Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-27
THESE ARE WIZARDS
Like Mr.. Jove Jupiter Zeus They
Play With Lightning.
NATIONAL ELECTRIC LIGHT ASSOCIATION
Large Attendance at the Seven
teenth Annual Convention Today.
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS

The seventeenth convention of the Ma
tional Electric Light Association began ,r
this city this morning to last three davs
Inc sessions Of the convention are held
In Grand Army Hall. and when the con-
vention was called to order the hall was
filled with as fine a looking body of men
as has gathered in Washington in many a
day. There were in attendance an unusual
number Of Ladies'. though they did not re-
main long after the formal opening Of the
convention.
The headquarters of the association are
at the Ebbitt House. and the corridors and
pariors there presented a lively scene this
morning, as they We're crowded with men
prominently Identified with all that is latest
ana most advanced in the world Of electri-
cal work. The badges Of the association
are handsome bronze buttons with the
following distinguishing insignia for the
o'nerent elements in the association: ON
GERS. red bow: executive Committed blue
bow; active members. red ribbon: asso-
ciate members. blue ribbon: guests olive
ribbon; honorary members. white ribbon:
reception committee, yellow ribbon.
Interesting Exhfbfts.
The various parlors and adjacent rooms
at the hotel are taken up with many inter-
esting exhibits Of electrical appliances
These are studied carefully by the various
Representatives. who are working elec-
tricians, not theorists. They are on the
lookout all the time for new inventions that
VIII be Of service to them. and are
ready at any time to receive hints. no mat
ter where they come from. The various
periodicals, papers and magazines devoted
to the electrical business all have repre-
sentatives at the convention. and make q
most creditable show. The Electrical World
is printing a little convention bulletin con-
tanning the program Of the convention,
news of interest, and list of members Of
the association in attendance.
A noticeable feature of this convention Ss
the preponderance of young men who stand
high in the business and are recognized as
experts and authorities. DR.. Gatling the
president of the American Association OF
Inventors and Manufacturers, made a pleas
Ing little address to the convention this
morning In which he referred to this fact
that most Of the places of prominence and
emolument in the electrical business are
tafen by young rlen.
The Various Heads
The hall in which the convention is hold
ing its session was tastefuliy decorated to.
day with flags and bunting. So pleasant
did the delegates find the opportunity Of
meeting each other socially at the Ebbitt
House and renewing friendships made end
cemented at previous conventions that it
was after IL O'Clock when they adjourned
to the hall The meeting was called to or
der by Mr.. Z. A. Armstrong Of Camden, n.
j., the pre- sident Of the associa ton Mr.
Armstrong is ID lawyer and not a practical
electrician, but he is the president of an
electric lighting company, and takes an ac-
tive interest in the business of the associa-
ton. The other officers Of the association
are as follows: First vice president. NJ J..
Francisco, Rutland, Vt; second vice presi-
dent, c. II. Wilmerding. Chicago, ILL.,; sec
retary, George F. Porter; master of trans
portation, c: o. Baker. jr. Executive COM
mittee: Frederic Nichols, W. j. Morrison,
A NJ. Young, II. II. Fairbanks. II. J.
Smith, G. II. Blaxter, John A Seely E. r.
Peck, A. j. DeCamp. Program COMMITTEES:
A. j. DeCamp chairman; Charles w. Price.
H. H. Fairbanks.
The Presidents Talk.
In opening the morning session the presi-
dent of the association. Mr.. E. A Arm
strong Of Camden, n. J.. read his annual
address. In the course of his remarks after
congratulating the association on its prog
ress and prospects, he said: Your meeting
here in Washington means that henceforth
what has been such a delightful and en-
joyable portion of our sojouTn, the social
side, at various places must be curbed ard
limited. and We must restrain the social
and entertaining part for fear that IL Will
after awhile interfere with the sober and
serious. and We must save more Of our time
and energy for the especial business and
affairs of our association. The un animity
of our membership in favor of the national
city for our meeting place spoke well for
attend ance and our program will be fully
realized"
After expressing his regret that the as
sociation had not met in Philadelphia, the
city of Benjamin Franklin, and itself 30
near to New Jersey, Mr.. Armstrong went
on TO speak thus of Washington: You ard
L own this city. 1t is with pardonable pride
that every American enters it not alone
for what il is. but for what IL representa-
1t is not typical American city, but Il 10
typically American. Beauty and emoeIlish-
ment have nowhere been sacrificed TO util-
ity IL Is as broad, as generous and as
comprehensive as our country. The mag
nificent Capitol, and the other government
buildings, the monuments. statues and
parks, the avenues and boulevards, are all
as generous as We could ask.
Growth of a Science.
The past year has been a very trying one
in electrical enterprises As we are among
the settled businesses of the country the
youngest. and, therefore the most elastic.
We have felt the financial stringency, the
oppression of the times, worse than many
others, but we have not been without cheer
and encouragement during IL all. II my
figures are correct and have tried to OBJ.
tain them from the most reliable source, there
are now upward of 2,300 central stations In
this country. representing at least S2O0.0o0.
900 of capital. Involved in electrical manu-
factures and supplies of various kinds are
as many millions mere; this, employing, as
IT naturally does, hundreds of thousands VI
men, supporting nunQredS or thousands OF
homes, adding to the material wealth. pros
perity and happiness Of our people. makes
US as representative trustees Of a great and
responsible trust. This is a growth practi.
cally of the last decade. He would be Q
brave man indeed who would dare even TO
suggest the limits of the possibilities OF the
use Of electricity for great and important
works. Night has been turned into day and
the industry of man is applied for the full
twenty-four hours of time, and the days
therefore. are multiplied by just that much:
distance is annihlated so that last summer
/, while being a thousand miles away, en-
joying the beauties Of that wonderful white
city and drinking in the lessons there
taught, was still within speaking distance
Of my Office.
Electrical Benefactors.
These wonders and marvels. for won
ders and marvels they are are only valu-
able in so far they add to the comfort
and happiness OF the world that they do
none OF US will deny, and therefore as
call your attention to the business that has
brc ught us here together. do not accuse me
of making use of hyperbole when I say to
you that you do not rect merely as repre-
sentatives of so many millions of dollars in
vested in dividend-producing concerns, but
as repre- sentatives OF an industry a science
that cans benefit to the race, that means
more health. more happiness. more encour-
agement, more comfort TO fellow-man In
the highest, truest, best sense we are rep
resentative benefactors