CANED Two COLONELS
The Proprietors or the Merchants’ Remembered by Employees. Col. F. R. Welz and his partner and son-in-lay, Mr. Frey. of the Merchants’ who will in a ten days retire from the management of that house, were yesterday made the recipients of two fine gold-headed walking sticks. testimonials of the esteem in which they are held by the 150 employees of the house. The master of ceremonies was the head waiter. A. Charbonneau, and he presented the canes after a very neat speech. The presentation was to take place shortly before the dinner hour, in the dining room, and at that tune all the employees gathered there.
But Col. Welz was not to be found. A man was sent to tell him that the head waiter desired to see him. The colonel at once hastened up thinking Mr.Charbonneau had something to mention to him before dinner. He went into the dining room and said:
“Come into the ordinary. We can speak there away from all the boys.”
“That will not do at all.” replied Mr.Charbonneau, “We want all to be present.”
Col. Welz saw what was coming, and, although great!y surprised, made a short but affecting speech at the close of the presentation speech.
Col. Frey, while surprised, rallied and gave the assembled crowd a good talk. He thanked them for their kindness and
said :
“Say now, as I have always said, that there is not another hotel in the United States with a force of employees that can compare in efficiency With the employees Of the Merchants’. Many of you have long been with the hotel, some having served as far back as the tune of Col. Shaw. We appreciate the faithful service you have given us in the last five years. and trust you will long remain With the Merchants’I have spoken a good word for all to the new proprietors, and I shall be only too glad to say again that the employees of the Merchants’ are the most faithful lot ever gathered in one.”
Col. Welz and Mr. Frey were liberal with their employees. and their change is received with great regret by the attaches of the house. They took a personal interest in every man, and in times of sickness they never forgot their employees. Two of the oldest of the force have died during their term,John Ford and James Sherin, and both were paid their full salaries during their long sickness. The two canes have inscriptions handsomely engraved and in the following words:
“Presented to F.R. Welz by the
waiters of the Merchants’ hotel.”
“Presented to C. Frey by the waiters
of the Merchants’ hotel.”
-St. Paul Globe
Saturday, March 26th, 1892
