“A splendid banquet was tendered by the Southern Express Company to its superintendents, route agents, and agents attending the Cotton States and International Exposition, last evening in the Kimball House.
“The occasion was a most happy one.
“The banquet was held in honor of Plant Day—Mr. Plant being president of the Southern Express Company.
“Mr. T. W. Leary, the popular and genial assistant general manager of the Southern Express Company, presided and acted as toast-master. In this capacity he distinguished himself, and made some of the happiest hits of the evening. The speeches were of the happiest character, and befitted the occasion which they commemorated—the birthday of the venerable president of the express company, who has done so much towards the building up of this rich and powerful transportation company.
“Among those who spoke were the following:
“Mr. C. L. Loop, traffic manager of the Southern Express Company; Mr. H. Dempsey, superintendent; Mr. H. O. Fisher, superintendent; Mr. G. W. Agee, superintendent; Mr. V. E. McBee, general agent Seaboard Air Line; Mr. J. L. McCollum, superintendent Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis Railway; Mr. F. H. Richardson, editor Atlanta Journal; Mr. C. S. Gadsden, superintendent of the Plant System.
“The entire occasion was marked by the greatest enthusiasm, and it will be long remembered by those present. The following is a list of the guests:
“J. S. B. Thompson, assistant general superintendent Southern Railway; V. E. McBee, general agent Seaboard Air Line; W. R. Beauprie, superintendent Southern Railway; J. L. McCollum, superintendent Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis Railway; D. E. Maxwell, general manager Florida Central and Peninsular Railway; L. M. Weathers, Memphis, Tennessee; F. de C. Sullivan, E. M. Williams, George E. Carter, New York; B. R. Swoope, Virginia; F. H. Richardson, Atlanta Journal, and G. W. Haines, H. A. Ford, C. O. Parker, C. S. Gadsden, W. B. Denham, Judge Brawley, of the Plant System; M. F. Echols, agent Southern Express Company, Atlanta, Georgia; W. A. Dewees, agent Southern Express Company, Chattanooga, Tennessee; F. L. Cooper, agent Southern Express Company, Savannah, Georgia, and H. M. McCulloch, W. E. McGill, G. A. Wilkinson, J. A. Cleary and F. M. Folds; C. L. Loop, traffic manager Southern Express Company; H. Dempsey, superintendent; H. C. Fisher, superintendent; C. T. Campbell, superintendent; O. M. Sadler, superintendent; W. J. Crosswell, superintendent; G. W. Agee, superintendent; C. L. Myers, superintendent; W. W. Hulbert, superintendent; V. Spalding, superintendent; C. A. Pardue, superintendent; J. C. Arnold, route agent; S. R. Golibart, route agent; P. B. Wilkes, route agent; W. C. Agee, route agent; J. Cronin, route agent; K. C. Barrett, route agent; John Lovette, route agent; H. E. Williamson, route agent; J. B. Hockaday, route agent; W. M. Shoemaker, agent Southern Express Company, Montgomery, Alabama.
“The Exposition was crowded to-day with the employees of the Plant System and the friends of Mr. H. B. Plant, the president of that System, for it was Plant Day.
“There is perhaps no more interesting figure in American business life to-day than H. B. Plant, and his employees have for him that feeling of love that is so rarely held by the employees of a great corporation for its head. As an evidence of that love and kindly feeling the employees gathered to-day to do him honor.”—Atlanta Journal.