The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-11-28

Kenosha business men were hit be-
tween the eyes and below the belt on
Wednesday evening when the Hon. M.
K. Reilly of Fond du Lac, recently
elected to represent the sixth Wiscon-
sin District in congress, was the guest
of honor and the principal speaker at
the first annual banquet of the Keno
sha Retailers Association held at Ho-
tel Kenosha.
Mr.. Reilly spoke on the subject,
"The Slavery of Business" aud had
he made critical study of Kenosha
and it's business life it would have
been hard for him to have made more
pertinent criticism on the men Of the
city directing the big commercial in
stitutions. Mr.. Reilly brought no mes
business man, he said nothing of their
contest with the mail order houses and
bearing the brunt Of the high cost of
living. He went deeper into the sys-
tenn than any of these things and spoke
especially of the sacrifice that the bust
ness men of today were making in their
chase for the almighty dollar. He dc
clared that the American business men
had become money mad and that in
order to avoid financial bankruptcy
and reach financial opulency they had
shown a willingness to accept moral
bankruptcy and physical failure.
He criticised the business man for
his lack of interest in the affairs Of
his neighbor and brought out the fact
that the business men in their rush to
become wealthy were neglecting the
most important functions of the city
the state and the nation. He declared
that their lack of interest III political
affairs was for great part to blame
for conditions existing in the cities of
the country and asserted that with
united action on the part of the bust
ness men every city in the nation could
be cleaned up and every city made a
model city. He characterized the
business man Of today as a moral
coward unwilling to take decided
stand on any great question ON account
of his fear that his stand might result
in financial loss. He had much to say
Of the rich man and the rich man s
son and he declared that the heaviest
handicap on the business world today
was the rich man s son. He classed
the rich man who failed to force their
sons to learn the lesson Of manly toll
as one Of the real menaces to com
munity. Congressman-elect Reilly was
vigorous in his treatment Of his SUI
ject and he struck straight from the
shoulder. Several times duri1g ks
talk he was interrupted by prolonged
applause.
It was talk along new lines entire
ly devoid of the sugar coat and it IS
calculated to do lot of good in
awakening the business men of Keno
sha to their real place in the advance
ment of the affairs of the body polite.
The address by Congressman-eIect
Reilly was the feature of one of the
most successful gatherings Of business
men ever held in Kenosha. Covers
were laid for seventy at the banquet
and the response from the members
of the association was so cordial that
it became necessary to put in two extra
tables to take care of all those ~ esent.
Following the serving of the five course
dinner Fred Perkins acted as toast
master. Following the address by Mr..
Reilly Secretary M. Slattery of the
State Retailers Association spoke on
the work of the organization and gave
the business men some important facts
in regard to the work being now
throughout the state. At the conclu-
sion of the meeting the business men
and especially those of the down town
district held an informal discussion
of the question of decorative lighting.
The chairman of the special lighting
committee spoke on the plan which
had been suggested to the council and
it met with instant approval from the
men present.
Full details of the plan will be Civ
en- to the public later. The business
men will take up the matter at once
and it is probable that petition
will be sent to the common council
asking that these lights be installed
in the down town district along the