Newspaper article:Page 6 of Wooster Republican,published in Wooster, Ohio on Wednesday, May 27th, 1908 - December 14 2022
- Article title
- Great Things Are Dreamed By Wooster Board Of Trade
- Newspaper title
- Wooster Republican
- Date of publication
- 1908/05/27
- Page number
- 6
- Organization
- Industry
- Other Services > Religious / Grantmaking / Civil / Profession and Similar Organizations
Full text
"Great Things are Dreamed By Wooster Board of Trade: Banquet Thursday Evening, Was One of the Notable Events of Local History, and Wooster Enthusiasm is Now Rampant. Great Things Expected.
Wooster enthusiasm has never been more rampant than it has since the board of trade banquet of Thursday evening. The man who would have the audacity to ask "What the matter with Wooster?" following the burst of enthusiasm for the old town, would be slapped on the back and assured that there's nothing the matter, the old town's coming, some.
Everybody is now for Wooster, all over, and the awakening of enthusiasm was like a good old Methodist revival, where everybody says amen and means it, too.
The banquet was attended by about 200 citizens, and into every citizen who did not have it already was born the boosting spirit. Everything connected with the banquet was all right from start to finish. The Eagles' hall, which the Eagles had so magnanimously given for the occasion, showed up beautifully. The repast was prepared under the direction of H. H. Zeigler, of the American house, and it was faultlessly served as follows:
MENU: Olives, Pickles, Celery, Young Onions, Hot Veal Loaf, Cold Sliced Ham, Potato Salad, June Peas, Strawberries and Cream, Bread and Butter Sandwiches, Vanilla Ice Cream, Fruit, Coffee, Cigars.
PROGRAM: Walter D. Foss, Toastmaster; Music, Orchestra; Duet, Miss Rockey and Mr. Hart; Music, Orchestra; Quartet, Philmel Quartet; Music, Orchestra
BANQUET: Remarks, Walter D. Foss, Pres.; Address, Hon. W. S. Kerr, Ex-Congressman, Mansfield, Ohio; Music, Orchestra; Miscellaneous Talks Limited to Five Minutes
THE MUSIC: The music was simply fine, and consisted of one series of sweet strains after another. Young's orchestra was at its test, and the selections were encored again and again, and the young men were heartily applauded, as they ____ down the line of tables for their suppers. The Philome quartet made a pronounced hit, and was also heartily encored. The duet by Miss Rockey and Mr. Hart was one of the best things of the evening, and the two also were given a royal encore. Altogether the music and singing and feast were but fitting forerunners for the big feast that followed, and after the cigars were lit. President Walter D. Foss, as toastmaster, called the meeting to order. Mr. Foss spoke in a happy vein. as follows:
EVERYONE SHOULD BOOST
"It is very gratifying to me," he said, "to see so many present tonight, and this gathering means much to the prosperity of Wooster. I doubt if ever before in the history of our city were there 200 earnest representative business and professional men thoroughly organized, with but one thought, brought together for a similar purpose and on an occasion like the present. Contemplate for a moment what great things two hundred men, working together harmoniously to the same end might accomplish if every one of us were as unselfishly devoted to the best interests of Wooster, as we are to our families, professions or business, willing to give our time and money, and by our influence and conversation endeavor to induce other citizen to follow our lead.
"We have accomplished great things in the past, our organization was a factor six years ago when the University on the hill was destroyed by fire. Our prompt action enthused Dr. Holden, and the Board of Trade raised over forty-three thousand dollars with-in sixty days, and there arose from the ashes an institution of which we are all justly proud, and she stands today second to non in Ohio-- barring perhaps Ohio State University at Columbus. Two months later we raised over twenty thousand dollars for the Wooster Glass Co. I speak this in a subdued tone of voice, mentioning these two instances merely to remind you of our possibilities. Of course we fall down once in awhile, mistakes may occur occasionally in the best of regulated families. We are not infallible, if we were we would not be here, we'd be up above the clouds, with a little harp and a pair of wings. But whether we get the harp or the wings, you can rest assured that as long as we ARE here, it will be our earnest endeavor to serve the best interests of Wooster to the limit of our ability.
"Our organization is alive-- very much alive the substantial building which greets the vision of the visitor to our city as he alights from his train at the Pennsylvania depot, gives ____ to the fact: and there are more good things to follow. Our committee on new industries is particularly conscious of its responsibility and does not propose to recommend any enterprise to the Board of Trade, and through this organization to our citizens, that will not bear thorough investigation, and this right and proper. Much work has been done which ahs not been made public, and there is much more to be done, and results to be accomplished if we all pull together. Let us through away our hammers, spot the fellow who is a knocker-- join the throng of ""Booster" here assembled, and we will be able to place Wooster where she rightfully belongs by reason of her attractiveness and beautiful surroundings, among the leading industrial cities of this great commonwealth."
