Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-28
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
Chamber of Commerce Enter
tains at Banquet.
THREE HUNDRED GUESTS
Retrocession of Alexandria County
to District Discussed.
SPEAKERS OPPOSE PROJECT
Senators Bailey, Money and Martin
Among the Orators-General
and Personal News.
SPEAKERS OPPOSE PROJECT
CORRESPONDENCE of The Star.

ana feTSOndl News.
! Special Correspondence of The Star
| ALEXANDRIA, Va. January IS, 1910.
There was a flow of oratory last even
| ing at the second annual banquet given
| by the chamber of commerce at Armory
Hall. While there were set addresses,
| all of the speakers save one touched on
the question of retrocession, and the
| idea of restoring Alexandria to the Dis
| trict was vigorously opposed by the
| speakers Several made facetious re-
marks on the proposition. Among these
| was Senator Bailey, who said If Wash
ington could not get along without Alex
andria it would be we'll for Alexandria
to annex Washington.
Those who made addresses were Sem
ator J. w. Bailey, Texas; Senator H. D.
Money, Mississippi; Senator Thomas S.
Martin, Virginia; Representative c. c.
Carlin, Virginia; w. T. Dabney, business
manager of the Richmond Chamber of
| Commerce, and Fl. l.. West former Com
| missioner of the District of Columbia.
| Rt. Rev. Arthur S. Lloyd pronounced
| A. blessing over the feast, and the as
| sembage was called to order by ]. T.
Johnson. president of the chamber of
| commerce, who served as POSTMASTER.
| Tributes to Virginia's statesmen were
paid by Senator Bailey, who mentioned
Washington. Mason and Lee. With the
| homes of such men surrounding the city,
| he declared. Alexandria is one of the
most historic spots in the world.
Senate Will Be Unanimous.
| The speaker next took up the question
of retrocession. Should this measure pass
the House, he said. Senator Martin would
have all the members of the Senate work.
| ing for him against its passage.
| Martini he said, talks less and works
| more than any man / ever saw. No man
| has done his duty well unless he also
| performs his duty as citizen, said the
speaker. He declared there is vastly more
unrest in this country than his auditors
| ever dreamed of. and there is consequent
| ly more socialism. With socialists and
| demagogueS running the country, he
| said. it would make but little difference
| how much the people would build up for
| the future. He declared that the best
men were none too good for their coun-
| try, and that with demagOgues running
| affairs all would come to naught. Con-
tinuing, he said:
THE great contest is between monop-
| oily and socialism. Between these they
grind all to dust" BY abstaining from
politics Senator Bailey said, the citizens
| were contributing to such conditions. He
| said it was not beneath the dignity of
| any man TO give the people a government
| such as they desire, and he entreated
them. not to forget their duty, and to
| see that fit men administer the affairs of
| the government.
Opposes State Wide Prohibition.
Senator Martin disapproved OF state
wide prohibition, he said. He declared
that there was no danger of annexation,
and added that a little scare regarding
it comes along about every three years
He upheld the views of the late Senator
Hoar on the question, asserting he was
one of the greatest men he ever met in
public life In conclusion, he praised
Representative Carlin fit man for
The otlce he holds, and paid tribute
to the old towns rapid commercial
growth
Senator Money regretted his inability
to make business speech. He said he
once believed a state could secede when |
1t desired, but he was now opposed to |
secession. He said he would always be |
willing to do what he could for Virginia, |
and assured his hearers he would re- |
spond to their call "Virginia's history" |
he said, is a heritage of all of the |
states lying south Of you. Your proud |
patriotism has made them good citizens.
You can say your state has always met |
it's responsibilities and never been found |
lacking.
Representative Carlin's Views.
Representative Carlin, after congrat-
ulating the chamber of commerce on the
good work accomplished during the few
years of It's existence, gave vent to his
feelings on retroceSsion Md. Hannis
Taylor, he said, has recently secured
considerable prominence out of an opin-
ion of his on this subject. He declared
the most remarkable thing about that
opinion is that Mr.. Taylor says the Su-
preme Court has jurisdiction. because
there is boundary dispute. The main
stake at issue, Mr.. Carlin declared. was
the validity of the act. He explained
that the people of Alexandra need have
no fear of becoming identified with Wash
ington. Within the next few weeks he
said. the river and harbor bill would
be reported, and 1t will carry with 1t
an appropriation of $4,000 for the har-
Dor here.
Mr. Carlin touched on the controversy
over the placing of the statues of Wash
ington and Lee in the United States Cap
itOl Virginia, he said, has a right to
place there any whom she desires to
honor, and he concluded by saying the
Virginia delegation would see that the
statues remain in the Capitol.
A business speech was made by w. T.
Dabney. Mr.. Dabney, who is business
manager of the Richmond Chamber Of
Commerce, told of the good work being
accomplished by similar organizations
throughout the state. He told those pres
ent that nothing could be accomplished
without cooperation. and said the whole
people should be taken into their conf
dence The speaker urged the retail mer-
chants to become identified with the local
organization. He suggested that all pull
together, and deserted the man who
talked down Alexandria"
Believes Measure Has No Show.
The last speaker of the evening was
former District Commissioner III. L. West
That Mr.. West doesn't seriously consider
the retrocession movement was evidenced
when he facetiously remarked that he
wanted to congratulate Mr. Carlin on the
energy and emphasis he displays to kill a
bill which never had chance of being
enacted. He outlined the close utilization
between this city and Washington, and
hoped the whole section of the country
between the two cities would rapidly
build up and develop. Washington he
said, would give it's support and SYM
pathy to the movement.
The banquet was one of the most elab-
crate ever given here. About three hundred
guests were in attendance, including most
of the business men of Alexandria. Dur
ing the evening an elaborate menu was
served. The hall looked at it's best. The
ceiling and four sides were adorned with