The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-08-23

COIueu TO the ClIy OI WllbeS-barre
by Mayor Nichols.
The state convention of the Patriotic
Order Sons of America opened yester-
day morning in the Nesbitt theater
in Wilkes Barre. The large auditor
ium was crowded by the delegates. who
numbered considerably over a thous-
and.
The session was opened by Attor-
ney f.. +. Cook, of Wilkes Barre, a
candidate for the state presidency, who
delivered brief address on the princi-
pies of the organization and then in
troduced Mayor Nichols. The mayor
welcomed the delegates to the city in
a Characteristic address and extended
them the freedom of the town.
The response to the mayors address
was given by state President A. j.
Colborn, esq. of this city. 1t was
couched in that gentleman's most elo-
quent phrases and was received with
great applause. After Mr.. Colborn
had concluded, William Weand, of
Philadelphia, stepped forward and
presented him with a handsome gavel
made from wood from the house of
William Penn and ornamented with
brass taken from the battleships Maine
and Iowa.
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
At this point the secret session be-
gan the first order of business, being
the reading of state President Col
born's annual address. 1t was in
part as follows:
Once again l am permitted to present
to you, as required of the state president
by the state camp constitution, an ad-
dress embOdying the condition and prog
ress of the order in the state during the
past year. The record of the year Just
ended has been a glorious one for our be-
loved order; it has reached the highest
point in membership in its history. and
should stimulate us to renewed activity
in the coming year The past year has
been a glorious one, too, for the Ameri-
can people Our country has moved dur
ing the past year in the swift current
of stupendOus events which have reCast
the maps of the world. and drawn us. as
Il nation, to a place at the front of the
governments of the earth.
1t has emerged triumphant from a
short but crucial and momentous war
which has carried forward history and
unveiled destiny. The halo it has shed on
American arms, and the glory with which
| it has exalted the name-AmerCan-till
| us with just pride and eXultation Under
| the supreme mandate of humanity and
justice that war was reluctantly waged,
| but once undertaken the unerring sure
| ness of its aim, the unfaterins vigor of
| its direction, and the unbroken sweep of
| It's victories stand unmatched on all
! the myriad pages of history. The Ameri-
| can people face a new epoch in the his
| tory of the republic. We have come to a
| broader outlook, whose import it is we'll
| for every son of America especially to
consider.
| During the past year our order has
| moved forward with a strong healthy
| and vigorous life. Great work has been
done, but not all has been accomplished
that was desired and for which we la
bored so earnestly. Our fond desire was
| to make this the greatest and best year
| in the history of cur beloved order and
in some respects this has been done but
not in every one. as we had fondly hoped
The detail of the work of the year will be
| found in the reports of the state seCre-
tary and state treasurer to which you
are respectfully referred
MANY NEW CAMPS.
\ great many new camps have been or
ganiHed during the year, 80 i'm all We
l
camp in every district in the state, but
in this we have been disappointed. Phil.
adelpha and York counties have done
| noblY in the organization of new camps
and great praise is due the brethren in
| these counties for the earnest and en-.
| thusiastic manner in which they have la
| bored to increase the number of new
camps. This spirit of work has not mani
| tested itself in every section of the state
| N he CT a Z
where our order has not as yet gained
foothOld nor had its banner unfurled
and in those counties We have labOreC
and sown seed which, we believe will
bear fruit if properly cared for and thi
can only be done by the expenditure o
money in the employment of laborers Z
go into those fields and work constant,
and continuously to reap what has beer
sown. If we ever expect to realize th
hope Of planting our banner in ever!
| county of this great commonwealth, w
must make suitable appropriation T.
| carry on the work in a strong, VigorOu
and enthusiastic manner. No enterprise
no fraternity, can succeed without tn
earnest and cordial cooperation and eff
fort on the part of all interested to pro
mote its welfare and advance it's inter
ests. We have endeavored to enlist il
the work of organization every membe
of the order, and labored earnestly an
zealously for the extension of our Caus
everywhere.
The executive committee by virtue O
authority of the state camp, once agai
offered the liberal premium of $50 to tn
member or members who would organic
"A new camp to be composed of not les
than twenty-five members on the nigh
OF it's institution. This liberal offc
has been productive of much good, but
has not succeeded in doing what liv,
active organizers, especially adapted fO
such work, might have done in the cour
ties where we have no camps, had suit
| able provision been made to carry O
this work and the committee been er
abled to send such lahorors into the fiel
, as other kindred organizations are doinl
, There are hundreds of our brethren VIII
, labor increasingly, without any desire
compensation or hope of reward for tn
7 extension and upbuilding of the orde
: but we cannot expect and have no rigf
. TO ask them to sacrifice their time an
, money, neglect their business, and wor
2 gratuitously for the advancement of OF
order.
MUST EXPEND MONEY.
Organization work to be effective mu!
be constant and continuous, and if sue
cess is TO be attained 1t must not be dor
, sparingly or in stinted manner. II
T crease the appropriation for this wor
and thus enable those who will have it
e charge to carry it on in vigorous MAJ
ner, and send laborers to harvest Il
| seeds already soWn. An expenditure
! money in this direction will be the NEAR
of helping us realize the fond hope
seeing camp fires burning in every cour
ty of this state, and the Patriotic Ord,