Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-01-22
c. v. 8 N. FORCES
AT BIG BANQUET
--------------------------
Managers, Statesmen and Col
Iectors Assemble al
Spread.
GEN. MGR. oDELL AS HOST,
Board OF Directors Declares Special
Dividend on Preferred and
Common Stock.

Yesterday tho 2lst inst. WAS not
able and busy day around the Console
dated Wagon & Machine company's
promises The usual trade activity at
the big implement establishment was
accentuated by the arrival Of some 90
or 60 branch managers out-of-town
representatives and travelling men, who
came IN To attend the annual confer
sncc and banquet OF the heads Of the
working force. During the afternoon
rho Office wAs occupied by the mcmbors
OF the board of directors of the conn
pany, who met ia receive the reports OF
General Manager Odeil for M" 81
year. An extended session was held.
and that thc icpufts otic ol - a-.ess-
factory nature was shown by the tact
that tho board authorized the payment
of extra dividends of per cent on tho
preferred and per cent on the common
stock of the company, making total OF
10 per cent FOR the past year.
Manager Odell state that the showing
was especially gratifying 10 view of
the advance in the price of many lines
of goods made by the factories In the
east, and the heavy Increase In local
expenses, especially in tho item of lnsur-
ance ON the great number of buildings
and the large stock carried here and AT
the various branches.
The real enjoyment of the day was
reserved for tho Commercial club.
where at o'clock, - of the company's
general officers. local and department
managers, statesmen. and collectors, sat
down 10 a sumptuuus banquet prepared
In their honor by Mr. Odell. Tho big
diningroom OF the club had been re-
served for the occasion and the tables,
set in the form of IT" were hand
somoly decorated while the walls We're
draped with the national colors.
Hon. George Romney. chairman of
the executive committee. and Mr., Odell
sat at the head of the table. while J. ii.
iMoyIe and G. s. Burton, the other mem
bersof the executive committee, occupied
places close by; the repasi began on
time, and for nearly two hours all dis
cussed the elaborate menu provided by
the chef of the club.
After the desert was brought on Gen.
Mgr. odell arose and. calling the as
semblage to order made an address OF
10 minutes duration. which was at
tentIvely listened to aud enthusiastical-
IN applauded AZ It's close. He reviewed
the history of the Institution from the
year 1885, when II began under humble
auspices as Grant-Odcll & CO.. and
traced It's onward development until II
had arrived at its present vast proper
lions. His address was largely given
men and collectors IN the conduct of
the business. and he paid special tribute
20 the fidelity and zeal of the working
force as n whole. MIR. Odell then con-
stituted himself master of ceremonies.
aud called on his audience right and left
for speeches without any previous
warning. While there was some con-
sternation, especially among those who
are adopts In the art OF selling machin-
cry and implements but who seldom
make speech at a banquet, the re-
sponses were all excellent, and many
OF the speakers Indicated that they
were thoroughly at home on their feet.
Those who responded to Nj. Odelrs
calls were as follows:
James II. Moyle. John q. Crltchlow,
Seth I-angton. Logan; S. A. Giffen, w.
-. Olsen. Price; Joseph johnson. Circle
yillei ]. NJ. Greer, Spanish Fork; S. j.
Seal. j. +. Grant, b. +. Critehlow, Og-
den: Seymour b. Young, Jr, Heber j.
Romney. Jack Peterson. John Cham
bers. Ogden; II. G. Whitney OF the
Deseret News; w. l.. Hansen, Coal
vile; Hon. George Romney, and Melvin
ID. Wells, secretary OF the company.
The principal interest was manifested
In the speeches of John Q, Crltchlow
late manager OF the Utah Credit Men 3
association, and now manager OF the
Utah Implement Co.. s. A. Giffen. who
represents the John Deere Plow CO..
and The Deere and Mansure CO., of Mo-
line. ILL.,. j. NJ. Greer the Spanish Fork
banker. and an owner OF large mining
interests In Bullfrog, S, j. Seal, repre-
fenting the International Harvester CO..
and J. r. Grant. representing the
American Steel and Wire Co. who Ia
also one OF the original members OF the
old firm OF Grant-Odell & Co; Messrs
Giffen, Seal and Grant, all spoke OF
their satisfactory relations with the O.
w & NJ, Co.. and said the account was
one OF the largest. and perhaps en-
tirely the largest. they carried in the
entire United States.
The banquet lasted until a late hour
and was unanimously voted one OF the
most enjoyable occasions of the kind
in the history OF all concerned.
Tonight Mr.. Odell and his family
will leave for Long Beach, Cal. where
they win spend the next week or 10
days.