New Ulm review., 1917-05-02
WIT FREELY FLOWS
AT BANQUET BOARD
SPEAKERS ENTERTAIN DINERS
AT DINNER OF COMMERc1A,
CLUB.
w. /. NOLAN OF MINNEAPOLIS
- 'OASAAS
3 HANDS OUT TIMELY
b ~ Il
ADVICE.

Friendly, as we'll as sarcastic thrusts
coupled with much sound advice, were
features OF the after-dinner speeches bv
the speakers at the New Ulm Com
mercial Clubs annual banquet at the
Turner Hall last Wednesday evening.
The dinner, which was served bv the
Ladies OF the Turner Society, was de-
llciously prepared and sumptuouslv
served by score or more of Young
women. The dinner was in four courses
to which, 229 persons sat down. Rev
p. F. Wheeler presided as toastmaster.
During the course of the dinner and at
intervals in the evening selections were
played on the New Edison, furnished bv
E. A. Pfefferle.
Decorations Are Profuse.
The banquet room, which on other
occasions is the gymnasium of the Turner
club, was profusely decorated with.
American flags and red, white and blue
bunting. The guests gathered in the
smaller lodge hall and marched to the
banquet room on the floor below.
Immediately following the dinner
President G. A. Ottomeyer of the club
introduced the toastmaster. Preceding
the introduction, however, Mr.. Otto
meyer took occasion to express his ap-
probation of the successful manner in
which the Clubs entertainment COM
mittee had, handled the ARRANGEMENTS
and the fourth annual banquet and gave
it full credit for the success that had been
attained. Mr.. Otromeyer emphasized
the fact that it is not the purpose of the
club to run the city, but to join hands
with municipal authorities in making
New Ulm better place in which to live.
He said he hoped those present, who we're
not already members, would soon ioin
with the members and assist in doing the
things which the club is trying to do as
best it can. Mr.. Ottomeyer lauded the
United States, declaring there was no
country on earth where there were
greater opportunities than this, the land
of his adoption.
Toastmaster Talks.
In assuming charge of the gathering
as toastmaster, the Rev. Mr. Wheeler
paid glowing tribute to the flag. He
said that while he considered it a great
honor to preside at such gathering of
business and professional men of New
Ulm, he had felt somewhat timid in as
suming the responsibility. He then
told Of the growth of the organization,
which started from small beginning
only comparatively few years ago; he
then recounted some of the accomplish
ments of the club since the power of it's
influence began to be felt. -
Mr.. Wheeler introduced E. A. StolI.
whom he referred to as the 'sweet singer
who sang two solos in his usual excellent
manner. He. was accompanied at the
piano by Mrs. George Bromley. - -
The toastmaster next introduced Vim.
H. Dempsey, who made his usual hit
with his audience. His talk was filed
with humor and satire, and only few
OF those present were spared one or more
thrusts. He also sarcastically referred
to some of the things that portion Of
New Ulm people have been trying to do
for these many years. He said the first
club banquet was held way back some
where about 1858 or 1860, and at that
time the need of public library was dis
cussed, at which time he said Fred john
son and Indian Chief Rain-in-the-Face
were the chief speakers; that it was then
that the trouble with the Indians was
started, because Mr.. johnson stole one
of the chiefs stories. The trouble then
began. Mr.. Demspey said it was shortly
after this that talk of improving the
Kuehnel road was started, which hadn't
ended yet. He also told many similar
alleged "incidences," which he declared
to be inside information, during his
address, which he said was entitled.
Looking Backward and Forward From
the Present Time"
Mr. Dempsey seemed to have gotten
his dates mixed, and was under the inn
preston that he was about to address
Hlbernlan convention, or something of
the sort, for he opened by greeting the
banquetters as Fellow Irishmen." The
audience was good-antured, however,
and heg got off with only reprimand.
A male quartet, composed of Edgar and
Cornelius Burk and Stanley and Chester
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