Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-12-28
Hold Annual Banquet Sat-
urday in Portland.
6ov-e|ect Ferna|d and Other
Unknown Men Are Guests.
Royal 4. Bragg Elected President
At Business Meeting.


the most successful banquets o
the Maine Commercial Travellers
Association was that held Saturday
afternoon and evening at the Congress:
Square hotel Governor-e1ect Fcrnald
himself a member of Twin City Coun
ell, United Commercial Travellers
Mayor Leighton of Portland, Hon
Charles S. Hichborn of Augusta, pres
ident OF The State Board of Trade; FREQ
e. Eastman, vice president OF the
Portland Board Of Trade; Rev. Jcsst
Hill and Col. Frederic T.. Boothby were
among the guests of honor. asiae from
the principal speakers, John Allef
Sweet of Boston, q native OF Maine
and Arthur p. Hitchcock, also of bos-
ton.
At the annual business meeting the
following officers were elected for the
ensuing year: President. Royal n
Bragg: vice president, Frank X. J"r-
dan; directors, VIM. A. Tainsh, 5. W
Humphrey, l. A. Avery and George ID
Wheeler; clerk and treasurer, Alex NJ
Menish
1t vas voted to increase the funeral
benefits Of the association from $50
to 500 and to increase the salary OF
the secretary and treasurer. The as
sociation during the past year has
paid $575 for sick benefits and has q
balance of 5000 in the treasury. There
are 5000 members, which is the con-
stitutional limit, and several are on the
waiting list.
At the banquet the music was fur
pished by Chambers Orchestra,
Charles NJ. Brooks. leader. The Divine
blessing was invoked by Rev. Jesse
H:u, pastor of the Wiliston Congrega-
tional church, and after the banquet
was over the members and their
guests were greeted by President Royal
A. Bragg, who introduced Thomas ].
Welch as the toastmaster. Mr.. Welch
responded in a brief but witty man
ner and introduced as the first speak
er Governor-elect Fernald. AS Mr.. Fer
nald arose to speak he was greeted
by a round of applause, all rising While
the band played an appropriate air.
Mr. Fernald spoke briefly, thanking
the association for the honor of the
invitation and assuring the members
that he never felt prOuder in his life
than he did when he joined the Tray
cling Mems Association. He told the
speakers of the evening that he was
proud to claim a residence IN the State
of Maine which he assured them is
now a healthy and growing common
wealth. He then went on to speak of
the cheerful faces and optimistic work
done by the commercial travellers and
referred to the fact that while Maine
had furnished the Bay State with some
of her greatest governors the Comnion-
wealth Of Mass ssachusetts was OH this
occasion furnishing the principal
speakers and for that reason he would
ask to he excused from speaking other
than in the most informal manner.
Mayor Leighton said that he felt
that it would not be becoming in him
to attempt a speech in view of the
fact that there were speakers in
vited especially for the occasion He
spoke of the many change; in the
comnlc ycial life of Portland and of the
large Increase in the population of the
city, travelling men coming here from
other cities and states to make their
homes. In closing he spoke Of the val
liable advertising the travelling men
can and are doing in the direction of
talking up the advantages of Portland
as city Of homes and commercial and
manufacturing industries.
John Allen Sweet Of Boston, foi
years he credit man Of one of the
largest Wholesale houses in Chicago
was introduced after Mayor Leighton
had finished and delivered an interest
ing address on The Commercial sales
man: Who He Is, What He Is. ano
What Fart He Plays In the Develop
ment of the Nations Commerce? Fol
lowing the address Rev. Jesse Hill
spoke briefly. telling Il good story by
way of variety. and was followed bl
Arthur II. Hitchcock of Boston. New
England manager OF the Ladies Homo
Journal ana the Saturday Evening
Post. Tho speeches of Mcssrs. Swee