The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-06-19
FORMAL WELCOME l..
AND EXTENDING OF
THE GLAD HAND
From fridays psliy.

From fridays naiiy.
Mankato extended it's formal greet
ing and hearty welcome to the hun
dreds Of travelling men, their ladies
and other visitors in the city. az the
Mankato theatre last evening. II was
an open public meeting and the gen.
eral feeling that prevailed could not
have been more cordial or more in
keeping with the occasion.
+. w. Foster, chairman OF the con-
vention executive committee, opened
the meeting. expressing the extreme
pleasure that was felt by the local
United Commercial Travellers. as well
as by the Mankato people In general.
at having the pleasure OF entertaining
the Minnesota and North Dakota
grand council OF that beneficent
order. He said the local travelling
men believe that they were living in
the best little city in the whole world.
He paid special triute TO three dis
tinguished citizens OF this town, who
were present and would address the
gathering, namely, the mayor, the
governor and one whose name always
stood for all that was good and that
was the name OF Palmer. Mr.. Foster
now presented Brother j. Z. Hickey,
past senior counsellor. as master of
ceremonies or the evening. referring
10 him as one who was as good-na-
tured as he was good looking.
Mr.. Hickey on behalf Of the Man
kato council extended to all q hearty
welcome. He then called on the
chaplain, J. NJ. Eager, TO deliver the
invocation. Mr.. Eager uttered a pray
or for the success of the convention
and of the order in its efforts to
bring about the progressive and phil
anthropic movements, for which II has
alwa-s stood. =
Pretty Vocal Solo.
Mrs. c. II. Nerbovig rendered a
vocal solo, "Springtlde" There. was
an immediate call for an encore
and she responded with another we'll
chosen selection. "Sleep, My abby"
Mayor Meyer was next presented.
The mayor babe all the visitors q
most hearty welcome TO the city, as
surfing his hearers that the citizens
were deeply appreciatiye Of the honor
that had been conferred upon Mankato
in being chosen as the place OF meet.
ing of the grand council. He de-
clared there was not another city in
the two states that would not have
been glad to have had this conven-
ton.
The mayor spoke OF the great In
fuenee exerted by the commercial
travellers. and said that II any public
man in the state wanted to be boost.
ed, Il was well for him to have the
commercial travellers talking for him.
That has been demonstrated.
The speaker laid stress on the TT
ness of Mankato to be the place
chosen for such a gathering as this,
and spoke of the beauties Of the city,
both natural and artificial, fits parks,
fits boulevards, its well paved streets.
its schools, its colleges and other
attractions.
Mr.. Hickey now called on Governor
Eberhart to speak, observing that
this distinguished citizen never mis-
sed an opportunity to let the people
of the United States know that Min
nesota was on the map. .s.
sWhen the governor stepped forth.
there was a hearty burst of applause
and cheers from every part Of the
house. Quick to avail himself OF the
situation, the chief executive opened
with the remark that he was not sure
whether the applause was meant for
him or for the decorations that had
been hung so thickly upon the lapels
OF his coat. II was indeed true that
he had been most profusely adorned
with ribbons and badges OF various
u. c. T. councils that had sent dele
cations 10 Mankato. He said he hard.
" needed to explain why he was pres
ent. when he had twenty-four such
excellent reasons displayed upon him.
Hiqh Character of Travelling Men.
The governor dwelt on the high
character of the men who had gather
ed in the city on this occasion and
observed that even IL there should
be trouble, there was probably sup
ply OF pardons ready, for not many
pardons had been issued since he
became governor. .
The speaker said he knew the u.
c. rs never went to church without
putting something In the contribution
box. eli spoke of a travelling man
who recently dropped in q dollar
and when his, wife insinuated that
he was a BIT over-liberal, he re-
marked. my dear. don't you know
that II costs like - to run a
church" s-@--.s'N ~
He said the subject OF the com
mercial traveller was a pleasant one
to talk about for three reasons:
First, Il never grows old; second, II
always speaks for istelf, and third, 1t
is a subject that everyone is always
willing 10 embrace
The governor said that on one
occasion, when. he was starting out
to take mans part In the world
he ran across three travelling men
who told him that II would be we'll
for him never 70 speak an unkiad
word to anyone. He had always
felt that that was most excellent
advice and had helped him wonder
fully. II seemed TO be the guild
ing principle OF travelling man 10
say or do unkind things, whenever
there was an opportunity. on the
train. or anywhere else.
The speaker regretted the diffen-
enees In feeling that existed between
the cities and the county, and said
the commercial travellers were do
ing much to overcome this. This
was an excellent work, for the
continued prosperity OF the com