The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-21
PLEASURE And BUSINESS
THESE ELEMENTS ARE MIXED BY
THE VISITING sWITCHMEN.
Reports Heard and Work Done on
Revising the COnstitutiOn-City
Wants Convention Again.

While the women of the party and
enough of the delegates to explain things to
them visited Kingan's packing house yes
terday afternoon on a tour of inspection
the delegates to the convention of the
Switchmen's Union of North America ham,
mered away at revising the constitution of
the union in two sessions in Masonic Hail.
All of the morning was taken up with the
reports of the organizers and of the secre-
tary-treasurer and the condition of the
finances and insurance department of the
lodge were described by the men familiar
with the work of Secretary Welsh. Secre-
tary Welsh has returned to Buffalo on ac-
count of the illness of his wife and his re-
port was read by his private secretary.
Yesterday afternoon the delegates pro-
ceeded with the work of revising the consti-
tuition. Many details of the laws of the
lodge have been found deficient in force and
contradictory to other sections, and these
will be so modified as to make interpreta-
tions of the constitution and bylaws easier
for the officers. Last evening there was
a. street car ride, the party leaving the DC
cidental at S o'clock. President McGOwan's
private car was used among others.
Tonight the switchmen will take a trolley
ride TO Garfield Park, and should rain not
interfere with the programme of the local
reception committee. of which Noah Smith
is chairman a delightful time will be spent
in the GOODNESS of the park. Tomorrow
night the delegates and their wives will go
to Riverside and Sunday trip around the
Belt railroad and to Broad Ripple over the
Monon railroad is to be taken
Tonight the switchmen will take trolley
ride to one of the city's parks and should
rain not interfere with the programme of
the local reception committee of which
Noah Smith is chairman, a delightful time
will be spent I'm the GOODNESS of the park
n "a M p wi
be the guests of the local reception COM
mittee at box party at the Park Theater
To-morrow night the delegates and their
a trip around the Belt Railroad and to
Broad Ripple over the Monon Railroad is
to be taken.
AGAINST FORT WORTH, TEX.
Indianapolis entered the lists against Fort
Worth, Tex, in the contest for the next BIZ
ennial convention yesterday. Chairman
Noah Smith and members of the local re-
ception committee were assured by repre-
sentatives of the Commercial Club and by
merchants Of the city that 5000 for the
entertainment of the switchmen would be
raised If the convention could be induced
to return to this city two years from now.
The proposition was made I'm the convention
yesterday afternoon and was cordially re-
ceived and because of it's central location
and good railroad facilities Indianapolis
is well thought of as a convention city by
the delegates who come here for business
only. The reception given the delegates cost
the local committee a sum in excess of
$1,000, all of which was raised by the COM
mittee without an appeal to the public for
subscriptions. In addition to this the COM
mite did not resort to catch-penny methods
of raising money and the merchants were
not called on to subscribe to buy ad-
vertising Of little value at high rate in
souvenir programmes and like publications
The sessions of the convention will be
held in Masonic Hall until Saturday, when
a change will be made to Rooms IL and II
in the Statehouse. The Masonic Hall will
be needed for the Grand Lodge of Masons
to be in session next week. and the original
intention of securing Germania Hall was
abandoned by the local committee and the
rooms in the Statehouse spoken for.