The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-10-02
Meeting OF The FIREMEN
Annual Sessions Of the State AssOcia.
tion at Reading.
MAYORS ADDRESS OF WELCOME
Scranton and JohnstOwn Arc Competitors
for the Meeting OF '96-Bnnquet
ut Macnncrchor Hall-NOmina.
tiOns Made Late Yesterday.
Special to the Scranton Tribune.

nrtmtnS coTNeFllOn IFoU1 VIdt CITY.
Last night at 1925. City Assessor Yoos.
accompanied by about ten delegates,
arrived. and Immediately set about to
convince the several delegates of the
advantages Scranton offers for hold
ing a convention. This morning Cap
tain Moir, accompanied by p. j. Hick-
ley. arrived and retired to the Central
house to be prepared to present Scran-
tons name at the afternoon session.
The Friendship Engine company have
made active preparations for the en-
tertainmer't of their guests, which
number thirteen companies. prominen.
among them being No. 4. of Niagara
Falls. New York, and Nay Aug. of
Scranton.
EX-MayOr James Kenney receives the
visiting companies in behalf Of the
Friendship. The city Is rapidly filling
up, and II is safe to say that by
Wednesday evening the number of fire
men will reach at least 10000. At 5.4o
this evening the Nay Aug. accom-
rariei by the Lawrence band. arrived
and We're met at the depot by the
Frier dship and Germania band. They
marched down Sixth street to Penn,
up Penn to Ninth. where cars We're
taken fer Woodvale. the headquarters
of the Nay Augs.
Attention was attracted by the Nay
Augs carrying miners lamps on their
caps. After supper the company re-
paired to the Friendship engine house.
after short parade the Friendships
ard all the visiting companies who are
their guests marched to Excelsior hall,
where ball will be held in their honor
The fight between Johnstown and
Scranton is one of the fiercest ever
known in the association. Owing to the
many candidates for president and the
cutting done by friends of each candi-
date 1t is impossible to guess which city
will be winner and the outcome to-
morrow will be watched with interest.
First Dav's Proceedings.
The sixteenth annual session Of
the State Firemen's association con-
vened at o'clock this afternoon
in the Grand Opera House. The
stage and auditorium is magnifi-
Gently festooned. and almost every seat
was occupied when President Brooks
called the convention to order. The
stage is devoted to the use of officers
and committees. The convention was
forrrallv opened with PRAYER by Rev.
w. Y. Chairman. of Olivet PRESBYTERIAN
church, who delivered an eloquent
petition for Divine guidance through
the sessions of the convention.
Mavor Shanahan was then intro
duced and delivered the address Of well
come on behalf Of the city In the
course of his remarkshe said
The gates of our city are unbarred and
thrown VIDE open to rece We you, and |
think the key has either been mslad lost
or dropped into the Lethean stream, not to
be found until you are with us no more
Distinguished gathering of gallant men,.
l bid you welcome.
Charles NJ. Plank. president of the
Firemens union, followed, and deliv-
cred an eloquent address of welcome on
behalf of the local fire department He
said
We do not intend to treat you ceremon-
iously, for ceremony has no warmth IN It.
We desire to receive and entertain you as
brothers. We tender to you frankly and
cordially, as the representatives of cour-
age; deyotron to duty and character
to brother fifemen and we propose to
show you, in a practical way, that We are
indeed glad to see you.
Remarks of President Brooks.
The responses to the welcoming ad-
dress was made by President George
w. Brooks. Of Coatesvile. He said:
All of you are aware that this assoc,a-
ton was born and nursed in the grand
and hospitable city of Reading: to which
we have been received by such warm
and hearty welcome, both by the city and
its excellent fire department, which IS COM
posed of a class Of brave men that have
done more than their share to further the
interests of this assoc alton, organized
with the express purpose OF securing leg:S-
lation for the relief OF firemen and their
families who light meet with misfortune.
While the b,ll is not all we wished for.
II is believed to be the best that could be
secured under the existing circumstances,
and in the near future may be so arranged
n m a a
ments.
Secretary Winders report showed
that he received as dues for delegates
at the NorristOwn convention last year
s82179, and that orders amounting to
$616.47 were drawn upon the treasurer
for expenses. During the year there
were twenty-five new departments rep
resenting fifty-two new companies that
joined the association and nine COM
panies that were reinstated.
Late this afternoon nominations Of
officers were opened. The two leading
candidates in the field for president are
Irwin A. Hahne, of LOock Haven, and
G. A. Thompson, Of Lansdale.
Scranton and Johnstown are COM
petitors for the next convention. Gov
ernor Hastings. who was expected to be
here, telegraphed that other business
will prevent his attendance.
A number of companies arrived this
evening. including Greensburg. Pa;
Belleview, of Niagara Falls. N. y;
Friendship. OF Danville; Nay Aug,
Scranton: Butler: Fairmount associa-
tion, Of Philadelphia. and the Liberty.
Of Lykens The majority of the COM
panies will reach here tomorrow and
Thursday morning.
Banquet mt Maenncrohor Hail.
The banquet rendered the 600 dele
gates at Maemerchor hall at o'clock
this evening was a feature. The hall
Is prettily decorated with paintings and
fire scehes and eight tables extend the
entire length of the hall. These con-
tain thirty-twO immense fruit pyra-
mids besides numerous potted plants.
It required seventy-two walters to
serve the guests. Howard p. Wanner
was toastmaster. The bill of fare was
one Of the most elaborate ever served in
this city.
These nominations were made late
this afternoon: President. Gilbert l..
Thompson. OF Lansdale; John T. Gar
man, Of Philadelphia; Irwin H. Hahne,
Lock Haven: George w. Gray, OF Ply
mouth. Vice presidents. w. Il. Harper
Philadelphia: Fred Lewis, Allentown;
John E. Spears. Reading; John Stole,
Pbutsburg; George A. st. John, Wilkes
Barre; Alex Smith, Houtzdale; John
Ruggles, Royersford. Secretary, w.
WV. Wunder; corresponding secretary,
James A. Green. OF Carlisle; treasurer.
John Singluff. of Norristown; delegate
to national convention, at Augusta,
Ca. Gilbert Greenburg, Of Huntingdon.
George w. Brooks, the retiring presl-
dent. was elected delegate to the ma
tioual convention next year.