Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-07-19
JOHN BANCROFT, SR.,
DlNED BY EMPLOYEES
Continued from page 1.

Charles A. Ramberger. Fulton Il
Steptoc. J Albert Erisman and j. n
Knox comprised the committee on ar
ranyements, and Joseph Bancroft, q
vice-presdcnt .of the company, acted
as toastmaster.
The diners sat at numerous tables
which were decorated with ftowers
ferns and toy balloons. Suspended
from the ceiling of the large hall was
the word welcome" in letters of fire
Appropriate souvenirs and elegant
booklets. containing President Ban
croft's picture, the menu and songs
selected for the occasion, were dis
tributed.
John s. Benson, who has been the
company's blacksmith for 43 years
pronounced the invocation, and Dopu-
lar melodies We're sung between
courses, with William L. White serv-
ing as chorus leader aud Charles Me-
Ginness as orchestra leader.
In an address of welcome ]. II
Coady. chairman of the committee on
arrangements and purchasing agent OF
the Joseph Bancroft & Sons Co, vel
coined the guest of honor as presi-
dent of the company and also as a
friend. Praising President Bancroft
ne described him as ~approachabie
fair and square. After stating the
throng had assembled for the purpose
OF expressing appreciation of the
president. he presented Joseph Ban
croft as toastmaster
James Berry, who has been employ
ed in the finishing department for 40
years. responded TO the toast Joseph
Bancroft & Sons Co.'S years ago.
lie said the company's product was
5000 pounds of cotton cloth per day
i'm 1876 and 10000 pounds per day in
1896 and is 130.0 900 pounds per day
now.
Responding to the toast Joseph
Bancroft & Sons Co.--15 years ago.
Charles a. Bamberger. who has been
In the company's employ for "a years
and now is traffic manager. started the
company employed 1850 on 1876 per-
sons i'm 1906. compared with 2,100 now,
and had no Reading plant or New
York office Is years ago. lie said so
per cent of the men employed by the
company in 1906 are either engaged in
other activities now or are dead.
John Macadam, a vice-president of
the company and +. $. Jenckes, sup
erintendent Of the Reading plant, re-
sllnnded TO the toast Joseph Bancroft
a Sons Co.--present." Mr.. Macadam
stated the company is in good con-
,fition and has enough work. He said
its foundation was laid many years
ago and rests on many people. He
declared President Bancroft is a real
man. an able man and a true friend
and attributed the company's pros
perity. 10 his integrity and wisdom,
Mr.. Jenckes stated the company pur-
chased the Reading plant from the
Gardner estate in 1910. The plant
then produced $4,000 pounds OF cotton
cloth per day, but new machinery has
been Installed and the production now
is $4,000 pounds per day.
II. Harry Grier, who entered the
company's employ So years ago and
was put on its retired list recently. in
dnlged in "reminiscences.
Replying 10 the toast Joseph Ban
croft & Sons Couture. President
Bancroft spoke as follows:
1T always has been. and / am sure
n always will be a great pleasure to
me to be with any of those who have
been my co-workers in whatever ca
pacity since my connection with the
business nearly forty-five years ago.
find dihiculty in expressing to you how
much appreciation l feel for this kind
welcome you have shown me on my re-