The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-28

in the chair and the members of the ex
ecutive committee were the only ones
present. The reports OF the various SUBJ
committees we're arranged for presentation
at the afternoon session and the order of
the public meetins formulated, after
which an adjournment was taken until the
afternoon.
At 2:30 O'Clock about 200 members were
present. The meeting vas called to order
by President Barrett, who made a br eff
opening address. He spoke of the ends
for which the association was organized,
instancing among others the consolidation
of the bonds of union between the MEM
bers, and the need for concerted action
among all travelling commercial men. He
also referred briefly, but pungently, to the
manner III which some of the members
had at various times criticized the action
of the associations officers, and said that
if the critics knew what they were talking
about they would be more lenient in their
Judgment OF others.
In compassionate consideration for Sec
rotary Boldemann's lungs the calling of
the roll was dispensed with by consen. of
the members and the reports of commit
tees called for. Alexander WE'LL was
deputed to, assist the secretary in his
laborious task of taking notes OF the pro-
ceedings.
Robert II. Davis, chairman of the COM
mittee on transportation, reported that
the railways had shown a disposition to
accord the association every privilege
which could reasonably be expected. He
mad succeeded in securing mileage tickets
for members at the rate OF 5 cents milo
on some of the principal roads and ex-
pressed the hope that this rate might
shortly be made uniform in favor of all
commercial men belonging to the society.
Furthermore he said his committee had
induced the proprietors of all hotels
between this City and Los Angeles to
transport the mem bers of the association
from the trains to their hotels free OF
charge.
w. F. Peterson asked leave to
speak, and referred in glowing terms to
Mr.. Davis untirlng endeavors to secure
for the members the advantages which
had been passed over with such scanty
notice in that gentlemans brief report.
He said Mr.. Davis had worked like a
Trojan and that each and every mem Der
of the association was personally indebted
to the gallant chairman of the transporta-
ton committee for the enjoyment of privi-
leges which had never before been &C.
corded them.
A vote of thanks to Mr.. Davis was
suggested and carried unanimously amid
uproarious applause.
Secretary A. c. Boldemann read the
report of the relief committee. The
sum of 500 had been expended in attend
ing to the immediate wants of needy
members and $500 had been devoted to
the payment of death benefits.
The entertainment committees report
was next read by Mr.. Davis. 1t stated
that all arrangements had been com pleted
for the benefit at the Columbia Theater,
$3.50 having been paid for the house and
company. He said it had been proposed
to raise $1,000 or $500 for the relief fund
and with that end in view five tickets had
been sent to each member for disposal. A
considerable portion of the members, how
ever, had displayed an unwonted bashful-
ness in selling the tickets and he expressed
the hope that they would ''get move on, +"
at least before the performance, and not
return the tickets as some have done.
Regarding the high-jinks tonight Mr..
Davis said all arrangements had been
completed for grand affair. Among the
participants in the informal programme
will be George McCaulass and Charlie
Thurston, the laughing team; Messrs.
Wheaton and Thornton in some original
songs; Mr.. Davis himself as living pic
ture; the Sacramento quartet, consisting
of Messrs. Peterson, Owner, Hample and
Hodges, in their famous topical song,
who Will Chew My Piece of Gum ?''
besides many other lesser and greater
lights, among the latter being one who
volunteers to take the wheels out of his
head and ride upon them without assist
ance.
When the entertainment committed s
report had been adopted the convention