Mexico weekly ledger., 1915-02-25
MANY ATTEND THE
COM. CLUB BANQUET
jackson Johnson Gets Great Ovation
When He Announces Opening
OF Factory.
SAYS LIMIT is THIRTY DAYS
Marshall Rust and Paul Brown of st.
Louis Made Most Excellent
Addresses.

Never in the history of the Mexico
Commercial Club has a speaker re-
eeived the ovation Jackson Johnson.
President Of the international Shoe
Co, did at the annual dinner, Thurs
day night and this even before he had
limited the welcome news that their
Mexico plant would be open within
thirty days, probably in much less
time. The men at the tables stood
and cheered for several minutes and
when the evening closed he was sur
rounded by enthusiastic citizens for
his speech made every mar believe in
the friendship Of his concern for this
city and its probity and good faith.
Mr.. JohnsOn's speech, which appears
further On in this article, was APP
plauded again and again and he could
not doubt but that the representtive
citizens of Mexico would give that
cooperation which he asked do unto
others as you would they should do
unto you"
Mr.. Johnson said he wanted the
people to feel he and his company
were a part of Mexico just as any,
other institution and that they desir-
ed to participate in all movements for
its growth and would not be found
wanting when called upon. The good
faith of the International Shoe Co.,
has never been questioned by most of
our citizens and any who might have
doubted it, if they heard Mr.. Johnson,
can never do so again. He made a
clear, straightforward business talk
that carried conviction in every word.
There was a keen, high, rarifed
intellectual atmosphere at the Com
mercial Club annual dinner never be-
fore equaled in the history of the or
g~anization. Every one of the speak
ers had something to say, and, what
is pleasanter, next to sailing away
an idea, than to experience the fine
intoxication intellectual, of %course)
that comes from having an idea skill
fully on o~ratorical toast. The wit,
wisdam and comaraderie of the even
ing was perfect and made the dinner
one that will be long remembered in
this city. Before the guests took
their seats the Rev. W. A. Shullenber-
ger offered a mos Appropriate and
beautiful invocation.
Marshall Rust Speaks.
Marshall Rust, Of Pilot Grove, Mo-,
who many had heard of but few met,
and one of the prime movers and
powers behind the extension of the
electric line, was greeted with much
enthusiasm. Mr.. Rust made many
friends by his splendid address which
is published here. He is the kind of a
man Mexico wants and we suggest he
change his permanent address TO
this city. Mr.. Rust said:
Gentlemen:
While / am conscious of my inabil-
ity as a speaker, | can not refrain
from saying a word for Mexico and its
Electric line, even though l am more
of a working man than an orator. In
deed Oratory is quite beyond me.
Work is my forte. In my home u
ty they would never think of ask
ing me to make a speech, but where
there is any work to be done, l am
harnessed in as a wheel horse.
Mexico can pride herself on the
quality of her citizens, her churches,
her colleges, her exceptionally clean
daily papers,-papers that give the
news and keep out the Objectionable
matter. But Mexico is not living up
to the best Of her capabilities and OPP
portunities.
Mexico is surrounded by an excep-
tionally fine country of green valleys
and fertile fields. Audrain's corn
yield for 1914, an exceptionally dry
year, was 3,070,340 bushels, an aver
age of 20 bushels per acre. Wheat
yield 205,23S blu. Dat yield 265, 780
bu.-an average of 10 bu. per acre.
Yet with this total of 3,541, 1858 bu. of
grain flor a dry year, mind you) to
be transported, you are deficient in
means of bringing this crop to the
great trunk lines passing through
your county and city. And l know
of no method of bringing in this vast
crop equal to an electric line. You
are ~neglecting your opportunities to
have an open market at every cross
road by neglecting to help us extend
the electric line.
We, myself and a few others who
live among you, are wanting to help
the push and progress of this won
derful city by extending the electric
line from Moline as far north as San
ia Fe and as much further as It is
possible to build. We feel there
must be something wrong with u.s.
not with the people of Mexico and
surrounding neighborhood, but with
the personnel Of our company. 1t
may be the President of this company
is not the man for the position, and
if he is not, he certainly is wiling to
turn it wei to some man in this vi
cinity who is more capable; and the
present incumbent will take his place
among the helpers and not a leader,
This road should be built. There
is no question about that. l believe
you all realize this. l believe that
your city would reap more benefit
from this project than any thing else
that could be done. We are a willing
bunch and if our ability was equal tc
our zeal, we certainly would accom-
plish something. But we need coop.
ornAinn nnL Gnnnninl old