The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-04-23
THE EXpRESSMEN.
ALI, PARTS or TINE COUNTRY REPRE-
sENTED YESTERDAY AT THE
ST, CHARLEs HOTEL.

PAf1Of Il at the ST. VHHTl5S 6Otei Yesterday
mor ming presented very animated appear
ance, The occasion being the fourth annual
convention OF the Expressmene Aid Society. the
parlor had been most artisticaIy decorated In
their honor. On one side of the room there was
raised dale. on which the president and secre-
taries we're to sit. In bright evergreen. just be-
hind the presiding officers chair. there was a
rich arch OF evergreen and flowers, from which
was hung In floral letters. Southern Welcome
to Exprpssmen" Beneath this was the portrait
OF Alvin Adams the founder Of expresses In this
country. The windows were most tastily deco
rated with festoons Of lilies. roses verbena and
pinks, whilst around the room stood orange
trees laden with their golden fruit Suspended
from the walls hung pendant the flags OF the
various express companies. with their names
upon them.
We noticed the Wells Fargo Union. Upfted
States Southern. American. Adams. New Jer-
sey and Texas. #
The gentlemen to whose taste this work OF
decoration was due deserve escompliment on
their artistic judgment
BY 10 o'clock the delegates from all parts of
the Union b eean to arrive.and little after that
hour Gov. Nichols and Mayor Pilsbury entered
with Afr ed Gaithsr ,'Esa.. the president. After
the Governor RRd Mayor had been introduced,
the people Of New Orleans a hearty welcome to
the delegates present. The Express Association
E represented he said. one of the greatest insti-
tutlons OF the country. and he hoped when the
convention left the city It would go with happy
recollections Of the people Of this city.
Mr.. L. G. Weir. addrf ssng the chair, said that
they had been met here with that cordial hospi-
from the North they had been told TO look
through the South for evidences OF decay but
had found none. He trusted that the Crescent
fropois it deserved to Be. Mr.. Weir's speech
Yves received with repeated applause.
The president then made the following ad-
Gentlemen OF the Convention:
have great pleasure In meeting you once
more In the. your collective. capacity as repre-,
se1,atiyes Of the membershlp OF our society and
with the active operations of the great express
interests OF the country.
have been very much Rratihed In noticing
the character and quality of the men who have
been sent here to represent the membership.
Nearly every grade OF the service Is represent
ed, from the clerks and messengers even w to
the presidents Of the companies In and by which
we are oil employed.
In making this expression In regard to those
present have no intention to In any wise lessen
the statu or thetworth of those who have de-
puted you or of those who from any cause have
failei to become co-members with you in our
4 feel that may say, and I gay It with en-
business OF equal extent In the sphere of Its
operations can there be found an organization
OF men as officers, and subordinate employees
who have been and are more industrious. more
honest and more faithful even unto death than
are those who are identified with the express
Ii In further satisfaction for me to know by
my official relations TO one OF the companies
forming this interest as well as by my business
s a 9th sas se ct s is an petne
nzpd by them. and a disposition entertained TO
jn.stify and perpetuate it By. all proper means.
and Wise SPUR purpose There & not nor should
hers be- Of g in
manage its interests should act In full recogni-
ton OF the fact that they simply represent n
trust OF a very sacred character. In which none
their best judgment In all things relating to 1t
n due to all Of those who are to DO benefited
Il Is an effort on the part of many of US to
make the only provision we can for those who
\ ere near and dear to US when death shall have
deprived them OF our presence en- ts and support
tence It les provide; IN such on event. the
means Of support pntil they shall have had an
livelihood. Looked at from this point of view,
and believe 1t is the true one, those OF US who
may not have to contemplate In that dread
aspect. and who are members simply as an
xa ssI should LOOK Will g + that ihe primary
served served I'VE know What we are but we know low
not what we shall be-" and II requires no stretch
Of the imagination TO reaiz. that in brief
space OF time those who are now com parRtively
well provided for may be compelled to look to
their interest IN this society as The only means
2t yon
be wise In the discharge OF the duties OF this
trust.
TO me to know that the results of the past year
as to membership and general outcome Of the
society have " been These
ther fact that the interests OF the society have
fee and the division secretaries In the discharge
Of the duties imposed on them.
There are several questions Of interest to the
society that will be presented for the constdera-
tion and action Of the convention.
Among those I may name that OF biennial. in
ment Of the mem bership. so far as / have
learned, seems TO be in favor Of the change:
and advise that 1t be made; Article ten Of the
election Of delegates to the annual meetings Of
the society recommend that action be taken
been e hs 81 the
one thousand dollars or more from Its expense
fund that the same be invested 50 as to pro-
duce revenue to the society and that the in
citation fee Of one dollar. from which the accu
mutation has been mainly derived. be abol-
y submit this suggestion to the consideration
OF the convention. The cost OF membership
6nOuIu no CHehpeuSu HIS lHI tS vEHcJicHDle anu
80 far as fees are concerned. and this fee seems
10 be unnecessary for the support of the So
ciety.
The subject Of taking Off the limit of mem
bership In class has been discussed to some
extent, and may be presented for your copsid-
GRAFTON. 1t involves change of the constitu
tion and one of the essential features of the or
Ganization OF the society.
There are also those OF the membership OF
the society who object to the Limitation as to
Age OF those who desire to become members.
These are important questions and deserve
che consideration of the convention. | would
suggest In this connection the maintenance Of
Class A, as fixed by the constitution. and that
applications for membership oy persons not
exceeding fifty years Of age ba entertained and
authorized for class @. without the privilege.
however Of becoming members of class A.
In conclusion desire to bear witness to the
faithful attention Of the secretary and treas
nrer Of the society to the details of their re-
spective duties. and for which they are entitled
10 Its thanks.
Mr.. Il G. MendenhaIl Of Corinth. Miss. was