The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-06-21
ELKS GATHER FOR
Big CONVENTION
CITY DECORATED IN CoLoRS.
PURPLE AND WHITE BUNTING
FLOAT IN BUSINESS SECTION.


Delegations from Eighteen LOdg-
es-Business Session VIII Open ut
IL O'cIocIS-weIcome TO BE Ex-
tended by Mayor Myers and Re-
spOnded TO by President Martin.
Business in Morning, Pleasures in
Afternoon and Evening.
Visiting Elks will arrive in force
this morning from all over Georgia to
attend the State Convention of the or
der which will be held here to-day and
tomorrow. A number of delegates ar
rived yesterday and last night.
Decorations Of purple and white, the
cOlors of the order have been put up
by a number of merchants, and the
business section of the city has put
on holiday attire. Hanging over the
doorways and festooned about the win
dows the gay bunting will float in the
breeze to-day, proclaiming a welcome
from the business men to the visitors.
All incoming trains this morning will
be met by committees from the Savan-
nah lodge. a meeting having been held
last night at which this and other de-
tails of the convention were arranged.
1t is expected that from 300 to 400 Elks
will be in attendance from the eight
cen lodges in Georgia. The largest del
egation will be from Macon. though
Albany will be we'll represented.
One request which Chairman Marks
of the General Committee makes of
the delegates is that they all be present
at the De Soto at o'clock this after
noon for the purpose of having a pic
ture taken.
Business and Pleasure.
The business session of the conven-
ton will be held this morning and to-
morrow morning, from IL a. m. to l
p. m. at the De Soto. The afternoons
will be devoted to pleasure.
The first session will be held this
morning at IL o'clock, when the con-
vention will be called to order by Pres
ident L. l.. Martin of Macon.
The address of welcome will be made
by Mayor Herman Myers, and the re-
Spouse by President Martin. Col. Rob-
ert l.. Colding will speak on Greet
ings to Our Brothers" after which the
business of the morning will be taken
up. At 1 o'clock an adjournment will
be taken for dinner.
At O'Clock a photograph of the del
egates will be taken in front of the
DE Soto, Immediately after which the
visitors will start for the wharf at the
foot of Whitaker street, where they
will board the Clifton for an excursion
down the river, returning at 7:30
O'Clock. A smoker and entertainment
mill he eriTr H. q
O'Clock, for which some special features
have been prepared. The boat ride
will also be a pleasant affair, numer-
GUS attractions having been prepared
for the visitors.
Tomorrow morning the business ses-
sion will be held. At 80 o'clock in the
| afternoon a sightseeing trip over the
city will be begun on trolly cars, ending
| in a visit to the Yacht Club and to the
Thunderbolt Casino. A special vaude-
willie performance will be given for the
Elks. Mr.. Sam Brown, who has just
returned from a tour on the road, will
give number of special selections in
addition to the regular Casino show.
Large Crowds Coming.
Chairman Marks stated yesterday
that he believed a very large crowd
would be present, both of delegates
and visitors, many of the latter TAX
ing advantage of the favorable rates to
come to Savannah. Tomorrow morn
ing an excursion run by the Retail
Salesman of Atlanta, of which num-
Der of Elks are members, will arrive,
bringinb more than 1000 people.
The watchword for the convention
will be the laconic phrase, Hello Bill. -
and it's utterance anywhere by any
person will instantly attract the at
tention of visiting Elk. When chal-
lenged at any time the delegate has
but to utter the magic words and he
is admitted without further trouble.
OF course he must know other things.
The committees in charge of the
convention and the entertainment of
the visitors have all plans carefully
laid and the convention gives promise
of being the most successful of its kind
yet held by Georgia Elks.
Badges and Programmes.
All Elks who have not received
badges are requested to call and get
them at the place of Chairman Charles
Marks, at No. II Broughton street
west. Official programmes may be OBJ
tanned at the same place.
Visiting Elks residing outside the
state of Georgia will be entitled to the
boat ride and smoker, and are cordially
invited by the committee in charge to
accompany the delegates.
While there will be be a special pro-
gramme at the Casino tomorrow night
for the Elks, the general public will be
admitted at the usual price.