The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-15
About $50 Gather About the
Festive BOard-Ladies
Also Dine
HARRY JONES ACTS
AS TOASTMASTER
James Weatherly, W. II. Matthews, }
r. Gamble, "Billy" Pollard, Harry
Ousley and J. ID. Moore
Among the Speakers
nv RALPH n. SILVER

Wit, good fellowship ana lhe spirit vi
co-operation and optimism for the future
of Birmingham and Alabama were the
predominating features of the banquet
speeches at the Hotel Hillman last night
when the delegates and friends of the
Alabama Retail Hardware Dealers asso-
citation were the guests of the Birming-
ham jobbers and retail hardware men
There were fully $50 present.
While the big banquet was being con-
Quoted In the great banquet room of the
hotel on the second floor, the ladies
auxiliary" of the association TO the num-
ber of about 80 enjoyed a private banquet
in one of the adjoining private dining
rooms
Harry Jones was there in the ca
pacity of toastmaster. He told
some stories. w. II. Matthews of
Camden, president of the association,
City Commissioner James Weatherly, j.
r. Gamble of Wetumpka, Billy Pollard
of Nashville, Harry ousley OIL ST. Louis
and J. ID. Moore, "the dean of the hard
ware trade in Alabama" were the speak
ers of the evening. Toastmaster Harry
himself admitted that with the single ex-
ception of Mr. Weatherly, not man
who spoke had been notified in advance
that he would be called upon.
Witty as Well as Serious
Every one of the speeches sparkled
with that spontaneity which comes only
from cxtemporaneous speaking. With
one or two exceptions every one of the
speakers were old and seasoned travelling
men, and while they said many earnest
md SandWicnpd
with only such wit and humor as is al
ways a part of the travelling salesman.
Toastmaster Jones made a few prelimin-
airy remarks welcoming the delegates to
Birmingham and wishing them good cheer
and prosperity and introduced President
Matthews who for the association thanked
the Birmingham iobbers and retail men
for their entertainment and especially for
the sumptuous banquet.
Mr.. Jones introduced Mr.. Weatherly as
man who everybody either knew or
knew about and when Mr.. Weatherly
arose he promptly stated that he would
be much obliged II those present would
state what some of the things were they
knew about him.
Weatherly's talk was on Optimism and
Cooperation" He pleaded for all dis
tricts of Alabama to join in spirit OF
pride in Birmingham "There Is no place
in the world that has greater destiny
than this state" he exclaimed. And
there is no class of men who are goine
to have more to do with the destiny OF
Alabama than you hardware men. We
have as much education, as much talent
as much natural resources, much
wealth much energy in Alabama as
there is in any $1,000 square miles in tile
world And it is through our optimism
snd cooperation that we are going tc
develop it aud bring it to the notice OF
the entire world. Birmingham Is a grea
glad to have you here to show you wha
we are and what we are doing. w,
want your sympathy and cooperation anC
pride. Birmingham las great destiny
in the years TO come; but her greatest
destiny lies in her value to the entire
state of Alabama
Mr.. Gamble stated Ills father had moved
to Jones valley in 1913 among the firs,
settlers in this country ana that he had
often heard him tell that the first man
that he had met here was Harry Jones
\ ut Is remarkable the work the Alabama
'1Iardware association has done in the
2jx years since its organ nza ton" he said
mo one knows perhaps as do the hard
ware travelling men who are here to-
night, of the change which mas come
about in the hardware stores of the state
through the work of this association. We
have had hard struggle but we are
growing and improving the association
when we Will bring to Birmingham a
convention of the most prosperous, best
educated, and largest hardware associa q.
tion in America"
Boosts Nashville
Mr.. Pollard seconded everything that
had been said about Birmingham. but his
pride in Nashville could not be 'downed"
and he said lit all went double" for his
home city. There are but about two
hardware conventions that ] attend any
more he said ''and those are the ones
IN Tennessee and Alabama. ] know what
q noble work the association is doing in
this state for | have seen 1t with my
own eyes
Mr.. Ousley was received with a storm
of applause when he stated he never felt
ashamed of his own city until he came
to Birmingham. when ] get in this
town, can't help but thing hat St Louis
must be a fly speck on the map he de-
clared. And Birmingham is typical of
Alabama. This state is fast forging to
the front and there is no one who Is
doing 1t more than you hardware men,
Mr.. Moore was the last speaker. He
declared this was age Of speed and
progress. He told how in the memory of
men still living and well. hunters had
shot wild game on the site of where the