Evening journal., 1911-09-18
FOR
BUSINESS men
Bankers, Merchants and Rail
Magnates Guests Of the
National Biscuit Co.
MILLION DOLLAR
KANSAS CITY PLANT OPEN

KANSAS CITY. Sept 1s-Financiers
representing billions OF dollars of
wealth gathered here to dedicate
bakery. Presidents OF New York.
Chicago and Kansas City banks, heads
Of great railroad systems, capitalists
and bankers from all the larger cities
OF the middle West, 400 OF them all
told. sat down at an impressionistic
$4,000 iuncheon-the ceremonial with
which the National Biscuit Company
opened a new million dollar plant.
The new bakery, which has ten
ovens, was inspected and praised by
the visitors.
When the three special trains bear
ing the visitors arrived, a group with
statistical bent employed them
selves in figuring the amount OF capi-
tai represented by the twenty-eight
coach loads OF guests. They counted
over two billions OF wealth. and then
got headaches and abandoned the
task One Of the specials alone-the
first section-carried men represent
ing S735, 100000 Of the capital in
banks and railroads
Is Notable Gathering.
II was the most notable collection Of
millionaires and men Of financial
power Kansas City has ever seen, and
the most remarkable fact about II was
that they travelled hither simply to
celebrate the opening Of a bakery.
The $4,000 luncheon itself in the
great hall Of the factory was one of
the most remarkable events Of its sort
ever held I'm the middle West. The
guests were lifted 400 feet in the air,
so to speak. and were given all the
sensations of a midnight scene in a
roof garden on a metropolitan sky
scraper. Through subdued lights the
bandneters looked over a semi-circu-
lar balustrade and through a vista Of
roof tops and chimney pots to PAN
Drama beyond.
On one side was New York. with
the skyline of Gotham, the harbor,
and vessels plying the water, horns
blowing and smoke pouring from their
tunnels On the other side was
Kansas City. its bluffs. business
streets and residence sections repro
duced. smoke and flame issuing from
factory stacks. light aglow in every
window. railroad trains rushing to
and fro and sidewheelrs plying on the
Kaw
Hine and Green Talk.
The main speeches at the luncheon
were made by Francis l.. Hine, presl-
dent of the First National Bank of
New York. and A. W. Green, president
Of the National Biscuit Company.
In his address Mr.. Hine dwelt upon
corporation methods. He declared
that the average corporation Is JUS
as fair, honest and considerate as thu
average plumber.
"The average corporation is n
,~se.san the average busines
man." he said, while his listener
loudly applauded
Mr.. Green's remarks furnish q neH
answer 10 the old Shakespeareal
question, Whats I'm a nameg VI
declared that the trademarks OF tn
biscuit company form It's most valu
able. asset One trademark In par
ticular he valued at $6.000.000 oi
at the rate of s1,000,000 for every let
ter in the name. II was a striking
commentary on the value Of advertis
ing that he put the value Of tn
trademarks above the value OF capl
tai stock. buildings and plant
bulluinke may nuIh NoWhs hN oois
"A thousand things may happen
don't know but what we may be regu
lated some time-but trademarks an
trade names nobody can touch be
cause we created and own them
Definition of Optimism.
Mr.. Green likewise contributed
new definition Of optisism.
can ontimist." he said, lis ma
III
makes lemonade in the evening"
After the speechmaking the bal
ouet hall was darkened again and u
scenic artists put on a thunderstor
over the New York side Of q
panorama. and a cyclone on q
Kansas City side It was the fin
touch needed TO give an air OF realis
to the "roof garden" setting