Connecticut western news., 1914-01-22
1.-THE BEST BANQUET YET"
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 a brief but we'll expressed address of greeting and welcome, on behalf of the Canaan Business Mems Association.
 The first speaker introduced was Lieutenant-Governor Tingier. whose topic was The State." After a few good Il stured and humorous alluslons, ill which he affirmed his membership In the famous Bald Head Club of America, to which allusion had been made, e spoke in a more serious vein on the sub ject of the present condirion of the States finances aud the obvious duty of business men in their individual capaci ties, with relation to the affairs of state and the advisahility of electing capable men and men of character, to office Governor Tiugier was given an ova. tion when he rose, aui was heartily ap- plauded at the close of his speech.
 Frank H. Johnson. president of the State Business Meu's Association, was the next speaker, and he gave sound, practical business mans talk to business men on the advantages of association for business purposes. He complmented the local association on the splendid banquet. but said he was at loss to un- derstand, as he looked oyer this gather tug of l25 intelligent business men, why the association reported H membership of only about 90. When it was easy to muster 125 men to attend function of this kind it should be possible to have at least 100 active members of the associa- tion who would take hye interest in its welfare, which would mean greater progress aud prosperity for the town. There are some.' he said, "who con- tend that the chief object of local association should be the procuring of manufacturing industries. This is. of course, desirable, but the great thing, Tn the smaller towns, is to engender and cultivate a civic pride; improve the streets; maintain good sidewalks aud foster harmony and good fellowship in the community in short, make the town snch desirable place to live in that it will attract attention and induce business people to come and settle in it. This can be brought about by the efforts of live and earnest Business Mems As. sociation." He urged the Association to send good delegation to the first an. nual banquet of the State Association. to be held at the Hartford Club. March 10, when the 40 or more Associations belonging to the State Association, in all parts of the state, will be repre-. sented. The chief speakers will be Sec retary of Commerce Rrdteld, of Presi dent Wilson's Cabinet, and President Wheeler, of Chicago, president of the National Chamber of Commerce.
 Hon. Thomas l.. Norton. of Lakeville. whose subject was "The Outgo Tax. !" was in hls usual good form, and made. as usual, mighty good speech. AL though he had assured the toastmaster, i'll advance, that he might speak in a somewhat more serious vein than usual, he kept the company convulsed through out the greater part of his talk. by his i irrepressible and irresistible sallies of wit and humor, that oozed out of him, as Mark Twain said, like otter of roses out of the otter. "He first paid his cAustic respects to the compensation act with special reference to it's ambiguity. He said that in the afternoon, after care. ful analysis of the act, and a summing up of his own circumstances, he found himself proper subject for classified. tion in Glass Q. At night conditions had so shifted and adjusted themselves that when he went to bed he found that he had been transferred, automatically, to Glass A. And in the morning, by an- other automatic shuttle. he came under Glass B. And there you are, Q. A, B, and taxi at that" Proceeding to the consideration of the "outgo tax" he dwelt, successively on the high cost of everything, especially dress; the iniqui- tous mountain of evil in the drink bills of the nation; the fearful tax of human lives resulting from automobiles, and the deplorable drain upon the small towns, in the exodus of the young men who leave the farms and avocatious of rural life to seek thsr fortunes in the large cities. The speech was "corker," and the subject was handled as only Tom Norton could handle it.
 Col. N. c. Osborn, who was down for "The Life of Spice," was unable to be present, but letter from him, explain ing and expressing regret at his una voidable absence. and conveying his friendly greetings and good wishes to his Canaan friends. for the New Year, was read and heartily applauded.
 E. A. Ekern. of Boston, engineer with the Stone x Webster Go, spoke in an interesting and instructive manner on "The Big Power Plant" at Falls Will lage, giving many details of the great work that were not generally known. and summarizing a list of some of the