Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-05-17
FIRST ANNUAL
BANQUET OF THE
COMMERCE BOARD
VERY SUCCESSFUL GATHERING
HELD AT HOTEL BELDING
TUESDAY
SIX COURSE DINNER
UP TO USUAL STANDARD
Able Addresses Given by Lee H..
Bierce, Roy c. Vandercook, A. Pa
triache and Arthur Waterfall

Opening with delightful music
from a six-piece orchestra at eight
o'clock the first Annual Board of
Commerce banquet held in Hotel Beld-
ing Tuesday evening moved with an
ease and grace that did much credit
TO Manager Dunham. Compactly and
yet conveniently arranged the tables
in the main dining room accommod-
ated almost one hundred members Of
the board and the overflow was plac-
ed in the adjoining sample room. With
an efficient corps of mattresses and
a six-course dinner, all of delightful
and appetizing viands, Mr.. Dunham
and his assistants pleased in man
ner that evoked general compliment
tary remarks from the banqueters.
Many and general, too, were the COM
pliments paid to the orchestra for
its fine music.
Before introducing the speakers OF
the evening President r. II. Hall, who
was also POSTMASTER, read many let
ters and kilograms from absent mem
bers and friends of the organization
expressing their inability to attend
the big annual gathering. Among
the communications were those from
Paul III. King, Frank H. Alfred, M.
M. Belding, NJ. NJ. Belding, Jr., A. N.
Belding, Geo. p. Richardson. and Fred
N. Belding. President Hall then
spoke briefly of the past work Of the
organization. what it had accomplish
ed and the things it hoped to do. He
urged the hearty and steady co-opera-
ton of the members and invited sug-
gestions or criticisms on the work. In
passing he stopped to pay a very. fine
tribute to the late Fred f. Ireland
former vice-president of the board
who is known to have been very active
in the formation and starting of the
board here. Sane. witty and quick
Mr.. Hall guided the dinner with a
grace that branded him as future
toastmaster of ability in our city
With trite and able introduction ne
presented Lee II. Bierce of Grand
Rapids, and that well-liked gentleman
opened his remarks with an after
dinner story that will long llnger IN
the minds Of every listener. The story
drove home the idea of never sleep
ING on the Job" in a most forceful
manner.
Mr.. Bierce characterized a board OF
commerce as a clearing house for ac-
tivities in a city and an organization
of general good to the community. He
asserted that man singly could not
think fast enough and il was through
concerted action that the worthwhile
things were accomplished. He brand
ed the cast system in civic and social
affairs as the biggest barrier to rapid
health. growth and predicted that the
next few months and years would
( bring us face to face with bigger anC
more vital problems than had con
fronted us before in many years. The
ideal city, he outlined, as being sani-
tarv. convenient and substantial
Filled with lifters and boosters il
would not lack in goodfellowship anC
cooperation.
Roy c. Vandercook, whom President
Hall characterized as the chief salvs
dispenser of the Pere Marquette rail
road, (referring to his official capacity
as publicity manager of that com
pany), spoke on the activities of the
Michigan National Guard and its duty
and possibilities in the nations de-
velopment. He sounded the oft re
peated sentiment that the big trouble
with our military system was the lacl
of organization and too many isolated
army posts. He said the defense
problem was ore that the government
could not solve, but that it must be
solved by each individual citizen. Ev.
cry citizen must have a patriotism
that will impell him to go out anc
fight for his country when needed. HI
declared the present national guarc
worth of the country with the chance
it has of making good and providing
adequate protection. For more eff
cheney and economy he advocated cen
tralization of headquarters and the
Continued on Page Four