KERR WAS ELOQUENT. Mr. Foss introduced W. S. Kerr the brilliant lawyer of Mansfield, who is also a fine orator. Mr. Kerr spoke of many happy memories of "Dear old Wooster," and of people who were dear to him in his profession. He spoke of McSweeney, as a product of Wooster, as one of the ablest lawyers that ever lived. Of Captain A. S. McClure and of the late M. L. Smyser he spoke in the most respectful terms.
"A problem to be solved, he said is where the people will go, now that the land is all occupied, and it may be that while the trend through the centuries has been westward, it will now turn about and be eastward. All our problems will produce leaders, such as Abraham, Mcsop, Wilherforce, Lincoln and Rooselvelt have been in their times."
Mr. Kerr spoke of the adversity of the last few months and said the people have been money mad, "We simply have been guilty of capitalizing our prosperity," he said. "The only way we can right ourselves is to build in our corporations till they reach their present capitalization in actual value." Mr. Kerr urged the much talked of publicly as one of the things that will tend to do away with corporation abuses. "At Mansfield. he said "we didn't have as many at our board of trade banquet as you have here. I would advise that these neighboring towns send delegations to each other's banquets, and thus engender a fellow feeling.
ON TOWN AND GOWN President L. E. Holden made one of the happiest speeches of the evening on 'The Town and Gown." The town people think we college people are not interested in them, and their success," he said. "but I assure you that we are. I have gone out in the highways and the byways and told the world about you loyal business men of Wooster, and of what you have done, and my story has enabled me to bring back a million and four hundred thousand dollars to Wooster in the last nine years. The faculty has stood my back these nine years, and has been loyal to you and the community."
"The town was here before the gown,' he said, "Wooster university is first and foremost the university of Wayne county. Wayne county invited the synod to establish this university here. You are the hosts of the University of Wooster and we are your guests. After 35 years you had a chance to tell us you didn't want us any longer, but you didn't. You invited us back again, and put up $43,000 to show us that we were doubly welcome.
"I see that this is your first annual banquet. We've had them for nine years, so we are just eight years ahead of you, but we want you to come up every year, and especially do we invite you this year. I think it's time the town ought to come up and get acquainted with the gown." Dr. Holden asked all who would come up to the basket picnic on commencement day to stand up, and every in the hall stood up and applauded both the invitation and the speaker.
WOOSTER HERE FIRST J. M. Criley when called on said he knew of no reason why by rights we should send to Mansfield for a speaker, for Wooster was here before Mansfield was on the map.
"It is impossible to tell of the possibilities of this city." said Mr. Criley "if everyone puts his shoulder to the wheel and helps. We must all be willing to contribute when the time comes," he said, "We want to have a better feeling.' Mr. Criley spoke of the honest and integrity of the business me of Wooster.
COST HIM $50 Mr. Foss states that F. W. Miller would be unable to be here at the banquet as an unexpected business matter had come up at a late hour at Canton. Mr. Miller promised Mr. Foss that the absence would cost him $50 when Wooster went after her next factory, however.
A TEN THOUSAND CLUB Mayor Van Nest said that enthusiasm like this surely means that there is to be something doing soon. We want everybody to turn himself into a booster, and we want to have 10,000 population in 1910," he said. He urged that there be hearty co-operation among the business men to get this population, and the suggestion was received with applause.
ACCOMPLISHING RESULTS J. C. Schultz, of the new industry committee said he had spent more time the past year prying into other people's business than he had looking after his own. "I've been so busy," he said, "that one Friday night I went to church they thought I was on some new industry business and couldn't find me when I was wanted at the long distance. I want to know," said Schultz, "how many of you will get a new member of the board of trade by Saturday night." Here everybody stoop up, and applauded again. "Now remember I want you to get them" said Schultz "or pay a dollar. I've got mine in sight now." Schultz spoke of a new industry in sight and said he wanted everybody to pitch in and help get it. "We've got three new industries in the last year" he said.
SPOKE OF VISITS George J. Schwartz spoke of visits to enterprising towns such as Marion and Munice, Ind., and said they all gave him encouragement to boost Wooster. He spoke of the formation of the Boosters' club and urged that the spirit of this organization be encouraged.
WOOSTER HAS THE BEST E. S. Wertz told how Wooster leads many lines, and urged going out after other things. Mr. Wertz made a happy speech and said he wanted to take up the Good Roads proposition with the board in the near future.
MINISTERIAL BUSINESS MAN Rev. Frank Heilman said he had not been accustomed to considering himself a business man, but since hearing the remarks of those present had concluded that ministers are practical business men in that they help direct the moral order of the community and help other busy men keep in touch with higher things.
After telling the member of the board to all be present at the organization of the board in midsummer, and asking them all to boost in the meantime the banquet was ended with the signing of "Auld Lang Syne.""