The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-07-27
Guest of Honor of One Hun
dred Citizens at Farewell
Banquet at the Elks
Club.
MEDALLION PRESENTED
Speakers Praise Wonderful
Work of Mr.. Cooper Who
Calls it Little Job
on the River. =

Farewell was said to Hugh l.. Coop
or Friday night by one hundred Keo-
kuk citizens at banquet at the
Elks club and Mr.. Cooper was pre-
sented with a bronze medallion, with
fitting inscription to the builder OF
the worlds greatest water power, as
a memorial and testimonial of the
deep regard in which he Is held by
the people of the city.
The presentation speech was made
by Theodore A. Craig and the sentf-
ments of regret at the departure OF
Mr.. Cooper and of triumph at the sue
cessful completion of the great work
expressed by the speaker were reiter-
ated by every man at the banquet.
There was nothing conventional at
this banquet; Keokuk citizens were
merely saying goodbye to foremost
citizen, and neighbor The big dam
at times became almost a secondary
thought. Mr. Cooper seemed almost
to forget that he was chief engineer
of the largest water power, a thing
he has not had a chance to do for
several years, and he seemed most to
enjoy the jokes told about him and
the dam at the beginning Of the work.
The farewell was to Hugh L. Cooper,
the man, as well as the engineer.
introducing the Speakers.
Wells NJ. Irwin. who is out of place
at a Keokuk banquet except as toast
master, introduced the speakers and
his iibes and gentle raillery at the
speakers added zest to the evenings
ceremonies. He paid a fine tribute
to Mr.. Cooper in his opening remarks,
saving, Il almost quaked in my shoes
when was told what was to do to-
night. Then I began to feel the pow
er and activity instilled in me and
which we have assimilated from this
human dynamo during the last two
years
MIR. Cooper came among us a few
years ago unheralded, unattended,
unsung. During those few years he
has created and built one of the
great wonders of the age. Mr.. Coop
er has not only constructed wonder
full piece of work by the exhibition of
his engineering ability but he has, to
my mind, created much greater
work in the minds and hearts of the
people of Keokuk. He came among us
stranger few years ago. In a few
days he goes hence and twenty thous-
and people of the best city of its size
in the world will say, God bless vou
Hugh L. Cooper
Theodore a. Craig, who made the
presentation speech was then intro
duced by Mr.. Irwin. He said.
Presenting the Mezehion.
For several years past, Keokul
has been undergoing new exner,enc
and today we trust that ii has fuJ,
entered upon a new era. Opportunit
has come to Us. You know what NJ
Dooley said about opportunity, %
nortunity, Hennessey, knocks wan
on iviry mans dure. On tn dure
wan man 1t knocks and thin r1
away. On the dure ay another M
1t knocks and whin he opens Il h
him IN tn head wit an axe. And
tn dure av another, it knocks and IL
opens tn dure itself an goes in >
wurrks fur him as a night-watchms
AS it is with men, so it is with cit
and / may fairly say that in these
er days opportunity has been keer
watch for Keokuk.
Where once we felt despondeI
we now have confidence. Where G
there was faltering. there now is
gressiveness. Where once there
indifference there now is action
dustry has driven out idleness
provement has commenced to {
crate decay, and depression has G
way to prosperity
I'VE have shaken off the sleep
once held us in its thraIl and
opened our eyes. AS we speak O
native city, there is no longe
apologize tone, but there is a ce
chestiness in our voice that W
stranger in the old days. As
word Keokuk is beginning to
synonym for power, SO va ard
hope to make a synonym for Pre-
siveness and prosperity.
what was it that wrought
change? What was it that SO
lessly disturbed our slumber?
have the guilty man, and tonigf
hope to mete out TO him a small
ton Of the punishment he SO
deserves. He has been adj
guilty and he has failed to
cause why he should not be
enced.1