The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-09
MEN WHO MAKE BUSINESS
Evansville's Hospitable Reception to
the Commercial Travellers of Indiana.
The Missionaries of Trade Mix Up Business
and Pleasure in a Characteristic Way
Financial Affairs Of the Association.

No two days more dismal and dissgreeaoie, 80
far az weather is concerned, could have been
found than Friday and Saturday. and yetit is
safe to say that nearly one thousand perssns
looking over the years calendar in the days that
are to come will count them among the bright
est and cheeriest days of their lives It's long
way from indianapolis to Evansville, and had
the commercial tourists, who with wives and
sweethearts filed the twelve Vandalia coaches
that started from here on Friday noon for
Evansville, not been well assured of warm
welcome on arrival at the city the Ohio they
certainly would not have gone. ride on the
cars is the very least inducement to the knights
of :he grip, who spend the greater part of their
tine on the rail
Tha ladies had been sent to the train in
veyances, but the travellers, headed by the
Whiteland Band, marched from Enslish's Hotel
TO the depot in dreary drizzle, but as clipper
a lot of schoolboys off for holiday, and max
ing their very discomforts a source Of jollity.
At Terre Haute three more passenger coaches
filled with travelling men and their ladies,
hooked on. and thence moved southwark over
the Evansville g. Te-re Haute road. At the
Terre Hsute depot George E. harrington sec
rotary of the Vandalia. was surrounded by the
travellers and held mp, while Bruce Carr, Audi
tor of State. who is ons of the best known men
brief speech. presenting him a magnifcens
Scottish Rite and Knight Templar charm a
token of the appreciation in which the Vandalia,
which this year, last furnished them cars
gratuitously to attedd their annual meeting.
was held by the association.
At Vincennes another well filled coach was
added to the train. which then heightened out to
sixteen coaches and baggage car drawn by a
single engine. An excursion train of such
length at this season of the year attracted great
attention, and the platforms at the stations all
along the line were thronged with people. A
few persons had succeeded in getting some
luncheon at Terre Haute. but nearly every
was thoroughly hungry by the time Vincennes
was reached 1t was here that, looking out the
car windows. long array of men and boys were
seen coming full tilt for the train. Each pair of
them carried a large and well-flled basket and
they entered the coaches they distributed
right and left over eight hundred plump paper
parcels, which, upon opening. proved to bs
frst-class lunch, with compliments of Moss 81
Watson" of the Depot Hotel. at Vincennes.
At o'clock Friday evening the train arrived
at Evansville. AS it drew into the depot it was
evident that large part. and, certainly, the
most enthusiastic part OF the population was
present to welcome the visitors. The Evans
Vile drummers, as their brethren OF the grip de-
barked, were drawn MP 10 llne and gave rous-
ing cheer of welcome, which was replied to in
kind by the visitors as they filed by with springy
step. The city appeared to be thrown wide
open. Hacks and eonveyances of all kinds,
Fenneman's city transfer system and the street
cars were free to the visitors. The street-cars,
by the way, are not bot -taled, but platform cars
and are cleaner and better lighted than those Of
this city.
The Evansville folks had expected large ar
rival of visitors but when nearly thousand
persons came in 923 on train, besides some
who had arrived earlier, they were put to some
strain to accommod ate all the guests on so
short notice. The St. George Hotel was
soon filed to overfowing but did the best pos
nfh ia 1F
brought ladies with them. The Sherwood Hotel
was also filled and large number of visitors
were blleted at private residences, while others
we're given sleeping accommodations the
1dlewiid, fine steamboat, which then lay at the
wharf
Too much cannot be said in praise of the over
flowing hospitality of Evansville or Of the we'll
directed efforts of the members to render the
occasion one of complete enjoyment The local
club selected NJ. N. Ross. s. 5. Scanltin, Will
H Rocker and Will l.. Sonntag a general
committee on arrangements. and the social
success OF the meeting shows how well they
derstand their duties.
The ball at EvansiHall, rendered TO the travel
Ing men and ladies, was most delightful affair.
The management of the floor and the music was
excellent, the ladies were lovely and elegantly
dressed. A fine lunch TO which full justice
done, was spread upon the wide stage.
An episode not down upon the bills took place
when the guests began to leave the ballroom
The persons left in charge of the gentlemens
hats had in some way become contused-the
hats had become little Ynixed-and in endeav-
orine to straighten things, matters were made |
much worse by hat-rack falling down. which |
iumbled nearly thousand hats into mass.
The scene that followed was little wild and |
woolly. Nearly everybo got hat but |
greater number of insists issued, |
and the boys have been busy trading ever since. |
There was q slight mix-up in the ladies' wraps, |
and also in the gentlemen's overshoes, one |
drummer mournfuly remarking that he had |
been wabbling round with two lefts, his tracks |
looking like twenty minutes past II. while he |
had exchanged new tile for q plug that had
evidently been nodded on the first block. ever
made.
The business meeting of the association was
held at the Evansville Opera house Saturday
morning, at 10 o'clock, the ladies during the in
tervai being taken on an excursion by rail down
the river sto the Henderson bridge across
the Ohio. President Norman called the meet
ing to order. and. after prayer by Rev. Charles
Morris, Mayor Danuetten delivered address
of welcome, which was responded to by George
Z. Webster, jr.
David W. Coffin. secretary and treasurer sub
mitted report: Membership Jan. 8, 1887, COB;
reinstated, IL; new members received during
the year, 265. making a total Of 953 OF these
six have died, two have been expelled and TWEEN
leaving the present membership 923. The cash
statement is as follows: Cash in hands OF treas
urer on Jan. s, 1887, S., so2 A; annual dues.
$649 March z, assessment $l,944; April 80,
assessment. 81, 929; Aug. 80. assessment, 2,094;
Nov. 2, s., 0o4; reinstatement account, $94; men,
bershp fees 81, 440, total, $l9. A. Expended
death losses paid certificate: Jesse w.
Lakin, 81, 600; W. II. johnson. 81 800; W. d.
Wilfong, 81, GOO; II. A. Curry. 81 900; expense
mum meeting at Ierre HRute, 500; attorneys
fees. SO; kilograms. SO 50: medical director $54;
postage, 63.05 printing. $270.69; d. w.
Coffin. voted at Terre Haute. $500; total. 81
2l22 20; balance on hand Jan. 8, 1855. $lI 1874 Is
The election of new officers for the ensuing
year proved to be the most exciting that has
ever been known In the association. There
were three candidates for the presidency and
the scenes that took place in the contest were
much like those that characterize a State con- |
ven ton of either of the great political parties
The voting of proxies dragged the proceedings |
put to an interminabe length and resulted in
action being taken dispensing with the voting
OF proxies altogether from this time forward |
The candidates for president WIN. d. |
Cooper, who received $50 votes; Carey McPher-
son, who received SO votes, and Charles w. |
Bridges, who received 153 votes For vice.
president, VIM. j. Brown elected for Indi-
annapolis. he receiving 37S votes to 147 |
for Frank RAachie For secrafnry and treasurer |