The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-25

The speeches were all appropriate and
OF a Very high order. and the menu was
selected and served In the best OF taste
The affair lasted until long past mid
night, and no one seemed to tire On the
other hand, they were all highly enter
tained, and enjoyed not only the fine ad-
dresses. but the opportunity for social
intercourse with one another.
Notable Guests. .vrs.s ~ : :.
IT was a source OF deep regret to saH
that President r. a. Miller wjis absent,
owing to sickness In his family. For
this reason, Mr.. Samuel Cohen, first vice.
president. occupied the chair and sat to
the left OF ar. Wyndham r. Meredith.
who made very happy POSTMASTER
Ranged along the main table with these
two were former Governor Montague.
Congressman Lamb, Mayor Mccarthy. Mr.
Norman II. Johnston. OF Raleigh. and Mr.
VI. Umstadter, OF Norfolk. who made the
speeches OF the evening. willie at three
long tables running lengthwiSe the hall
sat nearly LOO merchants we T,g x ~
The hall WIS elabosateiv decorated
with flags. palms and blooming flowers.
Kessuich's band discoursed sweet music
at intervals during the evening. Every
body seent d to be in good humor, and
the most staid and dignified entered
heartily iLto the spirit of the occasion.
1t was nearly 10 o'clock when the party
marched into the banquet fall, and 1t
Was l.30 A NJ. when Mr.. ID. b. Ryland,
president of tho LynchhurR Association,
who made the only iinpromptu speech
concluded his remarks and the ban
qucters dispersed to their hones.
At IL o'cIoci yice-President samuel
Cohen called for order and presented Mr..
Wyndhan II. Meredith, who proved a
fo.u t,r1a OF 10
A humorous shot at nearly all those
whom ne was to Introduce, and kept. the
audience in an almost continuous roar
OF laughter.
Mr.. Meredith said this was an age of
cooperation and of combination. He en-
pllasized the importance of tho position
of the retail merchants in the business
world, and declared that Richmond should
feel proud that hr11 were OF such high
class. ~
Montague Speaks.
Mr.. Meredith presented Hon. a. j. Mon,
tague in a most telic!tous manner, and
the former executive was given fine
rccption.
When he was allowed to proceed Mr..
Montague made some pleasant and hui
morous references to Nh. Meredith's In
troductory remarks, and launched into
most attractive treatment of the subject
of Trade which was assigned him.
Il may say" he went on. that the
retail merchants formed and built UP
Richmond. There isn't a prosperous
city to-day in America, where'sthe re.
tail trade Is not prosperous. s
mo community has ever made the
commercial strides made in our own
country, and yet we have but barely
scratched the surface.
we have now stopped sprouting, and
are developing those things that have
already started.
II believe In patronizing home in
dustries. but II we have more than we
can sell here. we ought to send it
somewhere else.
This State and the South are places
to come to and stay and not places to
go from.
III there ever was a time when our
young men had an opportunity to do
we'll in their own State, it is now.
The great centre of commercial
gravity has shifted from foreign coun-
tries and is lowering somewhere be-
tween the Atlantic and the Pacific, and
the Gulf of Mexico, and Canada.
THE young man of the South to-day
has as good chance in the commercial
world at home as anywhere else on
earth.'
Governor Montague spoke of the influ-
ence of the business man In public affairs.
and said:
II don't look for this country to pros
per wholly through the statesmen in
Office. It is the unofficial statesmen.
down among the rank and file Of the
that Is the hope of good gov
ernment in this land. / think this city
has great future before 1t. I congratu-
late you upon the progress and efficiency
of your association.''
What Congressman Said.
Congressman Lamb was presented and
was loudly applauded as he arose to
speak. The Congressman declared that
for twenty years ho had heen a retail
merchant, and he felt that lie was lin
tho house Of his friends IIc had kept
in close touch with the retail merchants.
He had championed their course; had
sent them copies of the pure food bill,
and interpreted 1t for them.
Captain Lamb was quite humorous at,
tines and provoked great laughter and
applause He was referring tosGovernor
Montague as a young man who had been
raised on oysters and salt fish. when
the latter Interrupted to say 1t was
"oysters. mosquitoes and chills. Any
how, it was brain food, replied the
speaker, "and you have heen trained;
upon it to make these beautiful ex-
.tcn,poraneous speeches.
The speaker declared lie would call
names in speaking of Richmond's pros
perity, and said her clearinghouse re-
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