Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-08
FEAST AND HEAR
ELOQUENT TALKS
LONG BEACH COMMERCIAL
BODY HAS BANQUET
$50 GUESTS GATHER AT HOTEL
VIRGINIA
Prominent Los Angeles Men Are
Speakers, and Ably Discuss
Business and Financial
Matters

presented tonight in the spacious din
ing room of Hotel Virginia, when $50
persons, members of the chamber of
commerce, their ladies and invited
! guests. sat down to the annual cham
/ ber of commerce banquet, the most
elaborate ever given under the auspices
of that organization.
/ While up until last Saturday only
about 200 covers had been thought nee
essary for the banquet, the number
grew rapidly yesterday and today.
At noon today, when the number had
reached 25O, the hotel management no
titled the officials of the chamber OF
| commerce that no more tickets should
be sold.
The tables for the banquet were set
in the north half of the dining room.
A row of tables extended along the
north side of the room, while from the
center and each end of this row ,other
| long tables extended southward. Be-
| tween these long tables were set half
dozen smaller circular tables. In the
center of the row of tables extending
along the north wall was a beautiful
centerpiece, a fountain enshrined in a
! little bower of purple iris lilies, purple
stock and asparagus plumosus.
Decorated in Purple
Purple is the Hotel Virginia color.
and purple lilies and stock were used
extensively in decoration. The fifty
mattresses who served the tables wore
white uniforms and purple bows.
The informal reception preceding the
banquet began at $780, from which time
until SIS, when the throng moved into
the vast dining room, the lobby, grand
salon and music room were the scene
of a splendid crowd. engaged in hearty
conversation. Informality and socia-
! fNla CinC faafnr6S nf fh6
! tire evening.
P. E. Hatch, president of the cham
ber of commerce, sat at the head table,
his place being just back of the foun-
tain centerpiece. Near him sat the
Rev. Josiah Sibley, pastor of the First
Presbyterian church, who was toast
: master, and the other speakers of the
evening.
Prayer of invocation was offered by
i the Rev. Will A. Belts, pastor of the
First Methodist Episcopal church.
i 1t would be difficult to imagine
finer banquet or one better served than
that provided tonight by Manager D.
NJ. Linnard. Under the supervision of
the head waiter the fifty mattresses
served the various courses to the hun
dreds of banqueters with such grace
and precision that the viands appeared
upon the festal board as if by magic.
The flash of electric lights was the
signal which they followed, placing and
; removing plates, silver and glass rap
idly and almost silently.
i The following menu was served:
/ California Oyster Cocktail
1 Consomme volatile
| Radishes Salted Almonds Olives
4 Filet of Sole. Bechamel
1 Garden Peas Potatoes Parisienne
Punch au Kirsch
Roast Homer SQUAD, Barde
Tomato Salad
Neapolitan Ice Cream Petite Foure
Camembert and Neufchatel Cheese
Toasted Crackers
Coffee
During the banquet the Hotel Vir-
ginia orchestra of twelve pieces rem
dered a musical program which in
cluded the following numbers: March,
George Washington Jr.'; selection,
"Babes in Toyland"; waltz, Amor
euse"; intermezzo, "Cavalleria"; two
step, Cheer Up, Mary; song, Garry
Me Back to Old Virginia.; selection,
1.-The Serenade."
Good Speeches Made
After the feast material there fol-
lowed a feast intellectual. President
Hatch introduced the Rev. Josiah Sib-
! ley, the POSTMASTER, who in well chos-
en- words prepared the assemblage for
what was to follow. He spoke in pleas
ant vein throughout. He referred to
| lH6 tOHllHS VI lIl6 AI1dItlC liCCI anu ~
what should be done and is being done
| in it's honor. He spoke of the happy
meeting place afforded by the new Vtr-
| ginia, paying it a pretty compliment
| He also touched on the strategic po-
sition of Long Beach from commercial
standpoint, and spoke of the work of
the local chamber Of commerce. He
enlarged somewhat on the general sub
iect of what good such an organization
may accomplish for the city in which
it is located, and what chambers of
commerce and boards of trade can do
for Southern California.
George II. Stewart, president of the
Los Angeles chamber of commerce, elo-
uuentIy spoke of 1.-THE Future Seaport
city" He prophesied great things for
Long Beach and for Los Angeles, and
forecasted the day when Los Angeles
and Long Beach shall meet, forming
one huge city, a city which shall be
world famous center of industry and
seaport, noted, too, as now, for letters
and art.
Talks of Bankers
]. f. Burke, vice president of the
Southern Trust company of Los An
geles, was the next speaker introduced
by the Rev. Mr.. Sibley. His subject
was 1.-THE Banker"
| In part he said:
| "Of late the business in which the
| banker Is eHBdSSQ UCCil liIC oQOJGCl
OF much discussion, and there is gen.
eral feeling that something Is radically
wrong in the system by which the great
exchanges of the country are affected.
"Generally our banking system has
borne the brunt of the blame, and 1t is
now the target at which are directed
all sorts of reforms. Lecturers, econo-
mists, magazine writer's legislators.
even the congress of the United States,
| q aOraaincr n
respect, and all finding willing audi
ence in an aroused and resentful public
| opinion.
| "In my judgment the responsibility
rests not so much with the system as
| with the individual-I mean the banker
charged with the great duty of carry
ing out the sacred trusts imposed upon
| him by the very nature of his business.
Bank deposits represent the time, the
thought and the toll of countless work
ers transformed into money, and this
money is placed in the banks for safe
/ -. H.. -