BANQUET.

The Chicago banquet will certainly stand as one of the most satisfactory functions of the kind in the history of the Association. It was begun promptly at 7:30 and terminated at an early hour, so that there was not the slightest fatigue experienced by any of the guests upon its conclusion. The edibles and service were especially good, and this, coupled with the tasteful appointments of the dining-hall and good music, made a highly satisfactory dinner. There were two hundred and sixty ladies and gentlemen of the convention in attendance.

The Divine Blessing was asked by the Rev. J. A. Rondthaler.

REMARKS OF THE TOASTMASTER.

At the conclusion of the service of the menu, President Charles S. Sergeant, of Boston, acting as Toastmaster, called for order and said:

Ladies and Gentlemen: The time has now arrived when our material banquet must come to a close, and we must give our attention to the words and the advice of others. It is rather a strange situation, some people would think, for street railway men to listen to the advice of others (laughter); but it is our annual pleasure to do so.

It is my pleasant duty to-night to serve you in some sort as a switchboard attendant. I am to close the switches which shall turn on the electric currents of oratory and carry them unimpeded from this bus-bar to the attentive brains of this great audience. (Applause.) That being the case, as you are all familiar with power houses, you know that the rule of the switchboard attendant is "Silence." The duties which they have in connection with these feeder boards are so responsible, that they are not allowed to indulge in any unnecessary conversation. I can, therefore, assure you that, so far as I am concerned, there will be no feeder bored here. (Applause.)

This annual dinner affords the only opportunity when the supplymen and the street railway men can sit side by side, unhampered by the restraints of trade. (Applause.) The events of the past year have resulted in so many combinations of buyers and sellers that serious apprehensions have come over the mind of your President and of your Executive Committee. I have in prophetic vision seen the American Street Railway Association banquet of the future. I did not see a brilliant company like this, but two jaded, careworn men sitting together at a table, one representing all the street railway companies of America, and the other all the trusts. (Applause.)

No gems of wit and oratory can enliven their souls:-but they are not listening to orators, they are engaged in concocting a sordid scheme to absorb the National Government. (Laughter and applause.) Fortunately, that time has not yet come, and it is a great pleasure to us that we are able on this occasion to take into the fold the supplymen, and in some degree recognize our obligation to them. We may this year congratulate them upon the changed business conditions. No longer does the representative of the supply company sit in the ante-room of the railway manager, awaiting an audience, meanwhile, perhaps, casting his eye upon some such notice as this: "The purchasing agent will see persons having articles to sell on alternate Tuesdays from 2 to 3 a. m." (Laughter.) On the contrary, the yards of the rolling mills and of the car factories are filled with the dignified directors of the street railway companies, vainly beseeching the high privilege of placing orders for delivery-not guaranteed-in 1910. (Applause.)

Let us not begrudge the dealer his opportunities. Is he not entitled to his innings now, after so many years of struggle in getting back a new dollar for an old one?

Always a pleasant feature at our dinners has been the presence of ladies (applause), a growing one from year to year. I think the attendance of the ladies has increased, and for many reasons this is particularly fitting, by reason of the debt we owe them as railway companies and as an association. Were

it not for the ladies, our companies would not exist. (Applause.) What street railway company could exist were it not for the shopping habit? (Laughter and applause.) And what would the conductors do with the pennies? May that day be far distant when women shall cease to be the family purchasing agent. I think I see some signs of protest at these material views. Surely we owe them as individuals a far greater debt. Sharers of our joys, consolers of our sorrows, they are the true inspirers of that energy and enterprise that have made American street railways a phenomenon to the whole civilized world. (Applause.) We honor and love them for that.

For many years the name of Chicago has been synonymous with the word "hospitality." All through this land, from Eastport to San Francisco, it has been a byword that to be in Chicago was to be entertained. Therefore, we all expected to be well cared for by our Chicago friends, but I am sure that none of us could have expected such a lavish and thoughtful care of our comforts, welfare and entertainment as we have received. If the chair is permitted to make a motion, I would suggest that we pass a resolution of thanks to our friends of Chicago for all they have done for us. (Great applause.)

TOAST "CHICAGO." RESPONDED TO BY HON. WILLIAM E. MASON, OF CHICAGO.

Toastmaster Sergeant-Now, ladies and gentlemen, before closing my first switch and introducing the first speaker, I want to tell you a little story, not a very amusing one. In Boston, if you will come to the offices of our company, you will see in many of them, hanging on the wall, a picture of an old gray horse, and you will naturally inquire, "Why this picture of this old gray horse?" And we say, "Because that horse, a Morgan horse, worked on an omnibus before there was a street car in Boston. He did his work faithfully and well, and wore out a mate every five years, and after electric cars were introduced he was still working in the barn. Every foreman loved that horse, and when at last he died he was held in sweet memory by everyone. And why? Simply because he was a

good, loyal servant to the public and did his work well." He was always known as old Billy. Old Billy was reliable. (Laughter and cries: "What's the matter with Billy Mason? He's all right.")

Ladies and Gentlemen: The first toast upon our list this evening is "Chicago," and it will be responded to by the Hon. William E. Mason, United States Senator. (Great Applause.)

Mr. Mason-Mr. Toastmaster, ladies and gentlemen: Don't talk to the motorman. (Laughter and cries of "Stand up.") You may think I am not standing up, because I am not long enough, but I will be long enough before I get through. (Laughter.) I am glad to bid you all welcome to Chicago, God bless you. If there is anything in Chicago which you have seen and wanted and did not get, it is because you have slipped your trolley and did not send me a telegram. (Laughter.) I am very glad to be with you and respond to any toast. I see my brother Hynes and Senator Duncan down there. When you gentlemen get into trouble we have tried to keep you out of the penitentiary for it. (Laughter.) We have all done the best we could in our business, and I am very glad to welcome you. I wish I owned the town as a matter of fact (laughter); I would give it to you and your families while you are here.

I am to respond to the toast "Chicago," and it is a good deal like asking a duck to swim to talk about Chicago;-it is so easy. (Great laughter and applause.) Among all of the progress we have made, no progress has been so marked as the service that has been given in the street railroad line. Many a time have I hung on to the hind end of a bobtail in the early days. (Great laughter.) No, I do not mean that kind of a bobtail. (Great laughter and applause.) These southern gentlemen, you know, understand a bobtail different from what we do in Chicago. I was speaking of street cars; they were thinking of four diamonds. I remember when I was hustling for about two dollars or three dollars per diem, and I had to start home early to catch a car coming down from the West side in order to ride back on the West side (and I haven't a word to say against our old brother Jones, God bless him, who ran the cars on the West side), but a man came into this community who had a conception of the needs of our growth. He was equal to Chicago (cheers), and I say, whether he was powerful then or now, and whether he owns a block of stock here or there, the man that kept the transportation service along the lines of our streets equal to the growth of Chicago was Mr. Yerkes. (Great continued cheering.) And you may be surprised to know that I am not on the payroll of the corporation of which he is President. (Applause and laughter.) I may also surprise