The Sauk Centre Herald

Candidates, politicians and just plain citizens honored William M. Parker, Republican state chairman, at dinner in his honor in Sauk Centre Monday night. In the upper picture, left to right, are Ed L. Rathe, of the Herald, banquet chairman; Harold E. Stassen, of South St. Paul, candidate for governor; Richard Bassett, Sauk Centre, Stearns county chairman of the Young Republicans; D. B. Caughren, Community Club president, Sauk Centre; Mayor George E. Leach, of Minneapolis, and Martin A. Nelson, of Austin, gubernatorial candidates. Below, the honored guest, Mr. Parker, and his better half, as they arrived for the dinner.

Sauk Centreites Honored W M. Parker Monday Night

It's been nineteen years since, in the mud of France and days of '18, the General and the doughboy met. But the General has an exceptional memory.

Monday evening at the testimonial dinner for W. M. Parker Mayor of Minneapolis, General George E. Leach, strode up to W. D. Gallup and without further ado, said, 'Hello, Gallup."

"You've a good memory, General," Mr. Gallup replied.

"And you've changed some since then," said the General.

To which Mr. Gallup came back with, "I'm eating regularly now."

In the nineteen years since, Mr. Gallup had anticipated this meeting. He explained Tuesday that both had been in the 151st Field Artillery in the thick of it in France. Mr. Leach came to the outfit as a Colonel: when he left he had been advanced to the rank of General. Mr. Gallup was in the headquarters company, second battalion. Mr. Gallup explained that somehow his name had been dropped from the 151st roster, and the General promised to have it reinstated.

Banquet At Public School Largely Attended By Friends - Neighbors

INTERESTING PROGRAM

Distinguished Guests Included Republican Candidates For Governor

(By Chuck Rathe)

W. M. Parker doesn't feel out of place in his home town, for Monday night Main Street, in a testimonial dinner, honored one of its "local boys made good" when they paid tribute in lavish praise to Mr. Parker, chairman of the State Republican central committee. At his side in the place of honor sat Mrs. Parker.

In this meeting that approached state-wide scope, with an array of Republican gubernatorial timber and other notables, almost three hundred sat at the banquet tables. Political barriers were scattered literally to the four winds when Republicans, Democrats, and Farmer Laborites alike, sat at the function.

It was one of the finest demonstrations Sauk Centre has tendered one of its citizens in a number of years. When Mr. Parker was called upon, he was received with a rising thunder of applause from the crowd. "I feel you have done more than you should have," he said. "It's grand to see all these faces I know so well." He was almost unable to contain himself, so moved was he with the demonstration his home town friends and people throughout the state gave him. Several times he repeated in his short acknowledgement, 'I just don't know what to say."

Speaking of the three potential candidates for the Republican nod at the primaries, Mayor George E. Leach, already filed and the first in the field, Martin Nelson, and Harold Stassen, all seated at the honored table, Mr. Parker said, "I don't care which of the three gets it. I'll go down the line for him, and put him on Capitol Hill in November."

At seven, guests began filing to the long rows of tables that stretched, tastily decorated in blue and white with lighted tapers, the length of the auditorium. Amid the flashing of press cameras they took their places to begin the meeting with the group singing, "America."

Msgr. A. Plachta gave the invocation from his place at the speaker's table. During the dinner hour music was furnished by Kohl's Klinkers, local orchestra. Chairman of the meeting was Ed L. Rathe.

Lustily in a community sing, led by Supt. W. A. Kohl, the gathering honored Mrs. Parker with the favorite: Let Me Call You Sweetheart."

As president of the Community Club, D. B. Caughren gave the address of welcome to the local people and those who had come from various parts of the state.

"John... to ...Bill."

Read at the table by Mr. Caughren this letter was considered by Mr. Parker one of the fine demonstrations at the meeting. From an old neighbor and friend, John McGibbon. it read as follows:

Dear Mr. Parker,

While your friends are gathered around Monday night there will be one good old Republican who will be there in spirit but not in person and he will wish for your success in leading the voters of Minnesota out of the wilderness.

Sincerely,

(Signed) John N. McGibbon.

And for everything that father wishes for you, let us say that goes double.

Most sincerely,

Hazel and Henry Halverson,

St. Cloud.

In reviewing the civic activities of Mr. Parker, George Berggreen referred to the splendid heritage Bill must have had from his parents and, I remember, he said, he had two good looking sisters. Referring to Mr. Parker's activities in the National Guard, where he served as Captain Mr. Berggreen said, I can appreciate Bill's ability to get a company in straight lines on company front. Mayor Leach, being only a general, cannot, but I can. I was a corporal.

Mr. Berggreen touched on his activities as president of the Community Club and his prominence in bringing about the organization of the local band.

