The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1908-01-09
THE COMMERCIAL CLUB
Banquet Monday Night Proved to be a
Highly Enjoyable and Interest
ing Occasion.


airs of the midwinter season. This
night was also the regular meeting
night of the club, but on this occasion
the business part of il was cut out and
the occasion was one Of sociability and
good fellowship. Manager Martin, of
the hotel, had supper ready for the
guests at S:15 sharp, the time desig-
mated, but owing to the very interest
ing entertainment of Prof. Cooks
stereopticon n d moving pictures,
which were provided for the clubs
amusement, the dining room doors
were not thrown open until $3.50, when
the members gathered around the fes-
tive board and business and cares
were cast to the four winds, and all
entered into the spirit Of abandon and
a good time generally was enjoyed.
Divine invocation was offered by Rev.
J. A. Moore. An elegant supper of
three courses was then bountifully sup
piled, and the way turkey and other
good things were hid away proved a
caution. Supper was practically over
at 9:15, when Hoffman House Bou.
quets were passed around and the
time for speeches and toasts was at
hand. Vice-president Geo. T. Wof-
ford in the absence of President Allen,
presided and acted as toastmaster.
Mr.. Wofford in a few wcll-chosen
words paved the way to speech-making
and stated that the Commercial Club,
or johnson City either, had no use for
the croaker. The first speech on the
program was delivered by Rev. W. 81.
Osborne. Subject: Growth of Civic
Improvement. DR.. Osborn's talk was
short, to the point, yet replete with
good, sound suggestions necessary for
creating a desirable town in which to
live, one to impress and prove inviting
to strangers, and all in all, to create
City Beautiful. DR.. Osborn was loud
ly applauded.
Next on the program was Hon. A. h.
Johnson, who delivered forceful and
telling talk on The Needs of Our Pub
lie Schools; citing the fact that our
teacher are paid an average of only
$37.4S, stating that it was impossible
to procure intelligent and capable
teachers at any such remuneration.
The cry from our public schools is in
deed the crying need ofthe hour.
Our next speaker was Rev. s. B.
Vaught, who delivered an interesting
and telling address on the subject
Impressions of a Newcomer. Brother
Vaught hit the mud and in forceful
argument told Of it's disgrace. On,
splendid point he brought out, was the
necessity of centralizing our efforts
toward improvements-pave and i'm
prove the business center first, make il
attractive and inviting, and as thu
occasion demands and the city car
afford it, then branch out, but L
always let improvements grow from
the center. At conclusion he wal
roundlY applauded.
Next on the program was a very
optimistic and logical talk by Hon
S. G. Williams, president of Unakt
National Bank on "What is the Bust
ness Outlook" Mr.. Williams pro
duced quite an elaboration of facts ant
figures to sustain his argument as tt
cause and condition Of the recent finan
cial furry. The principal reasons be
ing the large amount of capital Dor
rowed and expended by the railroads
in construction work, the issuance o
short-time notes with high interes
rates, and the bank failure and excite
ment among New York banks and jus
at the time of cotton movements, bu
with the vast resources of our country
the wonderful production of crops an(
the vast output of gold, there need b.
no unnecessary alarm as the countr.
is too rich and productive for serious
financial crisis. Mr.. Williams wa
heartily applauded for his optimisti
views and assurances which had th
true ring of the true American citi
zen.
Mr.. Jas. A. Summers next intro
duced DR.. G. E. Fisher, Chief Surgeon
for Macarthur Bros. Company, VIII
made a very interesting talk on hos
pitfalls and the necessity of hospita
for johnson City, and agreeing that
Johnson City wanted hospital thu
he would be glad to cooperate wit
the citizens and would further agree I
expend personally in the enterprise q
least $3.50 and if necessary $500 70
every dollar the citizens would invest
up to certain limit. That he did no
propose to purchase any old buildings
wanted no white elephant to handle
but wanted to erect a small, neal
gem. like building, with Is or 20 rooms
thoroughly modern in its construction
about two stories high, with broa
verandas, and as inviting and attraC
tive as could be made. To have som
elegantly furnished rooms for wealth
patients, small, moderate price rooms
and charity ward. That the differ
emit lodges, churches and societie
might furnish rooms of their OWL
That the hospital be thrown open
the uae of all local doctors and es]