The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-02-02
ANNUAL BANQUET
SETS new RECORD
FARGO BUILDERS & TRADERS
EXCHANGE ENJOYS THE BEST
SPREAD IN ORGANIZATIONS
HIsToRY--MANY ouT-oF.TowN
ouEsTs-LocAL MEN TALK.

Fargo has gained the reputation OF
being ~the biggest little city on
earth" It's prosperity along every line
has for years made steady and con-
tinuoaas advance-in many ways a re-
markable advance. In finances, as q
distributing center, in the almost SEN
sational amount of building done each
year the city has gained a reputation
throughout the northwest which
makes Fargo stand out prominently
amongst the many hustling cities OF
this section OF the country
Every one who comes to Fargo has
good word for this city. '"This is
certainly q live town" is a common
comment from visitors.
To put 1t tritely and in the phase
Of the street-there is q reason.
This reason was very plain to those
who attended the annual banquet OF
the Fargo Builders exchange last
evening. and who are familiar with the
organization as it is now, and as II
was when IL was first organized.
A city Is a ''live" or a dead one"
IN accordance with the kind of business
men who go to make up its active or
ganization. It would have been q
hard matter to have picked out any
dead ones" at the gathering which
met In Prizes hall last night.
In fact, the attendance was made
up OF thoroughly representative body
OF North Dakota austlers, for there
were many out Of town guests pres
eK1t. There were men from Minot
Grand Forks, Valley City, Jamestown
Bismarck, Devils Lake and several
other cities and towns of the state
There were also quite number OF
invited guests from Fargo, and the
guests Of the evening were certainly
royalty entertained.
Welcomed by z. {. Cole.
In the absence OF Mayor Elliott
who could not be present, Aid. Ed e
Cole did the honors for the city and
he extended the "glad hand" in his
characteristic, whole hearted uncon.
ventional manner. He was introduced
by George III. Phelps, the toastmastea
of the evening, who had particularly
appropriate Introduction for ever5
member on the programme.
All OF the speaking Of the evening
was especially unconventional ant
there were q good many winged
shafts at one or another OF the com.
pany present, or at the builders ant
traders exchange themselves.
Mr.. Cole said that he was proud o.
ths builders and traders gathered II
the room, proud OF their slick appear,
ance and their air Of prosperity. HI
said that he was glad to say that h,
had helped to put some of the slick
on some Of them. He had been put
ting II on all summer and becaus,
they didn't get his building done IL
time he had been kicking some of
of this winter.
He made an earnest plea 70
the builders to stand together a
boosters and decried all attempts a
tearing down In the community. TIL
builders should be builders" in ever
sense of that word.
w. o. Sweet Talks.
In introducing w. ID. Sweet, Mi
Phelps quoted from Goldsmith:
And stiIl the wonder grew
That one small head could carry a.
ne knew"
Mr.. Sweet was down on the pro
Kramme to talk on Good Fellowshi
Among Contractors. He 6alked abou
everything else. He stated that n
had attended the banquet Of the Build
ers and Traders last year and that TIL
year he believd that he noticed NOR
prosperity than he had seen the yea
before He believed that as Mr.. Col
has said they looked to be slicke
were better dressed and he believe
that he caught the CLINT of more dia
xTonnda than he did a wear ago
He paid q compliment to moder
contractors, comparing the kee
business men OF today as represente