The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-02-16

Former Congressman Littlefield of Maine did not come to time at the banquet of the Manufacturers associ- ation at the Stratfield last evening but for all of that there was pleasant and instructive session of speech, mirth and song. The affair was run from two ends President E. P. Bullard very gracefully attending to the ser ious duty of introducing the speakers while George M. Flames in charge of the vaudeville show mounted the plat form bowed his prettiest and introduce ed the artists in low voice, (there were two clergymen present) but with a knowing little wink in his eye.
 When Interlocutor Eames presented Miss Elsie Boehm who has a wonder full baritone voice half of those who know Georges love of jest suspected he was spoofing and that he was palming off we'll known male gent in disguise. It was not until the Mis- souri test was resorted to that the doubting Thonlases condescended to accept Georges statement at face value. Miss Boehm has a voice of rare sweetness yet it is thoroughly maseu- line. She sang exceedingly we'll and was encored several times. A Inagni- fcent bouquet of American beauties
 
 quist and Will Lester also of Poli bill obliged and the president of the asso- citation publicly expressed the thanks of the organization to Manager Lew Garyey who arranged whereby the en- tertainment was provided.
 President Bullard introduced May or Buckingham, who spoke briefly touching upon the importance of Bridgeport as city of varied indus tries and telling how her fame as such had spread over the globe thanks to the activities of the gentle men comprising the association of To- cal manufacturers.
 Rev. John Wesley Hill, pastor of the Metropolitan Temple, of New York, which pervaded his remarks upon the subject of Our Need of Merchant Marine One was his frenzy of eulogy for President Taft. and the other his yearning for ship sub- sidy.
 His tribute to Taft was of such aa a quality of eloquenee as to leave it somewhat in doubt what the learned pastor can possibly have left to say that will keep the management of the universe in the traditional hands.
 He referred to the President as "a man with frietionless brain and steady eye". who 'carries an open face and
 
 reaches out "along the great lines of exalted statesmanship.' Also as one who does not consort with petty poli- ticians.' He was also described as s'this man with clear eye and steel nerve''. gentle as he is strong. and .'serious as he is nirthful. this man ot smiles and tears, of humor and hon. esty of gentleness and justice" | Rev. Mr. Hill is not so sure that | the spirit of the Prince of Peace has brought the nation to the end of war l He expressed very vigorously the i idea that Japan is likely to starr l something soon. He said:
 Look att it from another standpoint | We have more battleshirs today than we are able to furnish with crews. and 1 therefore, than we are able to com mand. We are spending millions up. on war vessels which in case of wal must be kept at anchor or sunk ol surrendered to the enemy: vessels | without coa1ers, without transports 1 without hospital boats, without any auxiliary service. Let us not deceive ourselves. If we were to engage in 2 1 struggle with Japan today, and un' derstand, I do not favor war,-she could put a half million men in the | Philippines and a hundred thousand men in Hawaii before we could get l ten thousand men ready to start from l any point on the Pacific. Why, we could not even in time of peace talk l ing no account of the enemy relying