Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-05-31
VANDERVOORT IN
STORY OF WORK
WHILE OVERSEAS

Further evidence of the remark.
able feeling OF loyalty, good will
and sympathy prevailing between
the managing head of the Root e.
Van Dervoort Engineering Co, and
R. & V Wagner Ordnance Co. was
given Thursday evening at the Mo-
line club, when 200 foremen, shop
executives and department heads
welcomed w. H. Van Dervoort
home from his ten weeks visit in
Europe. Hhe banquet was in ev-
cry sense a tribute to the person
al popularity of Mr.. Van Dervoort
among the men of the big indus
trial organization. and an express
sion of their personal loyalty TO
him.
Loyalty. unselfsh cooperation
and sympathy were the keynotes
of the dinner
An elaborate dinner was served
at 1880, and during the evening
there was music by Whites or
chestra. songs by the men led by
]. G. Moody, and vaudeville enter
tainment. Victor Garnes, one OF
the oldest employees of the r. & v,
presided as POSTMASTER. At the
opening of the dinner he presented
to Mr.. Van Dervoort a beautiful
tribute from Paul J. Reps, who
though not a member of the X. d
". organization, is a warm admir-
err of Mr.. Van Dervoort. Mr.. Reps
with his own hands made a great
willow basket, and this was filled
with a beautiful fern and decorated
with ribbons. Accompanying the
gift was a letter to the banquet
committee, in which Mr.. Reps said
that as an admirer of MIR. Van Der
WORT he regretted that he was not
privileged to be one of the r. & V.
organization. He said, Il honor
aim as a noble character and join
IN your welcome home to him.
Mr.. Reps signed his letter, "A Co
Worker" and suggested that his
name be not mentioned.
E. w. Roderick spoke on behalf
of the employees in a formal ex-
preston of welcome to Mr.. Van
Dervoort. He Landed Mr.. Van Der
voort's service during the war and
the sacrifices he had made to give
his services to the government dur
ing the war. There were cheers
and a song to the companys presl-
dent as Mr.. Roderick concluded
his address.
Responding briefly, Mr.. Van Der
WORT declared his service had
been possible only because or the
knowledge that at home was
loval and efficient organization
which he could depend upon to
carry on the work in the plants
and get maximum results. at is to
Won fellows" he said, that the
credit is due. You are the ones
who have made it possible to do
whatever small bit l was able TO
do" He declared that OF the IN
numerable times he had been at
banquets in that room, and spoken
before gatherings there, none hau
ever given him hundredth part OF
the pleasure of the evening.
Brief talks were made by Al
Neuhaus, c. H. Charles. e. A. VIII
derman. Paul Andree, w. e. Eng
land. John Airey and General Su-
uerintendents E. Gruenewald OF
the engineering plant and A. t.
Miller OF the ordnance plant. w.
A. Layman, president of the Wag-
ner Electric Manufacturing Co. OF
st. Louis, associated with the r.
e. V. interests in the r. g. V.-Wag-
ner Ordnance Co, expressed on be-
half of the st. Louis part OF the
organization. the heartiest OF well
comes to Mr.. Van Dervoort.
Mr.. Ellis. former editor of the
Herald of Boston, Mass. who has
been a guest at the plant this
week, was introduced, and extend
ed greetings to the organization
He declared that the assembled
men were fortunate, the industry
fortunate, and the community, too.
to be congratulated upon having
here such a force as Mr.. Van Der
WORT. He said that in scores of
industrial plants visited in the last
few months he had never seen such
spirit as he had found here in
the r. G. V. organization, and that
he knew no man whose genius and
enthusiasm were so thoroughly alb
sorbed by the men of his executive
corps.