The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1922-02-14
.F|REMEN BANQUET
WAS SOME AFFAIR
Annual Event Characterised by
Talks and Repast Is Without
Parallel in Hisory of the
City of Winnemucca

It is the very apparent disposition
of Winnemucca's organization, vol
unteer firemen, to each year give a
banquet and co-ordinated social af-
fair which surpasses previous effort.
Immutable natural law decrees a
limit to human effort and those pres
ent at the Saturday evening func-
tion will unite in declaring that this
self-same limit has been attained.
The banquet was the fourth to oc-
cur in as many years; it also repre-
sented the peak of epicurean effort
and sociability.
Jay w. Stevens was the principal
speaker of the evening and he
proved fully as interesting as on
previous occasions in this city. Rep
resenting the National Board of Fire
Underwriters, he made it plain that
his position does not smack Of COM
mercialism but transversely is inti-
mately associated with sentiment.
Conservation of property is given
place subordinate to the conserva-
tion of human life and he recounted
common sense safety measures
which aid in eliminating this most
important of all wastage. Incen-
diarism was illustrated and the op-
erations of the Pacific Coast arson
ring, now destroyed, were described.
The insidious I.W.W. and his meth
DDS aimed at property destruction
were touched upon and the speech
as whole occupies a place in Win
nemucca minds that gives it highly
educational classification.
Mr.. Stevens discussed his chosen
subject in an intimate manner with
the firemen and their guests and
gave illustrations Of the uncanny
resourcefulness of the malcontents
of the country who, having nothing,
would destroy the property holdings
of others. In fighting for the an
nulment of these activities Mr..
Stevens and his associates are carry
ing on a work that augurs for the
upholding of existing institutions
and no one can hear his expose
without adding to their store Of re-
spect for the present order of
things. Two years ago, he said, So
ciety was assailed in most danger
Gus manner, by cunning men who
sought to create havoc over the en-
tire country. Prompt and rigorous
efforts, including a campaign of
education, resulted in the transfor-
nation of public sentiment until
juries were had in courts of justice
that would convict, and convictions
and penal servitude had a most sal
utory effect. Today, he maintains,
incendiarism is largely curtailed and
he anticipates the time within the
near future when it will be fully
eliminated. He asserted that Win
nemucca is possessed Of the best
fire fighting organization within the
state of Nevada and explained that
he knew of but one other western
state town where it is excelled, the
town in question having a popula-
tion of about ten thousand people.
The honor flag, put forward by
Governor Boyle, to designate Ne
vada's best firemen's organization,
came to this city, he said, as re-
suit of sheer merit and he suggested
that when this flag has been award
ed to the most deserving local pub
lie school student body that the fire.
men set about and earn the thou
sand dollar silver cup now standing
as a prospective award for merit,
together with the two hundred and
fifty dollars that will annually be
placed therein as token of appre-
citation from authorities fostering
fire prevention.
Chief Guy Asbury acted as toast
master and preceding Mr.. Stevens
speech Mayor T. A. Brandon made
the Introductory remarks, welcom-
ing the visitor to the city, to the
banquet and anything else that
he could conveniently help him.
fCoo<;puad ~, Do 90 Eourl