The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1916-07-20
GOOD FELLOWSHIP REIGNs
Short Speeches Are Made by President
z. G. Simmons and Prominent Lead
ers of the Organization and Plenty
of Entertainment Is Provided.

Friday night, just as the whistle blew
six clock, special train pulled out
of the c. & N. w. depot at Kenosha,
bearing the factory guests of 2. G.
Simmons for his second annual dinner
which was given at the Chicago Ath-
letic Club, the other guests being the
members of the sales force and factory
managers who had come from both
coasts to attend this affair. The guests
in Kenosha included the officials of the
company all of the department heads
and all of the foremen, and the 80 men,
who, in boyish spirits, ran up and down
the car lengths on the short trip on the
special train were full of the holiday
spirit.
They were greeted at the doors of the
Athletic Club by the men who sell the
product of the great bed making indus
try located in Kenosha. After a gen
eral reception, promptly at eight o.
clock the guests were seated in the
beautiful banquet hall of the Chicago
Athletic Club with Wilbur T. Nesbit,
the famous newspaper writer, presiding
as POSTMASTER.
Before each man was placed a mag
nifcent leather covered menu card with
each guest IS name embossed in gold let
tiers on the outside, and attached as
was most appropriate in these stirring
times, was small, silken American
| flag.
| Benson S orchestra furnished the mu-
sic for the occasion, and a female quar-
| tette furnished the vocal music until,
without warning, the statesmen arose in
a body and sang parody upon one of
the popular songs of the day, the words
being a josh upon the factory men.
Immediately upon the cessation of the
applause, the factory men who were
prepared for such contingency, re-
| piled with another parody to the same
tune, turning the joke back upon the
statesmen. Again and again, the sales
men attempted to turn the final laugh
upon the factory men, but in each case.
found themselves met with a return
song.
After the service of the last course.
several stunts were staged including
songs, dancing, fat men s wrestling
bout and the showing of the moving
! pictures taken at the recent Simmons
day picnic at Central Park. Immedi-
ately afterwards the POSTMASTER, with
| q fpgv xuo1I ebosoo 11.ards ;,+,o5.aa1 -
the first speaker, the president of the
company, Mr.. Simmons, to respond to
the toast on "Our Organization. !"
Upon his arising to his feet, he was
unable to proceed for many minutes
/ on account of the deafening cheers and
applause which greeted him. Mr.. Sim
mons was visibly affected by the dem
onstration of the esteem in which be
/ is held by his men. He denied most
emphatically that he stood in the rela-
ton of employer to the men who faced
him, but insisted that he stood in the
relation Of fellow worker for the
same organization, which was created
and developed in Kenosha in the early
period of difficult struggle by his faith
| er. Mr.. Simmons was constantly in
terrupted by the applause of his hear
ers. Following Mr.. Simmons, other
talks were given by J. L. Joyce, the
warehouse manager at Baltiomre, in
| behalf of the sales force, and James
| T. Ferris of the Kenosha plant in be-
half Of the factory, and further fitting
remarks were made by A. FL. Lance,
James Cavanagh and George FL. Ale
len Of the American Brass Company,
who was special guest of the occasion.
Long after the midnight hour and to
the accompaniment of Aud Lang Syne,
sung by all of the guests, this most de-
| lghtful gathering came to an end.
Nothing was heard but expressions Of
the greatest enjoyment and highest
praise, both for the host and for the
company for which they all work. 1t
was an occasion long to be remember
ed and typifes the spirit that is behind
the Simmons organization as well as
the other factories in Kenosha.