The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-01-22
Fire Department Election and BANQUET

annual banquet and election of officers Wed
heSGay night at the new tremeu ) building.
The Mayor and Common Council were pres.
eni. also the following members of the Vet
erah Volunteer Firemen's Association of Bal
timore: Edward Sickles, George l.. Heroid.
Frederick Eek, Jacob Durm and Comad
Kraft
Both vocal and instrumental music was
ably rendered by a company of young nen
who have organized music club under The
name of THE klondike Nuggets for hnli-
day serenading purposes.
Edwin j. Lawyer, of Westminster, state
hire marshal, who has been president of the
department the past three years, was master
OF ceremonies. These officers were elected:
John Ii. Mitten, president; John E. Ecken-
rode, LIST vice president; John H. Cunning
ham, 2nd vice-president; Amos W. Hahn,
secretary and treasurer Edward O. Diffen-
dial, assistant secretary and treasurer; Frank
Herr, chief; Frank T. Schaefier, assistant
chief; f. NJ. Eckenrode, foreman hook and
ladder; Harry K. Schaefier, foreman reel;
William H. Baer, marshal; William Helm,
assistant marshal; George |. Fisher, librarian.
The retiring president, Edwin j. Lawyer,
delivered and address upon handing overlhe
office 10 his successor. Short speeches were
made by McS$rs. Sickies, Grouse and Fink.
Mr.. Lawyer said:
FcdOlc FGremcL, Associates and Friends:
After nineteen years of official life in connection
with the Westminster Fire Engine and Hose Com
pany, organized in 1879, and ON this the seventy
fifth anniversary of the establishment of volun-
teer fire service in beautiful city, am COM
PEELED to bid you farewell an officer. 1t is with
regret that do this but this regret is tempered BY
the thought that shall still have the honor of
membership in company possessed OF the most
It's klnd south of New York, and that when oc-
caSion is offered / shall be prepared to take my
place with the boys handling the hose and ladders
in defense of the lives and property of our fellow
citizens
In thus retiring have the satisfaction of know
ing that we have an accumulation OF wealth
$1,000, foated at four and third per cent and that
our annual expense is $50, with Income to more
than meet the same. This includes the pay for
japitor whose duty is to see that the building is
always comfortable for the reception of its active,
retired and honorary members who are furnished
with keys and have ready access at all times.
Within this building We have an interesting col
lection of fire scenes, which hope will be increas
ell by donations from members or from friends of
members who may possess Others We have also
library of 100 volumes, in the accumulation of
which have taken just pride and interest My
hope is that there may be others who will make it
their pleasure to increase the number of books, as
| intend To do.
Members of the executive committee, officers ami
members of the company,I wish to thank you all
for your hearty cooperation with me, without
which should never have been able to leave this
Office with such pride in what we have already
done and with such lively anticipationS of the
honors and credit that await US. 1t is true that
two or three of our members have at times exhibit
ed inclination to balk the wise purpose OF the
company and the citizens of Westminster, but
all's well that ends we'll" In nv appreciation of
the and loya support of nlnety-two per cent.
of the membership ! shall easily relegate to the
lumber room of faded memories the unpleasant
bearing of the other eight per cent In my dealing
with them never forgot that my strength was in
the knowledge that was working for the interests
of this company and for the interests of my be-
loved town, and this company today Is an illuStra-
Of the generous upholding of my hands by our
people.
AT heart the welfare of the Westminster Fire De-
partment, and will leave nothing undone that may
further the interests and promote the comfort OF
its members.
Let me alude again to the subject of equipment.
We know not when the dread destroyer cometh,
whether by accident or at the hands OF an incendl-
airy, but you want to be prepared at al! times. 1t
must be fought. You still need three life-lnes at
S.50 each $50 in of fire i'll hotel or other
large building containing many persons; two
smoke protectors, at $3.50, or 500; one life net
5000; two shut off MOBILES, at S25 or 5000; one
thousand feet of good hose, Waxed Cotton Fibrio
Hose; an American flag to fling to the breeze on
all appropriate occasions, cost Sill
think there certainly must be some one who
Will donate this flag, and there ought to be another
who will give you flag with its staff to be carried
in parade.
TO my successor may be permitted to suggest
that he cannot be too enthusiastic He must eX-
pect to devote time and means TO the organization.
He must have tirmness and Judgment i'll directing
its affairs, and must not hesitate to deal with
strong hand with elements of discord that come to
the surface ut times in all organizations of any
size. He must keep sharp lookout for chances to
advance the good of the department. These are
days of opportunity. But men do not need oppOr
tunity as much as opportunity needs men. An
earnest ana ulilSGnt quest Will discover countess
opportunities. Whatsoever thy hand tindeth to
do do it with thy might" Here the wise man
gives us an essential plank in the platform OF sue
cess. Enthusiasm is the proof of sincerity and the
advance guard of victory. There are two ways of
working, as hreling and enthusiast. The
hireling gets through with his work with sigh of
jS IN Of NIL
in his task, and frequently unsought profit comes
to him.
See to it that every member of the Department
knows his task thoroughly and does it. started
the plan of having the assignments printed, that
each man had copy and knew what he was to do,
and understood that he was to do nothing else
until directed by his superior officer. Now | do
hope that the officers will at least four times year
call together all the members and instruct them in
their respective duties and familiarlze them with
all the apparatus and appliances.
In conclusion let me say to our citiZens and to
orr honorable Mayor and City Council: Be liberal
To yourselves as well as to our Fire Department.
We are II common brotherhood, banded together
lives and property of ourselves and of our neigh
borS. know that you have been liberal. l recall
the endeayorS TO equip our reel team properly
There was hesitation in some quarters, but the
team of twenty men, the real fire fighters after all
and men with few exceptions not possessed of real
estate, devoted their time and money to earning
i'll contest prize OF twenty-five dollars rs nu-
cleuS OF purchase fund. Then you, to your credit
and to the credit of the reel team added to the sum
Ill spite OF opposition on the part OF paIlry leW
would thai you continue your policy of lberality
Whatever is necessary to be done to place our Fire
Department upon the highest plane of efficiency
should be done promptly. To stint this Depart
ment in the things that are to be of benefit to the
city is simply throwing away wealth and industry
as so much smoke 1t needs only one bad fire or
the loss of a life to point out the real waste of
niggardy policy in this line. Our city is proud of
our Fire Department with its gallant volunteers,
and well it may, when are considered the achieve
ments of the past. But the greatest amount of
pluck and training cannot overcome the lack of
proper apparatus and appliances The better the
fire fighters the better should be their equipment
and the better city and citizens will be in
the end for making the combination possible 1t is
dangerous to experiment with short sighted econo-
my in supporting u fire department. Lberality to
the Fire Dnna rImnnt is act of Self-letcnSc.