Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-26

URGED BY CHICAGOAN
More Than Three Hundred
Listen to Enthusiastic
Speeches; All Sing
I'VE are in the beginning Of : ncV
Ottumwa." said Chairman G. 81. Har
per In his preliminary remarks folloWs
ing the serving Of the fifteenth annual
dinner OF the Ottumwa Commercial
association at the armory Thursday
night. 4 X
That Mr.. Harper spoke truth ~
obvious to the 325 men gathered about
the large banquet room. for oil ut
them felt the spirit that was swAkea.s
ed and which promises to place Oftum.
wa in the forefront Of the cities a.
Iowa within the noar future. AlIsbo-
lieved the truth of the statement for
everyone instinctively felt something
Of tho boost spirit that properly CON
trolled and directed must eventually
attain the best for the communtty.i
All voiced by word or song that thoy
were inspired with the spirit prevail
ing and did not wish to lose any of u. I
The biggest and doubtless the mo1t
successful dinner or banquet OF the
was held Thursday even
Ing and its results are already being
hNy ho M k~~~
this morning to enter the men,bership
and in the ready response
they are meeting in the canvass Tor
members. The real story OF the even,
ing's meeting and its effect on the
future iof Ottumwa cannot be tfuth.'
fully told in type It has to be feis
and only presence at the affair can
give one correct impression Of It's
success. As a demonstration of tho
spirit that builds communities atiil
makes men know each other hotter,
It would be hard to conceive anything
better than the Commercial associa.
tion annual dinner.
4 All Are Good Natured.
Speech and song, hearty good
will to all and the mingling In y neigh
borly manner OF men previously unac
quainted or but slightly known to eAch
other, made the dinner and the plAae /
ant hours that followed in the t6sj
prand1al program, an epoch making
event In Ottumwa, 1ss' lss1s|
Talks that were quite uncomm01
were made by men Of Ottuniwa all6 Y
from abroad These talks wer6 not o.
the cut and dried, ready at the. mo
ment's call type, but had the ring u
that made them compel atsS
tention of their hearers. The addre6g
of William r. Moss of Chicago. tte
chief speech OF the evening md the
closing number of the program, w9fK
one that must be heard to be prpp&h
ly appreciated. A sermon by asl4&sS
man on a topic that might we'll issts4
from the pulpit and, at the same time
one OF practical, every day Interest.
applicable to the community, to buSi.
ness and the individual man, WINS 10 !
livered by Mr.. Moss. His ssubjeut
Cooperation, the new spirit In baGis
ness" dealt with practical things And
was directed chiefly to the improyo
ment of the community through th4S
Of the better and broader
principles OF manhood and citizenshipss
The address lost nothing In its deliy.s
cry for the elOquence Of the speaker
made him the center of closest atten.S
tion during the entire time that hsS
spoke. Il
Interesting Spectacle.
, When one can make mental nic.a
ture Of the large auditorium Of tho
armory filed with tables placed In
rows the length OF the room; with ]
more than 300 men gathered ab0ut
these tables, the latter beautiful u
snowy napery, glistening silver, car.
delabra and cut flowers; n cOmpAnyS
Of some twenty-five young men deftly
serving the diners and without mis-.
hap; an orchestra almost c0nStant1ygI
that included patriotic, classic and
popular music, and to add thereto
general feeling Of good fellowship.
laughter and conversation, one has II
pretty fair description OF the dinner.
To refer to this without mentioning
the menu would be slight, for It W9s|s
a feature that made ten strike With
the diners. Served informally arfls
everything in plenty, the meal Waz;
such as satisfied a gathering OF men
at the close of the day. Singing 01E
America opened the evenings program
Rev. C. D. Jacobs offered the
Harper Sounds Keynote. ss
The speaking program was preceded
by everyone present joining IN the
singing of Down Home in Tennessee 81
Following this, Chairman G. 8. Harper
made few remarks preliminary 70 the
announcement of the various Speakers
Mr.. Harper sounded the keynote OF the
evening when he declared. I'VE are In
the beginning of a new Ottumwa. The
OF the past year has been
greater than in years previous and the
Continued or, page u