The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-02-23

Veteran employees of the Richmond
division, Pennsylvania system, to the
number of ESQ, with their wives. spent
an enjoyable three hours in ST. Mary's
community hall, Wednesday evening,
at the annual banuet of the Veteran
employees association. John l.. Rupe
served as master of ceremonies.
The affair held Wednesday was the
second annual banuet of the associa
ton and the first at which the better
halves of the men had been invited
to take part That the innovation was
appreciated was evidenced by unani-
nous vote at the end of the evening
to Have the girls back again at the
next banquet"
Election of officers furnished spicy
prelude to the turkey dinner served
at 7 o'clock The ballots were passed
around before the food was served,
and the result Of the election, an
nounced later in the evening, follows:
President, Clarence E. Mayhem;
first vice president, Hugh Steele, sec
ond vice president, o. Y. Porter; secre-
tary, L. D. Haseltine; treasurer, ]. T..
Van Matre; chaplain. c. s. Hoeffer;
executive board, Charles L. Green
Entertaining Features.
Two minstrel teams, songs, dances
and Rotations, occupied the attention
of the audience for the greater part
of the evening. Music was furnished
by the Pennsylvania railroad band.
"reminiscences of the time when he
was a member of the Centerville band
opened the talk made by Mr.. Rupe
He also touched briefly on the time
when he was mayor of Richmond, back
in 1888 He said:
There is kind of fraternity among
men who have been engaged In the
same line of business for years, and
il is worth while for them to meet
together once a year and get to know
each other better. There Is nothing
that is more worth while than the edu-
cation that is gained by meeting Of
minds in a fraternal association, not
suspicious of each other.
in the years that have been In the
service of the Pennsylvania lines, they
nave occupied a distinctive place IN
The public eye.
Represent Corporation.
do YOU realize, when in the serv-
ice of the railroad, that we men rep
resent that corporation and 1t is
Judged by US and our contact with the
public? | think that the reason the
PENNSYLVANIA railroad has enjoyed
such distinction is because of the men
who have been employed by 1t.
R. X Rochester, general superin-
tendent, of Columbus, Ohio was then
introduced by Mr. Rupe. He SAID: i
appreciate the opportunity OF being
with you this evening, and | want 10
touch briefly on one thing, the matter
of cooperation. Everything IN the
way of cooperation has been well done
by the members of the Richmond di-
vision. l want to assure you or the
appreciation of the management, espe-
cially in regard to the preceding year,
which has been one of the most dull
cult with which we have ever dealt.
Drastic measures have been neces-
sary, and have been taken, because OF
the falling off in traffic and the de-
mand of the public for better service
at lower rates. The men of the Rich
mond division have gone on with
hearty support for every step the man
agement has undertaken"
Boosts Association.
w. c. Higginbottom, new division
superintendent spoke briefly: 1T is
wonderful thing to get these veterans
together and give them chance to
visit among themselves. There was a
time when their only chance for this
sort of thing was at the funeral of a
comrade or the home of sick friend
| hope the association will continue tC
prosper"
Among the veterans much In evil
dence was George Dougan, who &C
cording to one member present was
the oldest living locomotive engineer
+ in the United States and the world
Dougan was the recipient of a heart!
round of applause as he rose to hi!
feet. II have but little to say" III
said. Il realize that | have but little
service left in me, but | do want t.
say that | am proud to be membe
of the veterans association.
mike Meagan, conductor, was a.
most as brief in his remarks. He ros
to his feet under protest, and said
I'm little too old to say much" an
sat down.
Friends Greet Finfroek
]. w. Finfrock, conductor, retired
who had introduced Mr. Rupe as mas
ter of ceremonies, was greeted b
many old friends from various point
on the division, during the evening
Olc VI tAcLl odiu llllIOSh iOOhCu CNS-
better than he had when he retired.
Letters were read from a number c
out of town officials of the road VIII
had been unable to attend the banque
!. w. Geer, general manager, A.
Watson, secretary. j. G. McCulloug
and others were represented by letter
Interpretive dancing by Miss Bett
Morgan, followed by burlesques b
Francis NJ. Robinson, were an agre