The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-12


the State, Mayor Kiefer for st.
Paul and Judge Mott, of Earl
BauIt, Adds n Few Lines for the
Deaf People of Minnesota.
convention of the silent A convention
whose laughter is inaudible, whose plau-
ats are only gestures, whose brightest
bits of repartee must be conveyed by
flashing eyes and nimble fingers
Yet the 200 or more delegates who were
present yesterday morning in the house
of representatives, state capitol building,
when President Koehler called together
the sixth annual convention of the Ma
tional Association of the Deaf did not in
spire one with feelings of commiseration
for their affliction. In fact there was room
for little but wonder that a gathering
of human beings so afflicted should pres
ent the bright, alert appearance it did, or.
in fact, come together at all to discuss
means for the lettering or improvement
of the condition of it's members. Besides
the delegates there was fair sprinkllng
of visitors present, ana these with the
guests of honor increased the number
to a gathering that fairly filled the hall.
simple, but effective decorations.
Rev J. NJ. Koehler, the president, who
is also pastor of All Souls church, Phil
adelphia, is man of imposing appear
ance, and his thoughtful face gives evil
dence of rare intellectual attachments.
President Koehler first announced the
executive committee as follows: Rev. ].
H. Cloud, st. Louis, Mo; George T.
Dougherty, Chicago; Mrs. o. Hanson,
Faribault, Mimi; R. NJ. Ziegler, Mt. Airy,
Pa; Rev. J. NJ. KoehIer (eX-officio), Phil
| adelphia, Pa; ]. s. Vail, Indianapolis,
Ind; George w. Veditz, Denver, Col;
! Theodore D. Estrella, Berkeley, CAL;
Thomas F. Fox, New York city; Rev. A.
w. Mann. Gambler, O.; w. H. Rothert,
Omaha, Neb. George S. Porter, Tram
low, N. J.
Bishop Gilbert was introduced and made
the invocation, after which Gov. Lind
WELCOMED THE MEMBERS
of the association on behalf Of the state.
The governors speech was interpreted by
Miss Clara Halverson, of st. Paul.
! I'VE are accustomed" said the speak
| er, ito look upon the silent force that
! moves our street cars along the avenues
| and the steam cars that brought you
! here in magnificent trains from distant
! parts Of the country in a brief space of
| time, as the marvels of the age, but to
my mind human skill and ingenuity has
accomplished no greater feat than that
which enables you to be here today to
undertake and to do the work which I
know that you will perform so we'll" The
| governor spoke Of the pleasure it afforded
him to attend the commencement eXer-
vices held recently at Faribault, and ex-
| pressed his establishment not only at the
| great strides which had been made In
! improved methods of instructing the deaf
Int a he Il a~FI1 II
! of the afflicted. Gov. Lind told of the
neglect of the deaf in earlier times, and
contrasted it with the wise care bestow-
| ed on them in the present civilization.
Concluding he welcomed the members of
the convention most heartily in the name
of the state.
The welcome Of the city was extended
! by Mayor ~Kiefer, his hearty greetings
! being translated into the finger language
| by Miss Pearl Herdman, of st. Louis.
JUDGE MOTT ADDS SOMETHING
Judge Mott, of Faribault who has lived
| for more than thirty years beside the
school for the deaf in Faribault welcom-
| ed the delegates on behalf of the deaf
! people of Minnesota. The speaker gave
the interesting information that practi-
| caly all of the graduates from the institu-
lions for the education Of the deaf were
self-supporting. Rev. D. F. Bangs super
! intendent of the school for the deaf at
! Devils Lake, n. D., interpreted Judge
Motifs address. Brief addresses were also:
| given by Superintendent Clark, of the
| school for the deaf at Flint, Mich: Mr.
| Bangs, of Devils Lake, N. D.; DR.. Moves
| superintendent of the school for the deaf
| at Faribault, and DR.. De Motto of In
| dianapolis, professor in a school for the
! deaf DR.. De Motto also read the presi-
| dents address, while President Koehler
| gave 1t in the sign language
| THE cordial welcomes 70 t11fs Droorraz
| sive state and beautiful city by the emil
| nent gentlemen who have lust adj
dressed u.s." said the speaker. merit
our warmest appreciation, while the gem
erous arrangements made for our enter.
tainment and the excellent programme
offered leave nothing to be desired in
! this connection. A meeting both prof.
| table and pleasant, Is thereby assured u.s.
! May 1t be written among the most en-
! jcyable and successful yet held"
SUBJECTS TO BE CONSIDERED.
President KoehIer then mentioned
briefly the more important matters
which are to be brought before the con
vention. He recommended that the Of
! fcers' powers be increased, stating that
as at present constituted the affairs are
as so many figure heads" with the ex-
ception of the president, having no voice
IN the direction Of affairs during the IN
! tervals between the conventions. He
members of the executive committee
The question is often asked contin-
| ued the president, What practical Dl1r-
| pose do gatherings of this kind serve p
And 1t is question not easily nor salts
1actor1ly answered at all times am
| sure, however, that much good must be
accomplished through these periodical
| meetings, not only of this national asso-
! citation, but of the various state societies
III calling attention to the material adj
Nancement of the deaf as a class; their
| attachments and capabilities; to disa busa
| the public mind of the many fall2c;es and
| prejUdices entertained concerning us; to
call attention to ways and means for bet
! tering their condition, and for the mutual
! assistance and encouragement attendant
| upon The gathering of a widely scattered
| people. Judged from results in the past
| 1t is evident that If wisely managed our
| association may be made the means of
| great lasting good"
| The speaker urged the necessity of stir
ring to increase the membership Touch
ing upon the work accomplished by the
association, he said: 1.-The only project
of national character in which the as
| ISOLATION has been engaged was the erec-
| tlon or the statute to DR.. Thomas Hop
klns Galaludet at Washington, D. c., for
! winch Sl2,OO0 was raised. | want to Sug-
geSt now a project that may we'll enlist
| our best SympathieS and energies toward
| accomplishment. 1t is 10 take steps look
ing toward the establishment of a school
for deaf muntes in Alaska. Some time
ago my attention was called to the fact
| that there is a very large number of un-
educated deaf muteS in Alaska Sand that
1t is constantly increasing. My corre-
| Spondent informs me that there are 200
| on the Yukon river and delta, and that
from reports by natives and miners he
| Is led to believe that a large proportion of
| the population on the head waters of the
hoyukuk consists of deaf mutes whose