With his theme touching the political life of this man of the hour. J. F. Cooper. long time resident here said, We elected 'Billy' Parker mayor; he developed into 'Bill' Parker before he went out of office.

Introduced as a "friend of Bill Parker" but known as the Mayor of Glenwood widely, Cornie Wallen, humorist. paid tribute to Bill, Mrs. Chris Carlson, national Republican committeewoman, Blue Earth, hailed Mr. Parker as another 'Main Street boy made good,' and Roy E. Dunn, national committeeman, of Pelican Rapids, added praise to what had gone before.

Then Mr. Parker was called and as he rose to speak, the crowd moved to its feet and sent out a round of applause. And after he spoke, in a speech that betrayed his deep feelings. another round burst loose when Mrs. Parker. attired in blue. stood at his side and was introduced to the gathering.

One after another the three candidates in the race for the nomination of the Republican party as governor, lauded Mr. Parker. Mayor of Minneapolis, General George E. Leach, said, "I couldn't believe my ears and eyes when I saw such high honors paid to a man who was both a soldier and a mayor."

Martin Nelson. twice candidate on the Republican state ticket for the governorship, said, "I believe that Bill Parker is the man who can lead the party back to its place in the State of Minnesota." He spoke of the gain in the party nucleus in the last election over the preceding one of more than 100,000 votes.

Impressionalble was this younger of the trio, Harold E, Stassen, of South St. Paul, who was introduced by R. W. Bassett. With his voice that reached easily into the far corners of the floor, he said, "Never has a community put on such an occasion, so carefully arranged, so graciously served. I salute you for the splendid way you have honored your citizen, William Parker. Let's take politics out of Wall Street and put it on Main Street." His name fairly buzzed around the town the following day.

Other speakers included LeRoy Matson, secretary of the State Central Committee, L. J. Lauerman, 7th district chairman, and Warren Stewart. 6th district chairman who termed Mr. Parker a "diplomatic slave driver." but added. "when I nominated him for the chairmanship of the central committee, I thought he could do it: now I know he will succeed."

Serving the dinner were ladies of St, Paul's Church, who, on word of the guests and committee in charge of arrangements alike, handled the dinner in excellent fashion.

Letters and telegrams poured in to Mr. Parker from prominent persons throughout the state and others who could not attend this party. Other communications were received by the local committee, all were primed with congratulations to the state chairman.

Comment with Regrets-

Typical comment from letters and telegrams expressing regret at being unable to attend the dinner for Mr, Parker:

"Please tender my congratulations to Bill." Ray P. Chase, former state auditor

"Extending our felicitations and good wishes on this happy occasion. We join in spirit in the tribute being paid you by your friends in Sauk Centre and throughout the state." Robert A. Burns and Joseph W. Finley.

"Best wishes for your success. St. Louis county with you." Edw. H. Hatch.

"Accept my congratulations and best wishes." Hazel C. Daniels, state chairwoman of Minneapolis.

"A humble volunteer ready for action sends congratulatory greetings." Mrs. Rose Spencer, state vice chairwoman, Winona.

Newspapermen from outside of the city included Carl Carlson, of the Melrose Beacon; Clarence and Earl LeMasurier. of the Paynesville Press; B. K. Savre, of the Glenwood Herald; Paul Kinney, of the Osakis Review; Newell Barnard, of the Bertha Herald; Ed Vandersluis and Don Appert, of the St. Cloud Sentinel; George L. Johnson, of the Little Falls Transcript; Carl Henneman and Myron Hall, of the St. Cloud Times, and others.

Citizens from Minneapolis, St. Paul Melrose, Grey Eagle, Glenwood, Swanville, Starbuck, Villard, Westport, Long Prairie, St. Cloud, Little Falls, Osakis and from other cities and villages were present.

The next day, as the street hummed with the events that moved the previous evening, Mr. Parker said, It's the bright light of my life. I'll never forget it.

Congratulates Committee

Mr. Ed Rathe,

Sauk Centre, Minn.

Dear Ed:

I cannot let the occasion pass without telling you again how successful your dinner for Bill Parker was and how impressed we were especially those who came in from the outside.

No one knows more than I do that those things take a lot of work and a lot of planning. They do not generate themselves spontaneously and, having been mixed up in several things of the kind myself I realize what you have been up against.

One who attempts to run an affair of the kind often finds himself subjected to unjust criticism and blamed for some things which were visible only to those who were on the committee and about all he gets out of it are the thanks and appreciation that should naturally follow.

Everyone that I talked to was highly pleased and thought your committee had put on a banquet and entertainment which was beyond their expectations.

It was a good job and I am glad to let you know that I think you and your organization are to be congratulated upon a most successful event.

With kindest personal regards and best wishes, I am

Yours very sincerely,

Warren H. Stewart,

Republican Sixth District Chairman. St. Cloud.