Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-28
TALKING IN SIGNS.
Tho Closing Session OF tho National
Deaf Mute Convention.

cAao FAVORED AS THE PLACE ron HOLDING
THE NEXT CONVENTION.
To-day was the last day of the convention Of
the National association of deaf mutes at Ken
dali Green. When the convention met at 1913
the following executive committee was APP
pointed By the president: Alabama, W. 8.
johnson; Connecticut, W. b. Weeks; Colorado,
q. W. Yeditz; Illinois, ]. Il. Cloud; Indiana, 8.
j. Vail; Iowa, H. r. Adams; Maine, @. W. Wake
field; Massachusetts,, +. W. Bigelow: Maryland,
j. 8. Wells; Michigan, w. Hubbard; Missouri,
G. f. Dougherty; Minnesota, J. L. Smith; New
Jersey, A. Ballin; New York, e. A. Hodgson,
Ohio, r. Patterson; Pennsylvania, 6. g. David
son; Rhode Island. Oscar Kinsman; South Caro-
lima, L. II. Coleman: Tennessee, w. o. Branum;
hays; wisconsin, T. Hogerty; Vermont, J. 7.
keefe; District Of Columbia, G. W. K. Strong;
Utah, II. C. White.
1t was announced that President Harrison
was unable 70 receive the convention in q body.
IN FAVOR OF CHICAGO.
1t was decided to secure an expression of the
sense Of the convention in regard to the place
OF holding the next convention in order to as
sist the executive committee in making its de-
clsion. The claims of both st. Louis and
Chicago we're warmly urged and finally the vote
OF the convention declared in favor of Chicago.
Mr.. j. l.. Smith. Of Minnesota. read a paper
on IN, The Compulsory Education of the Deaf"
The paper elected considerable discussion,
the majority OF the speakers being in favor Of
compulsory law.
SLANG SIGNS.
Mr.. W. H. Weeks, of Hartford, Conn, read q
paper on 1.-The Purity of the Sign Language"
The speaker demonstrated against the corrup-
tons which were creeping into the language
t.aianO al
ruptions were totally unlike phonetic decay in
oral languages. Signs are ideographs, visible
representation Of ideas, and the corruptlons
are mostly unnecessary, melegant ways Of ex-
pressing these ideas. He invsighed against
many popular signs in away that provoked the
laughter OF the convention. Mr.. Weeks him.
sell Is a very forcible sign-maker, though his
signs are rather expressive than graceful
Mr.. W. q. jones' of New York, in discussing
the paper, kept the assembly in . roar Of
MIR. Weeks deprecated
THE OFFICERS ELECTED.
Yesterday afternoon, after The SrAR's report
closed the convention elected the following
officers for ensuing year: President, d. W.
George, Illinois; first vice-president; Emanuel
Souweine, New York; second vice-president; T.
ID. Coleman, South Carolina; third vice-presi-
dent, Charles kearney, Indiana; fourth vice.
president Frank W. Bgelow, Massachusetts;
treasurer.
b. II. Allabough, Pennsylvania.
The discussion Of the matter of new consti-
tuition waved rather warm towards the close.
and hands few fast in their expressive gestures,
as delegate after delegate delivered arguments
against or for certain changes.
CHANGES IN TIE CONSTITUTIONS.
The constitution and bylaws were adopted
with the important change that the president
of the location is now ex-oificio chairman of
Of e. .ecutive committee. This committee
is con, ,osed Of one delegate from each state
represented IN the convention and has full
control of the association during the interval
between meetings. great deal Of trouble has
hitherto arisen from the division of power be-
tween president and chairmen.
After the new officers had taken their places
yesterday MIR. Henry L. White read an interest
ing paper under the caption Don't" 1t was a
warning to other deaf-mutes against deyoting
their time to learning to become teachers Of
the deaf He advised them rather TO push out
into channels of trade and commerce. The
paper evoked great applause and enthusiasm.
AN ACCIDENT TO MIR. FRoEHLICK.
Mr.. Froehlick, Of New York, the late chair
man of the executive committee, has been very
active in securing the success of the plan for
the Gallaudet memorial and had, with Treas
urer Draper, arranged the ceremonies for the
unwilling. The exertion was such tax upon
his strength that last evening he fell in a swoon
as he was stepping from herdic on street
northeast Falling upon the asphalt he cut his
head badly. He was removed to his rooms ut
the college and Is slowly improving.
MUTE JOURNALISM.
Several Of the graduates of the college are
in attendance upon the convention in the capa-
city of correspondents for various Deaf M,aes'
journals. Mr.. Van Allen. the valedictorian Of
the last class, sends letters to the deaf-mutes'
Journds OF New York, OF which President
Hodgson is editor. Mr.. J. +. J. Tresch il pres
ent as the representative OF the World Pictorial
president of the National Republican League of
Deaf Eutes, OF which Chas. LIE CLERGY, a dele
gate likewise, is secretary. Mr.. Samuel David
son, a recent graduate, is now the editor of
The Silent World, published in Philadelphia He
is present at the convention. Among the other
leading delegates is Mr. Anthony Capelli, the
president Of the Manhattan Literary Association
Of deaf mutes, of New York. Mr.. Henry C,
White, who graduated five or six years ago
with the highest honors, is now the principal
of the Territory Deaf Mute Institute of Salt
Lake City, Utah, Of which he is also the foun-
der. Prof. w. G. Jones, now instructor of the
New York deaf and dumb institution, is dele
gate.
THE FEDERATION OF THE DEAF.
Mr.. 7. +. Foxs paper on ''The federation of
the dear was an argument in favor of unity
of effort to bring about better understanding
anu An Improvement OF the relations borne by
the deaf to the rest Of the community. II Is
evident, Mr.. Fox said, that on such subjects as
Statistics" ''intermarriage," Circumstances"
and system" or method" the deaf are fully
aware Of their importance as controlling ele-
ments in their lives and happiness, and they
feel that it is about time that they put curb
to the practice Of few interested parties who
promulgate false views of those subjects under
the cloak of scientific theories.
He suggested the wisdom of united action ON
the part Of associations OF the deaf throughout
the country, with q view to . more effectual
education of the public respecting the deaf.
their original condition, their schools, their
abilities after education. and some of the i'm
positions they are obliged to suffer- Eve do
not come here" he said, Ito complain or to seek
pity, but to put our case in logical form, 70
that all fair-minded men can view it and make
their own deductions"
They were, he said, debarred from the prsc-
teal benefits Of many organizations which the
hearing community enjoys. Prejudice" he
said based in q great measure ON the ILL.,
founded representation of our inferior physical
and mental powers have produced this result.
The Masonic order excludes the deaf forever
and beyond appeal, and We find ourselves in
many instances, refused the beneficial aid of
life insurance purely on account of absurd i'm
pressions regarding deafness. Again, even in