Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-05-05
SECOND BANQUET
OF BELONG BOARD
OF COMMERCE
WERE HONORED GUESTS. sen.
WM. ALDEN SMITH HERE

over one hundred Belding citizens
and members of the Belding Bros. K
Co.'S interests banqueted at Hotel
Belding Tuesday evening at the second
banquet of the Bedding Board of Com
merce.
President X. II. Hall was in charge
of the after dinner speeches and in
his preliminary remarks told what the
BeldinG Board of Commerce is, how il
was formed and what it hopes to ac-
complish. He then introduced II. j.
Leonard, who told of his experiences
in Belding many years ago. Mr.
Leonard referred TO his early eXper-
fences as a storekeeper here in the
times when they did not worry about
cross walks in the streets because
there was nothing on the other side Of
the street. He strongly endorsed the
new organization and the things it
hoped To accomplish. He also urged
that the city do things while he was
yet living. He wanted to help boost
now.
Lee II. Bierce, assistant secretary of
the Grand Rapids Chamber of Com
merce, also talked to the banqueters.
He gave the organization members
valuable advice straight from the
shoulder. Mr. Bierce advocated the
placing OF signboards along the roads
in every direction from Belding direct
ing people the way to Belding and
not away from Belding. He also urg
ed the heralding Of Belongs indust-
ries and advantages to every part of
the country. and also the trade-at-
home policy.
w Millard Palmer. ex-postmaster
of Grand Rapids also gave some ex-
cellent remarks to the local organiza-
ton. He spoke from experience and
complimented the board on it's con-
templated work.
General Ed. c. Youngs of Chicago
was spokesman for the Belding Bros.
& Co.'S interests and while he was
brief in his remarks and said that he
was speaking without having first con-
suited the head officials Of the COM
pany, yet he felt safe in placing this
permanent question before the local
board What do you want us to do?
We are always ready and willing TO do
anything to help Belding.
Senator William Alden Smith was
at the banquet and feeling in good
spirits. He made the principal ad-
dress of the evening and spoke very
complimentary of the work of the
Beldng Bros i'm this city. lie did not
lose sight of the fact that the Richard
son Silk company was also a promin-
ent factor i'm the building up of the
local community and compiimented
the company for its good work. Beld-
ing-Han company was not neglected
either In fact he took occasion to
boost all Of the local manufacturing
interests and urged that all OF the
local citizens and the new organization
pledge themselves to make Belding
one of the best cities in the land.
Senator Smith referred briefly TO
his expectations as a candidate for
President, as suggested by Mr. Leon
ard in his remarks and also by Pres
ident Hall i'm his Introductory talk
when he proclaimed him as Michigans
Offering, or White House hope.
AS conclusion to the banquet
general jubilee was held in the hotel
lobby. at which Senator Smith and the
other distinguished guests were show
cred with yells. Oldtime and popular
songs were sung by the senator and
the crowd applauded with lusty vigor.
e The annual meeting of the Belding
Board Of Commerce viii be held next
wednesday evening, May y. Every
Belding booster should turn out to the
meeting.