The Washington times., 1906-10-09
TWenty-SiXth Annual
Gathering of PrOmi-
nent Organizations
at the Arlington.
OLD-TIMERS WHO SENT
HISTORICAL DISPATCHES
Officers Elected, Days Of
Sightseeing to Follow
Regular Business
Session.

A notable group Of men were present
this morning when the first sessions of
the tWenty-siXth annual reunion of the
Old-Tir.e TeIeEraphers and Historical
Association and OF the Society of the
United States Military Telegraph Corps
were called 20 order. The conventions
are being held I'm the Arl'agton Hotel
and viii continue through Thursday.
Among the large uurDer Of delegates
20 the conventions are men who have
spent years IN the telegraph service,
and who knew the art of sending and
receiving when IL was a new science.
Men who have grown old IN the ser
vice mingled with younger heads and
told many interesting things OF the
first days" when they were new 10
the keys.
OId-tlmers who have received and sent
historical dispatches. c-ar-ei with tho
younger fellows who have yet 20 know
more than the ordinary routine. and
"Reminiscences We're exchanged that.
were they compiled. " oulc make an in
teresting addition 20 the historical lit
erature Of. the day.
Welcomed by Colonel Young.
Col. William II. Young. night manager
of the Western Union Telegraph Com
pany here, as president of the Old-Time
Telesraphers and Historical Ass0cla-
tiou. called the meeting to order. He
used as a gavel "a small telegraph in
strument which is more than fifty years
old.
Commissioner 1IacfaFland, I'm a brief
address. bade the delegates welcome to
the National Capital
Il don't know" said he. 'of any as
sociation that is better entitled TO be
made welcome in the city OF Washing
ton, the home of the nation" In con-
clusion ne said:
Some OF you sent LdnC0lns COM
rnands in the civil war. some of you
sent McKinley's commands in the Span
ish war. all of you have been close to
our greatest men in time of peace, and
all Of you deserve well Of your coun-
try"
Responds for Visitors.
William J. Dealy, superiuterd dent Of
the Western Union. IN New York, re-
sponded 20 the address He thanked A1r.
Macfarlaud and the District government
for the kindness Of their welcome.
When again we meet our first
thoughts viii be fer the Hndest and
most cordial Of men. Commissiouer Mac
land" said aIr. Dealy. "And." he con-
tinued. turning to the commissioner. 'if
ever you have occasion TO he present at
one of our gatherings, there VIII be
many of the old fellows. old chaps who
have grown gray over the cllck-cuck OF
the instrument. who win welcome sou"
President Young then launched forth
into his opening address. Mr.. Young
said in part.
I'm this, the twenty-siNth anniversary
of our beginning. and the LWeury-siNth
convention of our delegates, I ann more
than glad to have our body meet in
Washington. Washington is the center
OF the world, ana il is now Greater
Washington than IL ever was. The tele-
graph has done much TO make this so,
and Washington Is grateful for it,
Half Century at the Key.
Col Young said he had been in the
service more tlan nfty-1WO years.
Nothing" lie concluded, ever has
given noe any more pleasure than this
meeting. and I shall remember it as
Continued on Fourth Page)