The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-09
KNIGHTS OF GRIP HAPPY ABOUT BOARD Sparkling Banquet Attended By
 More Than 200 BOUQUETS FOR EVERYBODY One of the Features Was the Talk By President Hopper on How He
 Will Hop During the
 Coming Year.
BOUQUETS FOR EVERYBODY

Not untll they were arrayed Tn eVenlng dress and with their wives and sweet | hearts around the banquet board did the knights of the grip reach the zenith of their happiness. But when 225 were seated at the Hillman last night more fun and wit poured forth than ever dusty grip handler turned loose while balancing him. self on a dry goods box and trying to sell his assortment of overalls and brogans
 The spirit of fellowship and friendship which predominates in the Travellers Pro- tective association became evident before the first course was finished and when at 12 o'clock they left the board to the tunes of Auld Lany SYne, sung by Capt. Frank P. OBrlen, twas home to quiet dreams and pleasant memories.
 Perhaps there was no individual who attributed more vlsibly to the success of the banquet than the toastmaster, John l.. Parker. Everybody knew that MT. Parker was a postmaster of the art, but he played his best cards last night, and kept the air full of repartee from start to finish
 The menu, which was prepared elabor- ately, consisted of cream of tomato soup. olives, salted almonds, tenderloin trout. chicken croquets, green peas, fried spring chicken asparagus, Waldorf salad, Nea- poltan ice cream and coffee.
 MT. Parker, with appropriate remarks, introduced the new president of the or ganzation, the man who is going to hop on the left foot and then on the right foot and then hop on both feet until he gets the membership of the association up to 1OOO-H. M. Hopper of Mobile MT. Hopper told just how he intends to hop during the coming year, and promised an up-to-date policy for the new regime
 The next speaker was retiring President Robert Cunningham, who talked on the accomplishment of the organization in the past, and prophesed greater things for the future.
 Among the other excellent responses were those of Sterling A. Wood on ''The Commercial Club" Judge Sam Weaver on Good of the T. P. A." John w. O'Neill on Legislation Necessary for the Vel fare of the T.. P. A." F. l., Higdon on "The T. P. A. as a Body While these talks were humorous they were full of valuable suggestion and consideration of problems at issue in the state.
 Among the toasts, which were fairly side splitters so brimming with fun and humor, were those of IT. B. Lowe of Mont gomery on "Everything," Jake Weiss of Mobile on My Experiences as a Lob byist," Richard F. Johnston on Politics and Business,"; L. c. Cardinal on 'Friend- ly Relations of the T. P. A. With the Railroads" J. B. Babb on Montgomery" B. M Scott on Selma Charles Moritz of Montgomery on Experiences in Poli- ties" Mr. Compton on his experiences as a candidate for railroad commissioner. and De Wesse of Montgomery "A Witty Dialogue" o. P. Smith of Selma on ''The Black Belt" H. w. Hayden of Demopolis on '"The Wiregrass Region," and Frank P. OBrlen "A Gentlemanly Talk"
 Bouquets for successful candidates were profuse, and Colonel Higdon, the popular retiring secretary, came in for a good share. The talk of Mir Babb on Blrming- ham was considered one of the best, so full was it of good old iron truth.
 Plans of Today.
 The programme for tdoay is quite elab- crate. At 10 o'clock the delegates and their friends will gather at headquarters and leave on a trolley ride, going through the steel mills and EnsIey and arriving at the Country club at 1 o'clock, when q barbecue will be served The remainder of the afternoon will be spent in dancing and other amusements.