Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-04
Presidents Annual Address.

Following Mr. Macfarland,s speech, Presi-
dent Williams made his annual address.
He said in part:
1T gives me pleasure to welcome the
delegates, and those with them. to our
thirtieth convention. This is the second
meeting of the association in this beautiful
city. The former was held here early In
1874, slightly more than thirteen years ago.
In addressing that convention, President
Armstrong stated there were upward of
200 central stations in this country, repre-
senting at least 500, 100000 of capital Ac-
cording to Our honorary member, Mr.. 7. G.
Martin, in his United States census report
on the North American continent, there are
now more than 1000 central stations; the
investment, in the United States alone has
reached $3.50, 600 GOO: the gross annual reve
nue. s165, 100000 - the gross return yearly
thus approXimating the investment of the
industry in 1894.
''Then the dominating thought was tech
meal, mechanical and electrical The
American, in whatever he does, moves rap
idly. In operating limitations development
toward the practical, if not the ideal. has
about been reached, and now the predomi-
mating thought in a convention such as
this, while giving due regard to engineering
problems, tends more especially to the COM
mercial development. and to broad ques-
tons of management which, in the highest
sense affect our relations with the general
public.
Technique Not Neglected.
Notwithstanding this change, the tech
nique of our industry has not been neglected
in the program of this convention. Much
that is new in protective devices will be
presented we shall hear of recent develop
ments In the steam turbine; the gas engine
will receive the attention 1t appears in
creasngly to deserve; and, in connection
with the report of the committee, on street
lighting specifications, we may expect to
hear of the latest developments in mean
descent and arc lamps and in other forms
of artificial llumination-upon these and
other technical matters we shall hear from
some of the country's highest authorities
Corporation promises to be one of the
keynotes of the century's progress. AS else
ing.
I'm the movement toward the municipal
socialism-which for time threatened to
sweep the country-there seems to have
been a pause. AS opposed to 1t, Chicago
and London have won notable victories
during the year. This appears to have been
done entirely through an educational APP
peal to public reason. The facts for and
against the movement have been fully and
clearly stated, and the public was not slow
in deciding between right and wrong, nor
long in making known its decision.
Fair play may be expected from the
American public. But it must have facts.
not personal opinions with nothing behind
them other than mere assertion. For many
of the question, and, therefore. could not
do otherwise than form one-sided-and, "a
subsequent events have proven-a wrong
opinion This pause should not be consid-
cred as victory. Rather simply an indi-
cation that the public is wiling to hear
both sides and to render its opinion in favor
of those who in their treatment of the pub
lie, are in turn entitled to public support.
Public Opinion and Its Power.
"The power of public opinion and the re-
sistless force it exerts when centered upon
a given subject has been one of the object
lessons of the year. 1t promises to become
increasingly a predominant featire in the
conduct of the affairs-poitical, corporate
and indivdual-of American munich
palities. 1t should be carefully studied
shaped where wrong and always reckoned
with.
Our own is one of the industries through
which public opinion may be greatly at
fected. The men who are in attendance at
this convention are in a position personally
and through their subordinates to make an
impression for good for i'll upon a large
percentage of our 100000 of population
Whether our rates are fair and made with
out discrimination; whether our representa-
tives are competent and courteous; whether
our service is of high standard, all are ele-
ments which go TO make public opinion IA
vorable or unfavorable, and in this there is
no detail too small or seemingly too I'M
important to receive attention. We shall
surely reap what we SOW
is for X-ray. whereby you can see
Right into your heart or your little tummee.