The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-02
HAPPY BANQUET IS TENDERED THE KNIGHTS OF GRIP Big Crowd Guests of Cham Der of Commerce
 Last Night HAIRY JONES FINE
 AS POSTMASTER Speakers Tell Why They Love Bir- mingham and How They Always Say a Good Word for
 Magic City,

 mingham: tell you mercantile frlends that Birmingham is the best Jooolna market in Birmingham: supply the travelling men with good things to sell and they will sell them: trade In BIT mingham and altogether for the gen eraI uplift, were among the wholesome sentiments given circulation last hlgh' at the banquet rendered the travelling salesmen of this city by the Chamber of Commerce. The affair was one of the most successful and one of the most valuable, it is believed, that has been arranged for Birmingham !n months. It was designed to get the travelling men even more interested than ever in Birmingham so that in the end the greatness of Birmingham will be testified to strongly by the men who go forth and sell the things that are made here.
 Harry Jones presided. lie gave vent to many witticisms at the expense of those designated to speak and created many laughs for the assembled ''Knights of the Grip MT. Jones. or Harry" presided in the most grace ful fashion, enhancing his past repu- tation as a ceremonial master
 MT. Jones said at the beginning that he was somewhat surprised that he should have been selected to be toast master unless for one reason. That being that from a point of service-not age-he was the oldest travelling man in Birmin gham.
 He introduced the speakers, the first of whom was R. W. Massey, president of the Chamber of Commerce He ex- tended the glad hand, and then said:
 MT. Massey Speaks
 ''Mr. Postmaster and Commercial Travellers of Birmingham-It is the pleasure of the Chamber of Commerce to entertain this evening as fine body of men as we have here in Birmingham and it is especially pleasing to me to be assigned on the programme, the privilege of extending to you gentle men the glad hand
 ''Birmingham's prosperity means the prosperity of each one of it's citizens You gentlemen, the commercial trav- elers of this district. can be of ncal- culable benefit in the upbuilding of this community, if you but put forth the systematic effort necessary. I am sute that each oneio of you have the interests of the city at heart.
 Let us capitalize the enthusiasm of you gentlemen, and believe me, when 
 asset that Birmingham could possibly have. If each of you will constitute a committee of one as the advance agent of Birmingham's prosperity Birming- ham will thrive as never before in her history.
 'I want you to see what the Bir- mingham Chamber of Commerce is dO- ing-in other words. get acquainted and with that object in view l am going to extend to each of you a eordiai invitation to make the Chamber or Commerce your headquarters for the next two or three months whenever you are In the city. Come up and use freely our reading room-use the d. rectors room for your meeting pur- poses, get in touch with the spirit Of that live organization and I am sure that the result will be of mutual ben eft
 "Gentlemen, it is great pleasure to me to be with you this evening, and while have never been a Knight of the Grip yet I have a high appre. citation of the important part you play 2n the worlds commerce. I greet yon most cordially, and in the name of the Chamber of Commerce. I extend to you the glad hand.' "-
 "On the Road"
 Frank M. Means, a very popular tray cling man, was asked to reply to the toast, "On the Road.'' He did so in A. very entertaining but brief manner. He related some of the propositions that confront the "drummers" and said that they were always on the alert to help Birmingham.
 J. D. Ramsay, of the American Baker, les Candy company, makers of "Merita. |" was asked to toast the travelling men. MT. Ramsey. in few happy remarks, said they were the bone and sinew of said they were tn ebone and sinew of the town and gave his testimony that the travelling men can make or unmalxe any city. He advocated a get-together spirit and was greeted with great &C., claim.
 Postmaster Jones put one over" on the next speaker, who was A. Jax Da- wis, widely known traveller MT. Davis arose and said that Frank Means pre- cedlng speaker, asked him-Davis-yes terday afternoon, what he was to say. MT. Davis, to be kind, gave his speech over to Brother Means to read He al- legged that MT. Means delivered his Davis'-speech, but that MT. Means had Kindly conveyed his sentiments same be- ing that Birmingham was the place and one best bet.
 John w. Sibley, of the well known brick firm, made short reply to the toast Good Fellowship as an Asset, " telling of the notable traits of the trav- cling men and saying that they did the greatest service for any community, that of giving wide circulation to the good things that d community held forth
 Hughes B. Kennedy, military man of wide acquaintance, and a drummer known all over the state, was given this toast, f"The Girl Left Behind Me" Mir Kennedy lives in Woodlawn. He depre- cated the fact that some firms or per sons buy outside of Birmingham. He said that Birmingham was the best hard ware place, the best overall center and the best jobbng point, taken as a whole fin the south, and that everyone here should realize the fact. He was accorded tumultuous applause.
 Candy Kid Speaks
 Herman M. Beck, the Candy Kid, was next called. He looked the part He possessed large stick of candy wbich adorned his place, and was als, adorned with a striped candy necktie He felictated the assembled drummers MT. Beck said that he came to Birming ham when he did not have desk spac, to speak of and now has seven travelinl men in the adjoining states. He went or 10 say that Birmingham should get al the outside folks to trade here and tha the people here should trade at home He complimented the men present fo TAn lTHTn nl ln01cV