Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-01-24
IRVING NORWOOD
ADDRESSES BEN
FRANKLIN CLUB
Fourth Annual Dinner Enjoyed
by Large Delegation at Rock
Island Club.
FIFTY GUESTS PRESENT
C. /. Desauiniers of Moline Acts as
Observation-Disclosures
Addresses Are Made.

About so members of the TrtCity
Ben Franklin club were present last
night at the fourth annual banquet
/ and dinner of the organization, and
/ heard Irving c. Norwood, secretary OF
the Davenport Commercial club, de-
liver a short but very interesting adj
dress upon the life and work of Ben
| jamin Franklin. A number of the
members were accompanied by their
wives and a fine dinner was served,
the meeting being pronounced unant
mously as the most successful since
the organization of the Tri-City Ben
Franklin club, for printers, advertis-
ing men, and those actively connected
with the printing business.
c. L. Desaulniers of Moline presided
as POSTMASTER and introduced a num-
Der OF speakers other than appeared
upon the program. He spoke shortly
upon the life of Franklin and
other topics of interest to the printers.
The meeting opened at about z
o'clock with music and singing by all
present, following which Henry Kra-
mer of Rock Island, president of the
club, made a short address of well
come. commenting upon the program.
the large delegation present and the
success of the organization.
Dinner was then enjoyed with music
>between the courses and Mr.. Norwood
was then introduced as the SPEAKER.
Mr.. Norwood Speaks.
Irving Norwood delivered his
address upon the subject, Ben
Franklin-Prihter" He commented
upon the life of Franklin briefly, tell
ing of his pride in the printing pro-
fession. Franklin was a statesman.
literary genius. and prominent in pub
lie affairs, but he was first and fore.
most a printer, and always boosted of
that fact.
Franklin could not be compared
with any of his contemporaries of the
day, for he excelled as inventor, dip
lomat, scientist, orator and a patriot.
Mr.. Norwood asked that they i'm
agine Franklin present at the banquet
and he believed that the famous print
er would heartily congratulate them
upon the success of the Tri-City Ben
Franklin club.
Organize Post.
Franklin originated the Saturday
Evening Post, and during his life pub
Eshed a magazine known as the Penn
syIvania Gazette, which was one of
the most successful publications of
that time, and made Franklin a
wealthy man. He was an advocate OF
simplified spelling and even went so
far as to prepare n new alphabet upon
this system. But" continued Mr.. Nor
wood, 1t seems that the simplified
spelling system has attained no fur
Their success today than it had during
Franklin's day"
One of Franklin's favorite sayings
was, The doors of wisdom are never
closed" He was a believer in s,lf
education and urged all young men to
learn.
Benjamin Franklin was the first
printer to turn out a novel from his !
presses in this country. and he also |
turned out the first Latin work ever !
published in the United States. He |
advocated many different improve
ments in the printing business, and |
his helpful suggestions are followed |
by printers universally today.
Other Speakers Present
A number of other speakers were
present and were called upon for
short addresses. Among these was !
Mr.. Becker of Davenport. secretary of !
;he Rotary club, who talked upon the |
present day printers. Some of the other
speakers were p. S. McGlynn
of the Moline Dispatch, ]. F. BarnhilI,
Davenport; Edward Nance, Rev.
Thompson, Rock Island, and H. S.
Ransom, Moline.