Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-03-26

A business mems banquet was held
last evening at the Hotel Idaho and
1t was a most pleasant affair, exceed
ing even the most sanguine expecta-
lions of the committee. consisting Of
Judge Edwin McBee, f. L. Tiffany
and F. w. Reed, who had the affair
in charge. Covers were laid for
about 1875 people, and there were
present, besides the local business
men, a number OF distinguished Wis
itors from neighboring towns and
the city of Spokane. The committee
had labored hard to make the event
a successful one, and they succeeded,
as it was one OF the most elaborate
affairs of its kind ever held in the
city. Prior to the banquet an infor-
NAL reception was held in the lobby
of the hotel and at eight o'clock the
dining room doors were thrown open
and those present sat down. to the
banquet. which was elaborate and
very tempting in the many courses
served under the excellent arrange
ments of Manager Moore.
Judge Edwin McBee acted as toast
master and in few preliminary re-
marks told the purpose of the meet
ing. He stated that at meeting of
the delegates of the various CONNER
cial clubs at Lwiston several weeks
ago an organization known as the
North Idaho League of Commercial
clubs had been formed, and that the
banquet had been arranged for the
purpose of making the officers of the
various commercial clubs in the
north acquainted with the objects
and purposes of the organization,
also the members of the clubs, and
the citizens and business men in gen.
eral. He then called upon J. L. Nc
Clear, president of the Occur d'Alene
Commercial club for an address.
Extends Welcome to Visitors.
Mr.. McClear commenced his ad-
dress by extending a welcome to Jo-
seph M. Heating, of Lewiston, presi-
dent of the North Idaho League of
Commercial clubs, and the other Wis
local club. He then dwSlt upon the
purposes of the organization, told of
its recent organization in Lewiston.
He stated that it was composed OF
the Commercial clubs of six counties
in the state, and that it included the
city of Spokane. He then spoke OF
the value of publicity, and stated
that a great work had been accom-
plished in this direction by the re-
cent apple show held in Spokane, and
that the wonderful resources of the
Inland Empire were in need of much
more of this kind of publicity in the
east He then spoke of the value OF
a commercial club to the city and the
community at large, and of the work
accomplished by the local club. He
stated that 1t was through its efforts
that the Occur d'Alene College is 10
Gated in the city, and that to 1t II
due most of the credit for the worl
done in removing the county seat t.
this city from Rathdrum. He sale
that there were a number of enter
prises that could be brought to thu
city II the club would conduct a pub
licity campaign and make known thu
wonderful resources of the Coeul
d'Alene country. and advocated tina
everybody rally to the support of tn
club and unite In a campaign o
boosting and publicity.
Tells of Irrigation Congress.
Arthur Hooker, secretary of tn,
Irrigation congress committee o
Spokane. was the next speaker. Mr.
Hooker extended an invitation to tn
people Of Occur d'Alene to atten,
the irrigation congress which vii
convene in Spokane In August H
stated that he was greatly impresse
with the wonderful resources Of tn
Occur d'Alene country, and sal
that II its citizens and business me
would attend the irrigation congress
and make themselves known to tn
eastern visitors and the delegates al
tending the congress 1t would b
their own fault II they failed to In
terest capital to invest. He the
stated that the irrigation eongres
was a national organization-that
had q vice president in each stat,
and that il was prevailed upon I
hold its convention at spokan