Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-30
YOUNG AS PRESIDENT
TELEGRAPHERs ELECT A LOCAL
MAN.
"Ham" Familiarly Known to Wash
ingtonians, Especially Core
spondents.

says: William Hamilton Young of Wash
ington was elected today president of the
Old time Telegraphers' Association. This is
a distinctive compliment to one of the most
famous telegraphers alive, and constituted
the really important business at the bust
ness session of that organization at the
WaldorfAstoria today. The association, in
accordance with it's custom, selected the
home of the president as its next meeting
place, SO that early in October, 1906, LOCO
knights of the key will descend upon Wash
ington. and for one week will enjoy the
hospitality of that city.
Ham Young, as he is so Familiarity
known to all Washingtonians, is perhaps
the most prominent telegrapher In the
service Of the Western Union Telegraph
Company. 1t was fifty years ago almost
to a day that he entered the service of the
Washington and New Orleans Telegraph
Company. This was in 1855. when Amos
Kendall was president, and Joseph B. Tree
manager of the Washington Office, and the
total business of that establishment was
less than 500 per month. In 1857 the
Magnetic the House and the American
Telegraph companies amalgamated. and
Marshall Lefferts SO we'll known in Wash
ington was made president of the CONSOLE
dated concern, which eventually became
what Is now the Western Union Telegraph
Company. In 1861 Mr.. Young became chief
and soon thereafter became night manager,
which position he now holds.
King of News Handlers.
1t can be said of Mr.. Young. perhaps,
that no man in Washington has been SO
well known to men of the times as he.
Upon every special occasion where an I'M
usual demand was made upon the telegraph
company for a service he has been chosen
as special representative, and for a gen.
Grafton newspaper men have come to know
him as a past master In the art OF han
ding news. A national convention would
seem distresSingly lacking unless the be-
nevolent face of Ham Young was pres
ent at its makeup. So that, instead OF
being a nominal night manager, he has be-
come the special press representative for
the Western Union Telegraph Company at
the national capital, and his services in
this connection have been most thoroughly
appreciated by his employers and the large
corps of Washington correspondents who
have come to know him well that 1t
seems part of their daily labor to intrust
him with their stories
Arrangements at Portsmouth.
When the present peace negotiations were
arranged it was Ham" Young who was
sent to Portsmouth and who arranged for
the splendid costly cable service which has
been maintained for many weeks between
that New Hampshire town and the historic
capitals of Russia and Japan. Mr.. Young
is now sixty-seven years Of age, and was
born and reared in Washington.
Ernest W. Emery, chief operator OF the
Associated Press of Washington. was made
a member Of the committee to handle the
funds to be raised in providing entertain
ment for the visiting delegates at the time
of the convention in Washington
Other officers chosen were: Vice presi-
dents Charles B. Adams, Washington, D.
c.; G. w. Ribble, Washington D. c., and
J. B. Yeakle. Baltimore. Md; secretary and
treasurer, John Brant, New York
letter was sent to President Roosevelt
by the convention, advocating that PEN
sions be paid to the opera tors who served
in the field sending telegraph messages
during the civil war.
Men who operated the War Department
telegraph lines during the civil war, who
met in convention here today in conjunc-
Historical Association, sent the following
message Of greeting to operators now in
the War Department service:
Gen. A. w. Greedy. Chief Signal officer. u
s. A, Washington, D. c.:
The members of the United States Mill
tary Telegraph Corps who operated the
first telegraph and cable lines built and
owned by the United States government in
annual convention assembled, send their
cordial greetings to you, and through you
to Maj. Glassford and the operators at Sew
ard and other points on the Alaska line
just now opened to the world. We express
telegraph lines were used for war, the latest
lines may never serve for the transmission
of any message but those OF peace, and we
pray that they may soon signal the happy
news of the treaty of Portsmouth between
Russia and Japan.
WILLIAM B. WILSON
EDWARD ROSEWATER
CHARLES w. JAQUES,
DAVID HOMER BATES,
Committee Operators in the War Depart
ment Telegraph Office During the Civil
War
Joint Association.
motion made to perpetuate the
joint association of the Old-tme Telegra-
pliers and Historical Association with the
United States Military Telegraph Corps,
but the proposition was voted down.
The military telegraphers then elected
officers as follows: President, William B.
Wilson. Philadelphia; vice president. w. L.
Ives, New York; secretary and treasurer
]. E. Petit, Chicago. Ill.
Washington telegraph operators are de-
lighted over the election of Mr.. Young as
president of the Old Timers Association
They say it is a deserved compliment to the
veteran of the Western Union office here
and indirectly to the capital of the nation.
George Diven, night manager of the West
ern Union office. said Mr.. Young's friends
here, both those belonging to the associa-
ton and others, We're greatly pleased at
the news or the election, and the selection
of Washington as the next place of meet
Ing. Mr.. Diven said that when Mr.. Young
comes back to the city he will be warmly
welcomed and sincerely congratulated upon
his election. Mr.. Diven said Mr.. Young has
had long and honorable connection with
the telegraph service in this city and has
made many friends, who will all Join in
wishing him an enjoyable administration
Mr.. Diven called attention to the fact
that Mr.. Young was the father of the Jona-
dabs of this jurisdiction, and that the mem
bers of that order, well as the telegra-
pliers, would be pleased to hear of the honor
conferred upon him. Mr.. Dven said that
nothing had been done in the way of ex-
tending to Mr.. Young any formal reception
or congratulations upon his return to the
city. He said that had not been customary
with the Old Timers Association and he
thought there would be no departure from
the usual custom in regard to the matter
NeGrnea Rasent Statement