The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-04-09
l00FH ANNIVERSARY
OF the American Patent System
Being Celebrated
IN AN APPROPRIATE MANNER
At washiugton-President Harrison
Opens the Convention of 1nven.
tors With a Neat Speech.
Distinguished Members.

1
session OF the Congress Of Inventors and
Manufacturers of Patented Inventions
in celebration of the beginning Of the
second century Of the American patent
system, was held this afternoon in the
Academy Of Music. President Harrison
and large number Of prominent men
occupied seats on the stage. The hall
was filled with representative gather
ing OF inventors and manufacturers Of
the country, Mr.. Thomas A. Edison, Mr..
William Graham Bell, Mr.. GeorgeWest-
inshouse and Mr.. Gatling being among
them. 1t was nearly haltpast two when
the President. accompanied by Secretary
Noble and Postmaster General Wana-
maker, entered and took seats on the
stage. The President was introduced as
the chairman Of the meeting. When
the applause with which he was greeted
had subsidized he spoke as follows:
"MY FELLow CrTIZRNs-members OF
this first convention OF inventors and
manufacturers, assembled under this
call to observe the centennial OF the
patent system OF the United States:-
My connection with this meeting must
necessarily be very brief, and seem TO be
quite formal. Other engagements will
prevent my enjoying that treat in store
for you in the addresses TO be delivered
by those distinguished men whose
names are in the programme. / can
only by my presence here, and these
few Introductory words, opening and
constituting this interesting Congress,
express my appreciation Of the import
ance OF this occasion and my hope that
your gathering here may be promotive
OF those branches OF the sciences and
arts in which you are respectively in
terested. It distinctly marks, l think, a
great step in the progress OF civilization
when the law takes notice OF property
in the shape OF the fruit of mind. Zap
plause.
"The ownership in the clumsy device,
which savage hands have fashioned from
wood and stone, is obvious to the savage
mind, but 1t required long period to
bring the public to realization OF the
fact that 1t was quite as essential that
his property in impalpable thought, tax.
ing the shape OF things useful TO men,
should also be recognized and secured.
That is the work Of the patent system
as it has been established in this coun.
try. It cannot be doubted by any, l
think, that the securing Of property in
inventions, Is essential to aud highly
promotive of the advance OF our country
in arts and sciences. Nothing more
stimulates effort than security in the re.
suit OF effort. l beg now to proceed
with that programme which has been
prepared for the afternoon"
He then called upon the Rev. DR..
Sunderland to open the Congress with
prayer.
CARROLL D. wRIdHT's PERTINENT TALK.
Carroll D. Wright, the United States
Commissioner OF Labor, spoke upon the
subject Of the relation Of invention to
labor, and said in part: "The mistake
should not be made Of assigning the
cause OF strikes and controversies to
retrogressiop, or to supposed increasing
antagonisn, or to any desire to destroy
the grand results OF past inventions.
How new system shall be established
with perfect justice to capital
and to labor, recognizing the
moral forces at work contemporaneously
with the industrial, and the perfectly
just distribution Of profits relative to
the use OF inventions, Is the great prob.
lem OF the age. Machinery is young-in
fact, is only the iorerunner OF more
golden deeds. That the workingman
does not receive full Justice as the result
OF the use OF inventions, must be the
conclusion Of every student"
Commissioner Of Patents Mitchell,
had for his theme, the birth and growth
oil the American patent system. Justice
Rl0tohford spoke on IA Century OF
Patent LaW'' and Robert s. Taylor, Of
Fort Wayne, Ind, had for his topic,
Epoch. .makipg Inventions Of AmeriG4.n
Senator Platt, OF Connecticut, closed
the afternoon session with speech on
Invention aud Advancement" sepa.
tor John W. Daniel, of Virginia, was
the frat speaker at the evening session,
which was opened by Secretary Noble.
He spoke in the highest terms Of praise
OF the Patent Office and It's worth, and
pointed with pride to the long list OF in
yentors. from the Southern States.
A Aaef:httnl card reception was given
tonight to the visiting inventors and
manufacturers by Secretary Noble and
Patent Commissioner Mitchell. The re.
ception vas held in the Patent Office
and was largely attendsd.