Putnam County herald. (Cookeville, Tenn.) 1903-1922, 1921-05-26
ENTERTAINED
WITH BANQUET
Federal Board Officials Recipi-
ents of Cookeville's
Hospitality

On last Saturday evening at eight
o'clock, the business and professional
men of Cookeville rendered banquet
to two distinguished visitors, Hons
NJ. Bryson and R. H. White, Directors
of the Vocational Federal Board for
the fifth Regional district, comprising
the states of Georgia, South Carolina
North Carolina, Florida, and Tennes.
see, with general headquarters at At
lanta, Ga. The me ting which was
conceived and arranged for within
two or three hours, was attended by
about fifty of Cookevilfe's represen-
| tative citizens. and if the spirit dis
played was true criterion of the
progression of the -own as whole,
there is no sort of question about
Cookeville's future growth and expan-
sion. There was not discordant
note sounded at the meeting, but the
unanimous verdict was that Cooke
vile is ready to meet all requirements
of the Federal Board regarding the
housing OF 100 more ex-service mn,
and even more than this number If
necessary.
The citizens and their guests as
sembled at one of the Vocational class
rooms whil tn banquet tables at
Mitchell's Place we're being laid for
them and spent an hour in pleasant
and profitable discussion of current
topics. President @. M. Smith was
toastmaster for the occasion and not
only acquitted himself creditably, but
thoroughly demonstrated his especial
qualifications as past master of the
art, for there was not dull moment
during the entire evening.
Mr.. Jere Whitson welcomed the
visitors in we'll chosen speech In
which he vouched for the people of
Cookeville doing their part In any
progressive move which might con-
front them. Mr.. Bryson followed with
a most pleasing talk about the re-
habilitation o ex-service men, stating
that the men in CoOkeville had been
better contented with their surround
ings, ETC., than in any rehabilitation
school in the five states over which
he is the director He stated that by
September 1, and possibly before, the
Federal Board would be ready to
place from rs to 100 more men here,
provided they could be properly TAX
en- care Of Appropl late talks were
made by d. H. Boyd. H. s. Barnes,
Rev. Sam Edwards and others.
At the banquet about fifty plates
were laid, and most sumptuous re-
past was INDUCED in. With only an
hour or two notice, Mr.. Mitchell had
prepared an exceptionally nice me-
nu which was served in an artistic
and pleasing manner, much to the
enjoyment of those participating who
fully demonstrated this fact. After
the eatables had been satisfactorily
of the talk-fest was resumed, |
lasting until the hour OF midnight. |
Mr.. r. H. White was the principal |
speaker of the evening, and deliver
ed one Of the most interesting and
speeches along the line or
work that our people
had ever listened to. Mr.. White was
perhaps the prime mover in the loca-
lion of the Cookeville Rehabilit''
school and has watched its progress
with eager interest. He is leaving
he ex-service rehabilitation work IN
/ short time to take up the work OF
rehabilitation in Tennes-
zee which embraces all classes of
civilians who may have had the mis-
'ortune OF being incapaciated by &C.
,ident or sickness to foliow their for.
ner vocations. This means that the
work will be a perma-
rent government enterprise and In
'tead of decreasing in few years,
he number of men and women win
Increase as time goes by. Ii
Mr. White was followed by num-
YER of local speakers. In fact the
Meeting was converted into a round
able" discussion, with the following ,
gentlemen expressing their approx. b
i of the innovations proposed. Hon. ,
". F. Clouse, our representative In .
congress made short but very force
ul speech in which he pledged his
upport to the program outlined ana ,
promised to do everything ,
a his power to assist in carrying out
he work OF rehabilitation, bot mill
ary and civilian. Atty-Gen J. r..
ditchell Of Crossville was one of the Il
,uests at the banquet md when cal 4
ed on made short but pleasing I
ak. o. X. Holidays talk closed I
he program, which was declared to !
'e one Of the most entertaining and :
events ever held in
,ookeville lI
The absolute necessity of cencert-
d action ON the part OF our people In II
expanding our facilities for taking t
are Of an additional number Of re-lr