Evening journal., 1894-10-09
A HOME FOR TRAVELLERS
Cornerstone Laid by the Nation
al Association.
TWO GOVERNORS IN ATTENDANCE.


zatious-A banquet and Parade.
BINeHAMTos, N. ", Oct 9.-The lay
Ing Of the cornerstone Of the National
Travellers home occurred here this after
noon The city is full Of travelling mon
and presents holiday appearance. This
forenoon tho Commercial Travellers
Homo association held short session at
the Stowe Opera House. and this after
noon the parade took place Over l, 900
travelling mon were in line; also civic and
military organizations from nearly every
city in the state
Tho Masonic fraternity Of the Eight
zenith Masonic district participated, to-
gether with delegations from other parts
Of the state and Pennsylvania. The odd
Follows and various cantors Of the state
also participated.
The ceremonies Of laying tho corner
stone were under the auspices of the Ma.
sonic fraternity and were conducted by
Right Worshipful John Hodge, grand
master of Masons Of the state Of New
York, assisted by the grand lodge
Banquet TO the Governors.
The banquet rendered by the citizens Of
Binghamton to Governors Flower and
Pattison and their stats was held in the
state armory last night. Covers were laid
for 800 and more than $50 attended,
among them being many Of tho best
known commercial travellers of the coun-
try.
During the day largo delegations had
arrived from other cities in anticipation
Of the ceremonies today attending the
laying Of the cornerstone OF tho Commor-
cial Travellers home.
The streets were handsomely decorated
with arches and bunting.
Governor Flower arrived from Albany
on special train early in the evening
accompanied by his taff-Generals Josiah
| Porter, j. M. Narian, r. II. McGrath b.
| nj. Whitlook, William NJ. Wost and G. d.
Sanford, and Colonels b. II. Judson, ia
cob Rapport, John McGoa and Il. 10. sloan
/ Governor Pattison and his staff arrived
some timo later A delegation Of 100 com
meroial travellers also arrived, they COM
ing from Buffalo.
The armory, where the banquet was
served, was artisteally decorated with
flags and eyergreens. Judge Frank w
| Downs Of Binghamton was toastmaster.
Governor Flower responded to the toast,
| "The Empire State. He made an elo-
| quent address, warmly eulogizing the
state. His remarks were frequently APP
plauded. Hon. Rohcrt Pattison, governor
| of Pennsylvania, who responded to the
toast "The keystone State, told of the
many advantages Of that section 81 the
country, its natural resources and attract
i've features Tho toast assigned to
Chauncey N. Depew, The Grandest Ma
ton, was responded to by Colonel Archie
Baxter Of Elmira.
Among the other tuasts were The State
Legislature, H by senator O Come; Tho
National Legislature, = by the Hon. S &.
Willard; The Masonic Fraternity by
Grand Master John Hodge; The Com.
mercial Travellers Association, A" by Pres
ident j. b. Aldrich; 1.-The City cf Bling
hamtonn by Mayor George E. Green
The banquet was preceded by recep
ton held by Governors Flower and Patti
son and Grand Master Hodge in the par
lors of the armory They were met there
by the citizens Of Binghamton and rep
resentative travelling men Of the country
The annual inspection Of the Sixth
battery by General McGrath took place
previous to the reception.
The governors Of Now York and Penn
| sylvania, Grand Master Hodge and Colo
mel Baxter delivered addresses at the lay
ing Of the cornerstone this afternoon.
origin Of the Association.
In March, 1891 II commercial travel
ers met at Jamestown and took the initia
step necessary to arrange for a meeting d
as large and representative body of trav
cling mon as could be got together. No
tices were sont to travelling men in sew
eral states requesting them TO attend
meeting to be held at Elmira, Oct 81
1891, to discuss the plan and adopt by
laws.
The laws Of several states were search
cd, and it was found that under the law
of no state could a charter for the con
struction OF a home national in character
be built, so it was decided to request tn
next session Of the Legislature Of the STAG
) Of New York to pass a special act empow
ering the travelling men TO build such
I home. Vernon K. Peckham Of james
town was engaged to prepare measure
to be presented to the legislature. Tn,
bill was presented In January, 1892, ant
passed and was signed by Governor Flow
or Feb 25, 1892.
On March &c following a meeting wa
! held in this city, ct which over 400 travel
ing men were present from all parts O
the United States, and they were all mem
bers of the new association, which !
known as tho Commercial Travellers
Home Association of America
The object are 70 provide and maintain
a home and hospital for the care, main
tenance and relief Of INDECENT commercial
!, travellers, their dependent wives, widow
!. and infant children, and to build furnisl
!, and maintain in connection Herewith
school for tho benefit OF said infants, AM
to provide and furnish such other furthe
aid and assistance to the members thereo
and their families as may be provided b
! the bylaws.
The Home.
Under the oct Of tho legislature 1t wa
I provided that the home should be situate
in the state OF New York. Sites wer
offered by tho public spirited residents q
12 different cities in various parts Of thi
a state, which were inspected by CON
! mittee, and ut tho annual meeting hel
i at Syracuse, oct. 10, 1898, the committe
i reported and unanimously recommends
! the site offered by the residents and tray
cling men Of this city
The site consists Of 100 acres Of Ian
situated on South mountain about
n mile from tho center Of the city. TIL
i homo will be built upon the summit {