The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-17
Sldelights Of Gadsden Banquet Tend
To Indicate Success of Celebration

the lamb and the goat Finally, he asScl.
who among us will be the goat?' The
little boy, now thoroughly aware that
he had not found The way to the circus
cried aloud--'I suppose / will be; [ GER
tainly am now" The popular young mays
or conveyed the idea that he would viii
lingly serve with his efforts in the role
of the goat inasnuch as the preceding
speakers had acquitted themselves so
handsomely.
This gave the POSTMASTER Colonel
Mitchell, an excellent opportunity.
You are far from being the goat"
he cried. But If you we're, you would
be thoroughbred angora, and a buck at
that"
Marsh's Fine Point
J. M. Marsh, industrial agent of the
Southern railroad, with Birmingham head
quarters, made brief and serious talk.
He spoke of the iron and the steel and the
coal of the Birmingham district as the
limited resources, which in course of
time would be exhausted. The unlimited
resources of the beautiful valley of the
Coosa. according 10 the speaker, were
the products of the soil He encoura Q ed
Gadsden to pay as much attention to
farming, diversified crop raising, as to
the digging of coal and the making of
steel.
Col. Samuel Blackwell of Decatur was
lofty in his praise of Gadsden. and in his
references to Alabama. He declared that
the prosperity of one community was tha
prosperity of all. He spoke as a native
Ala bamian, and one who loved his state
and every city and everybody in his state.
Mr.. Radcliffe, secretary of the Birming-
ham Chamber of Commerce, spoke of the
satisfaction that n resident of Birming-
ham experienced when on leaving a very
live town, he found himself In another live
one, in which the spirit was identica:
with that which he had left behind. He
praised the Gadsden Chamber of Com
merce for it's efforts and complimented
the members on their accomplishments.
Two Deep Studies
The addresses of Capt w. p. Lay and
Capt. ]. NJ Elliott were worthy contribu-
tions to the industrial history of the state.
The former reviewed the fight begun In
1923. for an open Coosa river. in which
he has played and Is still playing most
important part The latter illustrated
his remarks by means of an improvised
map, which showed Gadsden, the river
and surrounding territory, and which con-
tanned photographs of all the plants which
have been established in the environs Of
the city.
NJ. Webb Offutt gave brief account of
what the Alabama Interstate Power COM
pany was doing and had done. and spoke
of what the company intended-hoped--to
do. He told of the value to the state of
hydro-electrical power. and pictured a
magnificent country of unparalleled adj
vantages and opportunities which would
follow the withdrawal of federal oppos-
ton to improvement of Alabama rivers.
The president of the chamber of COM
merce Mr.. Wadswortf. deliyered the adj
dress of welcome to the guests who were
seated about him.
Banquet's Unique Feature
The banquet was unique for reasons
other than it was lacking in the artificial
inspiration of wine. 1t was one in which
no reference to politics. federal or state,
was made, and no blows, even under the
guise of humor, so remarka BILE in their
weird simplicity, were delivered.
There was no effort at oratory on the
part of any of the speakers. Each man
very quietly told his story. 1t was like
unto a business meeting, a meeting Of
patriotic and wide awake citizens rejoicing
over what had been done, and carefully
preparing for the accomplishment of still
greater achievements.
The Hotel Printup In charge of Adolph
Rich, popular citizen, and comparatively
recent graduate of the University of Ala
bama. did itself proud in serving the
banquet and entertaining the guests.