The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-11-19
Big Banquet Closes the
First Day of Spe-
cialty Convention
SPEECHES AROUSE
ENTHUSIASM
The Times Surprises
Diners With Special
Edition

with damask and cleaning with
| silver and dainty china and glass
ware, members of the American
Speciality Manufacturers Associa.
| tion tonight forgot the cares OF
business. the stress Of competiti.
ton, even The restraint of the for.
| NAL sessions Of their great conven-
ton and cemented the bonds OF
good fellowship while they feasted
Even i'm their business sessions
the members OF the association have
shown that their rivalry OF friendly
interest in one another is as keen
as the honest rivalry OF their bust
ness days, and this spirit was &C,
centuated when the clans gathered
and laid aside every worry and care
for the eompanionship OF the ban.
quet board.
About $50 covers were laid in the
big ballroom of the Hotel Statler
for tho accommodation of the mem.
bers OF the American Specially
Manufacturers association and their
guests. the members of the auxil-
iaries and of the Michigan Whole
sale Groeers' association
The diners were seated at small
tables. each laid for six guests. At
each place, with The menu card.
was a houtonierre. a crimson car
nation, while the tables were decor
ated with baskets of baby chrysan-
themums.
At long table along the north
wall of the ballroom and raised a
few feet above the level OF the
ballroom floor, were seated the
speakers Of the evening, with the
officers OF the association and some
specially hcncred guests.
Here were three great vases of
| chrystanthemums, the only decora-
tions attempted. but making a strik-
ing effect, il the simplicity of the
scheme and the perfection of the
great blossoms.
The banquet had been looked for
ward to all day by the members OF
the association as one OF the bright
| spots of the whole convention.
When the afternoon session vas
| over the delegates came out from
the convention hall and found the
| great ballroom closed while dozens
of employees were working TO pre-
pare il for the great event.
During the interval between the
close OF the convention session and
the opening OF the banquet hall
doors members OF the association
gathered in groups 10 discuss the
program OF the afternoon until IL
came time for them TO disappear to
dress for the dinner.
Gov Ferris. one of the guests
Of honor at the evening banquet,
did not reach the city until short
| ly before s O'Clock, and he was es-
corted to the hotel by committee
from the corps OF Michigan men
who have had charge of the AT.
rangements for the convention and
banquet.
| Shortly before the time set for
| the banquet there was an informal
gathering and reception in the lob
by OF the ballroom floor, when a
great many OF the association mem
beers had the opportunity to shake
hands with the officers and meet the
speakers OF the evening.
The dinner was presided ever by
President Walter b. Cherry, Of the
American Specially Manufacturers
association, a feature OF the work
OF the arrangements committed
which found instant approval
among those who had been sittinE
in the convention sessions directed
by Mr.. Cherry.
When the diners had taken theft
pieces all heads were bowed while
the Rev. NJ. g. Rice invoked di
vine benignancy on the feast and
guidance on the deliberations oil
the convention.
Following the dinner Toastmastel
Cherry, after a word OF felicitatior
TO the members Of the association
presented as the hrst speaker oi
the evening Gov. Woodbridge y
! Ferris. who was we'll received and
carefully followed as he told the
the members OF the association
how much he appreciated the spir
IL which prompted men in similar
lines Of business TO meet together
In such good fellowship.
NJ. r. Carrier. president of thu
Michigan Wholesale Groeers' Asso
ciatior. was the next speaker. anC
ne was followed by Edgar A. Guest
local humorist and poet, who con
tributed from his own works.
The final speaker on the program
was James Schermerhorn. publish
ed OF The Detroit Times.
Among the guests at the banquet
was W. Roth. OF the Roth publ
cations. the Wholesale Grocer and
the Retailers Journal who is at
tending the convention.
Mr. Carrier gave stirring
talk, in which he urged greater co
operation between the manufacture
49,