The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-26
ANNUAL BANQUET Of
LAUNDRYMEN HELD
At SOUTHERN CLUB
Number of Speakers Heard.
Many Out-Of-Town Visi-
tors Present-MasOn
Is TOastmaster

Tire Birmingham Laundrymen' club
held its annual banquet last night in
the Tudor room of the Southern club.
There were in attendance a large num-
ber of local landrymen and many out
of-town visitors. Clarence e. Mason of
the Empire laundry acted as toast
master He introduced each speaker
with word caricature that caused
much amusement
Commissioner James Weatherly was
one of the principal speakers and 9TH
ers speaking We're: Percy w. Brewer.
Ir James Monroe Mason. William f.
Davis, Y. II. Hanson. George Griffin.
BENJAMIN Wertheimer. 6. P. Smith and
r. " Barrett
Mr.. Brewer was the first speaker and
stressed upon his hearers the import
ance of having an ideal and working
10 the end that it be attained.
Mr.. Brewer was followed by Mr..
Hanson who made an address teeming
with figures. showing the evolution of
the laundry industry.
Dr. Mason followed Mr. Hanson and
delivered an address on the relation
of the laundry to sanitation and hy-
dry had the effect of making the pub
lie generally more clean and had in
stilled into the people the necessity of
isersonal cleanliness. DR.. Mason closed
his remarks with this sentence: We've
got a dirty town. but a clean people,"
William r. Davis proved to be the
real funmaker of the evening. The
toastmaster in introducing him said he
was born in 1913 and predicted that he
could tell of the beginning of the in
dustry and its growth. Mr.. Davis
"reminiscences kept his auditors in a
continual roar of laughter He told
many stories personal to the craft and
On 1aundrymen of the city. He was
greatly applauded and was called back
10 tell a story on an absent member He
said he did not like to talk about
man behind his back. but upon being
pressed told the story and received an
ovation.
Commissioner Weatherly was the
next speaker and his theme was "The
Laundries as Public Asset" He
stressed the Importance of the laun-
drymen aiding in making the city beau
tifuI, clean and healthful. He paid a
tribute to the speech made by Mr..
Brewer earlier in the evening and ad-
ruitted to DR.. Mason that he was much
George Griffin of Atlanta was COM
PEELED to leave the banquet in order
TO catch train for his home, but he
stopped Just behind the toastmaster's
chair and said to the assembled COM
pany: Il came here in 1895 and the
town thought ii was broke. I left in
1907 | have watched the city since
Then and if anybody tells you that you
hav.- not got the best town on earth
don't believe it," Mr.. Griffin's short
talk was vociferously received and
cries of that's a great concession from
an Atlantian' We're heard from end TO
elid of the banquet board. He left the
Iunor room with the applause of the
birmingham laundrymen ringing in his
ears.
Mr.. Barrett was next introduced by
tie toastmaster He made a talk in
which he said he had been resident
of Birmingham for Is years and that
this was the first time he had had an
opportunity of seeing a white" Bir-
niingham. He told a funny story of
his days as newspaper correspondent
that brought round af applause from
his hearers
Benjamin Wertheimer was next IN
toduced and the toastmaster asked
him to tell of a plank Steak" which
he did very briefly. He was applauded
heartily.
6. p. Smith of Hattiesburg, Miss,
7sais the closing address Mr.. Smith
thanked the club for having him as
its guest and told of the pleasure he
had had at the dinner. He said that
he had never seen a 1aundrymen's club
that got along in more perfect harmony
OF good Fellowship than did the Bir-
minRham organization and hoped that
he would he able to be with them at
their next banquet.
The meeting broke up with many
expressions Of pleasure and all pro.
nonnced the banquet great success.