Los Angeles herald., 1910-06-18

With approximately 2100 persons
present, representing every state in
the union, Canada and Alaska, the first
annual banquet of the Federation OF
State Societies was held in Hambur-
gers cafe, Eighth and Broadway, last
night.
AS expressed by the toastmaster, the
Rev. Baker P. Lee, it was the largest
banquet ever held in the world, and
the fact it was conducted without any
miscalculation was another tribute to
the Los Angeles method of carrying
out affairs.
Three hundred mattresses were en-
ployed to cater to the throng and fifty
| delegates from the Native Sons and
Daughters association volunteered
their services as ushers.
The mammoth dining hall was beau
tifully decorated, wreaths of cedar
pine, interspersed with small electric
lights, being festooned from the chan
deliers. The decorations were such as
to remind one of a mimic fairy wood
land, and were a striking testimonial
to the activity of the associate mem
bers, who sought to show their appre-
citation of the fact that the various So
cietieS had come together and that the
reunion would be an annual affair.
The floor managers of the Hambur-
ger store volunteered their services,
and, dressed in immaculate white fan
mel suits, directed the vast throng to
the place of assembly and won the
praise of all by their courteous treat
ment of strangers and others, who
journeyed to Los Angeles to attend
the first annual banquet of the Fedora
tion of State Societies.
CHEER STATE SONGS
DO ~, I,n
banquet hail. and at the head of each
table was the insignia and banner of
each state of the Union.
When the orchestra of the First Con-
gregational church started the first
number of the program the banqueters
arose and cheered wildly. State after
state was remembered by the orchestra
and snatches of songs appropriate to
the various societies were played and
greeted with bursts of enthusiasm.
The real enthusiasm broke loose when
the members of the Massachusetts So
ciety entered the banquet hall. Thirty
five of the members were dressed in
Colonial style, the women with pow
dered hair. the men in knee trousers
and wearing white wigs.
Miss Pearl Davis of Sherman, dressed
to represent the Goddess of Liberty,
led the members and to the accom-
paniment of a Colonial fife and drum
corps the 150 members from the Bay
State marched into the banquet room
and took seats opposite the Pennsylva-
mia delegation.
The banquet marked the anniversary
of the battle of Bunker Hill and the
death of General Warren. The stirring
sound of the flies and drums aroused
the entire gathering as the Massachu-
setts delegation marched in, and they
received n real ovation,
Although the other societies played a
prominent part, 1t was really a Massa-
chusetts night, and the members Of the
Bay State association made it known in
no uncertain terms that it was at the
battle of Lexington and Concord the
shot was fired (which was. heard
around the world" and proclaimed the
independence of the American colonists.
A spirit of good nature pervaded the
atmosphere, and every person present
regarded the affair as a happy family
reunion.
The invocation given by the Rev.
Charles E. Locke was brief but pointed,
and he took occasion to say he hoped
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