The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-12-18
! PURITAN DINNER
IS BRILLIANT
FUNCTION
LARGE ATTENDANCE AT NEW
ENGLAND sooIErrs ANNUAL
GATHERING . RAY STANDARD
BAKER URGES REPORT SPIRIT.

Inc most brilliant junction ever
given by the New England Society OF
Detroit was the annual dinner Thurs
day evening. In the Wayne hotel About
& $50 persons were present and the sur
roundings and decorations were such
as to indicate the origin OF those pres
ent In the rugged pioneer states OF
the northeast. Representations OF
Plymouth Rock, the Cape Cod light
house and OF the good ship Mayfiower
were the principal reminders OF the
early history of the Yankee race.
I Ray Stannard Baker. OF East Lans-
Ing. known as a magazine writer; SAM
uel j. Elder. OF Boston, and Hon. II. r..
switzerland, speaker Of the Canadian
house Of commons. responded TO tho
principal toasts. The first took up
bthe modern need for the reform spirit
fof the Puritans, the second described
the early life in New England. while
Ethe last-named talked OF the relations
lbetween the motheriand. Great Britain.
land the newer countries brought into
kheiug by her eolenirts.
J After speaking Of tie strenuous ex-
kperiences of his own Vermont ances-
ttors In colonial times, Ray Starcsrd
Baker said:
I I'VE have come far from those rude
land bloody times. The nation which
Jour ancestors fought to establish has
become rich and powerful and very
tproud. What have we done, or are
I'VE doing. to keep II free and demo
lcratic? There never was q time In
Jour history when the country 30 much
needed the heroic type; the man with
fxx hn ~
Iserve; the man willing TO lay down
Ihis life for principle. In Its essence
lfhe same fight Is now going on that
b,aged In old New England"
( The speaker sketched the rapid
lgrowth OF the country and the race
flor wealth which caused men to grow
Ecareless as to methods or means OF
accomplishing their ends, even to the
fextreme OF criminals being put In Office
10 protect the law-breaking rich. Men
tOf intelligence and conscience have
.tsprung up In syarious parts Of the
lcountry TO wipe out these iniquities.
Me said. particularly In Chicago. Mis-
|nouri and Wisconsin. The history OF
election REFORM was sketched. briefly.
and the eventful victory OF the pri-
mary reform principle. as well as the
initiative, referendum and recall pro-
lphesied.
Michigan has been dragging behind.
fhe said, and instanced the way In
which political ofices have multiplied.
while men holding their positions by
political influence now weld potent
influence over most lines OF private
business through state departments.
/ But II reform laws are to be pass
/ od--And they can be passed-some few
citizens have got to get down and
do q little unselflsh work" declared
mr.. Baker.
Samuel J. Elders talk was justin-
cation OF the Pilgrims and Puritans
las being less harsh and unloving than
have been pictured. Their work In
Iconverting the Indians was recalled
land their long sermons and rigorous
Irslistous practices justified by the
needs OF the times.
They were stern and rigorous men.
lbut they gave us religious liberty"
The said. They gave US the town
injecting and the public school, and
Ithey cave US the New England con-
Iecience.'
Hon. r. r. Sutherland discussed the
icommon history Of the United States
lznd Canada and pointed proudly u
Tho growth Of the English language.
He drew striking comparison be-
|t2een the methods Of the legislatures
an the two countries, particularly the
|power1 Of the speakers. the English
land Canadian speakers being elected
Ito act tmpartially, while the speaker
Bof congress dominates all legislation.
The newly elected officers Of the
Inociefy are: President, Il. w. Pendle-
hon; vice president John H. Bissell:
tCharles A. Warren: directors, Charles
Moore. Gen. Charles A. Coolidge. DR..
I Walter p. Manton and Henry NJ. La
land.