March 



1906.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



185 



NEW ENGLAND RUBBER CLUB DINNER. 



As usual the New England Rubber Club scored a success 

 in its midwinter dinner, held in Boston on the even- 

 ing of Februarj- 19. After trying various clubs and 

 hotels for these banquets, the coniniittee retiiriied to 

 their first love the Exchange Club, and its ample accommo- 

 dations and excellent ser\'ice proved the wisdom of their 

 choice. 



As ever some of the distinguished speakers who had agreed 

 to be on hand failed to materialize, and more embarrassing 

 still were able to notifj' the committee only at the last min- 

 ute. The keenest disappointment was perhaps that caused 

 by a telegram received late in the afternoon which read : 



Deeply regret imperative and unavoidable professional (hit3' 

 makes it impos.sil)le for nie to be with you this evening. Sincerely, 



WM. M. IVINS. 



Messrs. Whitmore and Wadbrook, however, filled in the 

 gap by securing Mayor Fitzgerald of Boston, so that there 

 was no lack of speakers. 



The club members and their guests began to assemble at 

 5.30 p. M. in the spacious reception room. There for an hour 

 was held an informal reception when all talked at once and 

 the true social nature of theclubwasexcellently exemplified. 



There were about 150 present, making it one of the best at- 

 tended dinners yet given by the Club. The dinner way be- 

 yond criticism, and Chairman Jones of the dinner committee 

 is to be congratulated on the part of his work, allhougli to- 

 gether with the other two active members of the execution 

 committee, the Treasurer and Assistant Secretary, he did 

 much valuable work. 



President Flint who has always claimed that he was " no 

 talker," surprised and gratified all present by his speech of 

 welcome and by the brief well expressed introductions to 

 speakers. The first whom he presented to the club was the 

 Hon. John N. Cole, speaker of the Massachusetts home of 

 representatives. ^Ir. Cole is a fellow townsman of President 

 Flint, and the latter is very proud of the brilliant record of 



the young newspaper man and politician. His subject was 

 "The Press and Politics," and from start to finish he had the 

 crowd with him. He was both witty and eloquent, and 

 greatly amused the listeners by poking goo humored fun at 

 Congressman McCall, who sat at his left. 



The subject upon which the Hon. Samuel W. McCall 

 spoke was " Railroad Rates and Government Control." Mr. 

 McCall, as a personal favor to the Hon. L. D. Apslej', came 

 from Washington especially to address the club. After get- 

 ting back at Speaker Cole, he settled down to his subject 

 and spoke ior three quarters of an hour, earnestl5', vigor- 

 ously, and convincingly. He reviewed the rate making of 

 the past, here and abroad, and in a word condemned govern- 

 ment ownership and rate making by legislation. 



During the latter part of Mr. McCall 's speech. Mayor Fitz- 

 gerald of Boston came in and when he was introduced as the 

 next speaker he promptly sailed into the former's argu- 

 ments and made many happy hits. He was slated to speak 

 on the " Industrial Condition of Boston, " but a better sub- 

 ject had come to the front and he eagerly grasped it. 



Just how many converts either the Hon. Mr. McCall or the 

 Hon. Mr. Fitzgerald secured it would be difficult to say, for 

 they were both roundly applauded, and the impromptu de- 

 bate although vigorous was most courteous and good na- 

 tured throughout. At 10:30 the formal exercises terminated, 

 and then another social began which lasted beyond the his- 

 toric hour (for Boston) of 11 o'clock. 



A feature of the dinner that is well worth emphasis is the 

 fact that it brought out the rubber men from far and near 

 •and that they nearly all knew each other. The committee 

 on introductions therefore had but little hard work to do in 

 bringing people together. This committee, by the way, was 

 Hon. L. D. Apsley, Costello C. Converse, Ex-Governor A. 

 O. Bourn, Joseph Davol, and A. M. Paul. Among those 

 from a distance who were present were Geoige F. Hodgman, 

 Frank E. Hoadley, Harry G. Fisk, and Harrj' T. Dunn. 



SAMUEL W. M'CALL. 



JOHN H. FLINT. 



WILLIAM M. IVINS. 



