The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-02
RALLY OF COMMERCIAL men
The Travellers Were Addressed BY
Mayor Green, Of Binghamton.
BANQUET FOLLOWED MEETING
1t Was Held In tho ST. Charles Hotel
and n Number OF ImprOmptu Ad.
dresses We're Delivcrcd-Pro-
gross OF Work ON tho Home.

Under the auspices Of the CONNER
cial Travellers association of Scranton
a rally was held Saturday evening in
Young Mems Christian association hall,
followed by a banquet at the St. Charles
hotel, the object of the celebration be-
ing to stimulate local enthusiasm to-
ward the raising of$1 900 as u subscrip-
ton to the building Of h national
home for INDECENT commercial travel
lers.
w. A.. Coleman. of the Weston mill.
was chairman of the meeting. There
was a number of out-Of-tOwn persons Of
prominence present, among them be-
ing Mayor George E. Green. of Bing-
hamton; s. ID. w. Cleveland, of Roches-
ter. N. Y, secretary and treasurer Of
the association; George b. Strome,
president of the Wilkes-Barre associa-
ton; James d. Aldrich. of Detroit.
Mich; and w. H. Booth, Of Hornells-
vile, N. Y.
Mayor Green was the speaker of the
evening. He spoke aboutthe early strug-
gle of the Home committee nj smooth
ed them over. No more loyal citizens,
said he, are there than the commercial
travellers. The national association
numbers 5000 members; therefore they
have suffered from lack of organization.
He urged that men be sent out to carry
the gospel of organization.
He spoke eloquently on the need of a
for travellers in their old age, and
he resented e~imputatiOn hat 1t would
degrade into an asylum for bummers
and srots. He was proud to say that the
element of this character in the asso-
citation was in no time more than a
handful. and that even that small per-
centage is fast dwindling away. In
conclusion he hoped that the building
would be dedicated in October. 1896.
Mr.. Rochc's Resolution of Thanks.
Speeches were made by other men,
bers, and then on motion OF John +.
Roche the following resolution was
adopted:
Resolved, that the thanks of this as
semblage are due and they are hereby
rendered to the visiting gentlemen for
their presence and manifest interest in
the purpose for which this meeting was
called. and special thanks are due and
rendered to the gentlemen, officers, ex-
officers and members of the association,
who nave addressed us. and we pledge
the officers our warmest support I'm
their efforts to complete the building"
Mayor Green presided at the banquet
and called for lmpromptu responses to
the toasts that We're offered. 1t was
pledged around the festive board to
subscribe $1,000 toward the building
fund Of the home.
The subject of erecting it Is one that
has occupied the minds of the CONNER
cial men for many years. On March -,
1891 the following gentlemen were reg
istered at the Sherman House, James,
town, N. Y: A. II. Ellis. Wellsboro, N.
y; &C. Brown. Greenville. Pa: Will
liam Trier, New York city; c. 4. Olp.
Mt. Morris, N. Y: A. II. Calaum, Ruth
erford, N. j.; John Fl. Holmes, Brews-
ter. N. Y; ]. d. Aldrich, Detroit; w. c.
Thomas, Rochester; J.. d. Fuller. ,Jor-
dan. N. Y; and D. NJ. Bodle, Bingham
ton.
Preliminary Organization Formed,
They discussed the matter of reor-
~ganization and ended by effecting tenn
porary organization, choosing Mr.. Ellis
chairman and Mr.. Aldrich secretary.
ON October 81, the same year, a meet
ing was held at Elmira and a constitu-
ton and bylaws was adopted. Per-
manent organization was also formed.
A committee was appointed to obtain a
charter and this committee after con-
eminent legal authority, decided
special legislation would be necessary
in order to attain the object desired.
Judge V. +. Peckham, of jamestown,
was engaged to draw a bill for a special
act of Incorporation. 1t was presented
to the legislature of New York state AT
the session of 1892; it passed both
houses and was signed by then Cover
nor Roswell p. Flower on February 81.
At the second annual convention of the
national association held at Syracuse,
October 10, 1893, Binghamton was Sc
lected as the location for the home.
The committee on site had visited the
cities OF Buffalo. Rochester, jamestown.
Ithaca, Binghamton, Syracuse, Utica,
Hornellsville. Mt. Morris and
AlDl1rn The nifiunnc nf thA Daxt-.
City offered 100 acres of land and SIS, 900
In cash and the committee unanimous
ly recommended that this offer be ac-
On July Q, 1894. the board of
managers after hours of d%eliberation
inspection of twelve sets of plans