The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-08-29
HELD A BARBECUE
ReIOit Business Mems Club
Feeds Many Thousand.
Every Business House Closed
First Time in History.

Beloit, Aug. 2S.-For the first time in
the history of Beloit every store, the
court house. banks, mills and every pro-
fessional office was closed. Even the
famous Avenue hotel gave their en-
pIoyees a holiday and didn't furnish
dinner. All of this was on account of
the Beloit Business Mems club picnic,
organized about two years ago, which
has at all times taken an active inter
est in every enterprise tending to pro-
mote the best interests OF the Gem city
of the Solomon valley. The officers of
the club are: President, B. F. Brack-
en-; vice president, F. w. Knapp; sec
rotary and treasurer Ira Tice. The
club now numbers more than 100 mem
bers, the membership being composed
of the representative merchants and
business and professional citizens of
Beloit. And the club set Aug. q as the
date for a free barbecue, nor was the
invitation extended to Beloit and
Mitchell county people exclusively, for
people were present from the neigh
boring counties of Jewell, Cloud, OF
tawa, Osborne and Smith. and they
were treated the same as those of the
home county of Mitchell.
Before 10 o'clock the streets of Be-
lott were crowded with vehicles and
people. The people came to town to
witness the parade of automobiles and
partake of the barbecue dinner. In the
parade were SUI rnacnlneS- Inc
Downs band led the way from town
70 the park, followed by the business
mems float, upon which there were
several quarters of beef suspended,
then followed over 200 business men
and clerks with aprons and paper hats
who We're to dish out the dinner. then
a company of boy scouts and then the
automobiles.
At high noon the mass of the peo-
pie had assembled at the park and
after few selections by the band,
b F. Bracken, president of the Beloit
business Mems club, welcomed the
guests. He said: For and in the
name of the Beloit Business Mems
club 1 bring you cordial greeting to-
cay. Prompted by no Interior mo-
club definitely authorized the ap
pcintment of a general committee
which should formulate plans, arrange
ard carry out details for free bar
becue and all-day entertainment.
From the inception of this movement
IN the prosecution of these plans our
committee has been stimulated by the
{ Encouragement and active co-opera-
ton of the entire business, profession
al and trades community of Beloit, |
concentrating today in the closing of
every business house, every office, |
every shop, every factory, our mill, |
first time in the history of the city. |
Our lawyers have forsaken their
clients, our doctors have filed away
their pill chests. our mechanics have
laid down their tools, our banks have
locked up their cash, our merchants
have forgotten for the time their
scales and measuring sticks, and all
arc here today to extend to you, our i
invited guests, most hearty welcome,
nd TO mingle with you in the enjoy 4
ment of the day. And we trust this
uay may cement, accentuate and en-
rhasize close bond of union and fell !
oh u oct oil Il
sicns have been provided for your
entertainment and amusement. A /
great feast has been prepared for your |
enjoyment and refreshment. We pro-
pose to give you all you want to eat
and all you ought to drink. Use this
park and all it contains as your very
own and as the measure of your en-
joyment, so shall ours be, with your
cooperation we shall endeavor to
make this day memorable among all
the good days of Mitchell county Our
men, 200 strong, are now waiting to |
serve you, and by giving heed to the |
voice of our chief barker
and his assistants your hunger may
soon be dissolved"
The crowd present was variously es-
timated at from 10000 to 1900. The
Z. 500 pounds of meat, IA bushels of
baked beans, 5000 loaves of bread, l.
900 gallons of coffee, 300 pounds of
creamery butter, and about 100 gallons
OF cream. Everything in the park was
free and every concession was turned
down by the club.
Careful estimates put the number of
autos in Beloit today at not less than
300, although not all of them were in
the parade.
While Beloit entertained today one
Of the largest crowds in her history,
only one man was heard to make a
kick, and he thought the Beloit Bust
ness Mems club wouldn't have enough I
TO feed them There was plenty for
all and then some.
During the afternoon there was