Men's Banquet

Men's Banquet at the 1912 Convention

by Rachael E. Martin, Club #25 Historian

On the evening of August 7, 1912, while the ladies dined & were entertained at the Commercial Club, over 300 Rotarians gathered at the Spalding Hotel to hear Governor Eberhart, the principal speaker & guest of honor.
 

The Duluth News Tribune described the event: "Yells, cheers, snatches of song, serious talks & some in a lighter vein, and a cordial & self-evident bond of good fellowship made the International Rotary Club banquet at the Spalding last night an affair that will long be remembered by the Rotarians."
 

Earlier that day the Rotarians made a decision at their business meeting to change the name of the organization from National to the International Association of Rotary Clubs. C. E. Fletcher of Winnipeg advocated this change in a short talk and action was taken without discussion.
 

The international nature of Rotary was evident at the banquet as delegates began promoting their cities to host the next Rotary convention. The Cincinnati delegates got the ball rolling with several "Queen City" cheers. Boston delegates gave their favorite yell & someone shouted "Beans!" Pandemonium then broke loose as everyone boosted his or her hometown.
 

When the noise subsided, Rev. W. G. Stearns of Spokane said grace, mentioning that Spokane was also on the map. The Masonic quartet led the group in singing "America" and "God Save the King". The chorus of "Minnesota", composed by Harry A. Earnshaw of Duluth, made such a hit it was repeated several times. Several songs, written for the occasion by Professor AFM Custance, were also loudly applauded.
 

As E. J. Filiatrault, president of the Duluth club, introduced Gov. Eberhart, the crowd sang, "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow". The governor received an ovation that lasted several minutes. The News Tribune reported, "It was a right royal welcome, given in true Rotarian style, and the governor lived up to the spirit of the occasion by delivering, in the opinion of those who have heard him on various occasions, the best talk of his political career."
 

Highlights of Eberhart's speech included: "At this international gathering the Union Jack & the Stars & Stripes are intertwined...Boundaries are given no thought here. All are here because they believe in the principles of Rotarianism...I am a firm believer in Rotarianism...Rotarianism means service. Rotarians believe in making cities beautiful. They believe in doing away with disease. They believe in bringing about healthful conditions. The subjects that are being taken up should receive the cooperation of every businessman, and the fact that these clubs are composed of representative men is the reason they are doing things."
 

After the governor's speech, Bentley P. Neff, Vice President of the Commercial Club, responded and highly complimented the Duluth Rotary club for having brought so many prominent and influential men to the city. Presidents of many Rotary clubs gave short talks, every one of them praising Duluth & the success of the convention so far.