain its goal | of success.
 You are aware that Mir Vandiver
 has disposed of hls interests in the | company and we regret to see him
 loosen his hand from the helm of the | ship which he so safely guided, lay | down the mantle of authority that
 rested so we'll upon his shoulders and l ind V
 into other channels than those of the Montgomery Light and Water Power Company, especially al a time when we | are approaching the apex of the hill of
 commercial prosperity.
 There is no doubt, MT. Vandiver, l that when I here tender best wishes l for your future prosperity and welfare
 transmit only the thoughts of every
 one present To give further express
 sion of the appreciation of your kind | and courteous treatment while at the | head of our company the employees | have requested me to present to you
 this umbrella which may ever remind
 you of our loyalty and esteem"
 MT. Chambers was applauded as he
 passed to MT. Vandiver the handsome
 umbrella which has an ivory handle,
 with a silver plate appropriately in-
 scribed.
 T want" said MT. Vandiver speak ing slowly and with emotion as he
 began to reply to MT. Chambers, ito
 thank you. my friends, for these eX-
 pressions of your confidence and your
 respect I can truthfully say that
 this is one of the most happy hours of my life. If my association with you | for the past thirteen years has i'm | pressed you with the fact that l have
 been just, then my aim has been real | ized and I am gratlfied. It is one | aIn of
 who have performed duties under an
 official; it is another thing to deserve | those plaudits.
 MT. Vandiver continuing said that | the success of the power company had been measured by the loyalty and fi-
 delity of those who worked under him and had made it possible for him to
 succeed as the executive officer of the company He said he saw before him men who never deceived him and never | fell short of their duty or the confi-
 dence reposed in them. He was proud to call such men his friends. At some length Mir. VandiveP spoke of the internal affairs of the com
 pany. He dwelt upon the support ne and the company had always received from the press of Montgomery.
 The newspapers had to spank us occasionally he said But we never had any argument with them that we
  moral of this Is to always keep your company right. do right, and you will
 be treated right"
 In concluding he gave the young men some wholesome advice as to their dealings with the public. He said MT.
 McMillan in taking over his stock had assured him that all of the men in the employ of the power company would be retained.
 Now boys" said MT. Vandiver. do your duty and don't let what l told
 MT McMillan of you be anything but the simple truth.
 As he sat down tears sprung into the eyes of MT. Vandiver and his friends aplauded his sincere statements for full two minutes
 With Mir. Chambers acting as toast
 master brief remarks of a happy na- ture, eulogistic of Mir. Vandiver and interspersed with lively anecdotes, were made by Secretary F. w. Bowen. H w. Laird of The Birming gham Age-Her- ald Horace Hood of the Journal. & Roman, H. c. Davidson, S. Gassen- heimer, A. s. Lowry, electrical engi- neer of the company; L. A. Docteur. of the gas department; B $. Maultsby formerly Secretary and Treasurer; T. B. Mitchell. manager of the new bus business associate of Mir. Vandiver; George Montgomery, General Superin- tendent; Paul Roeder, bookkeeper; Will liam Black, MT. Vandiver's private sec
 retary; N. R. Nelson, night engineer;