The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-23
Roanoke Doing
Itself Proud in Entertain-
ing State Convention.
YEAR OF GROWTH
SHOWN BY REPORTS
Membership, Good Roads, Press
and Other Committees Make
Very Encouraging Re-
ports-President John
son Speaks at
Banquet.

=
Special to The Times -Dispatch.l
il@ OANOkE, VA, May 22.--Roanoka
$s ;i /, e Z, #$; 77ss; 4 &;
none have created more in-
terest and none have had delegates
who made more favorable Impression
on the people of the city than the
u. P. a., whose State convention opened
there to-day.
4 address OF welcome that he had never
4 given the keys OF the city away with
less fear. He told them to take what
they wanted. and the police would look
the other way.
The seventeenth annual convention
was opened in Assembly Hall at 1890.
4 with about zoo delegates in attendance,
4 by Bascomb Stephens, president OF the
local post.
Prayer was offered by the Rey. w. @.
1, Campbell. pastor of the First Presby-
terian Church, who asked divine bless
4 ings on the deliberations of the body
and thanked God for such organiza-
tions, where men stood together for the
good of their fellow-nlen.
Welcomed by the Mayor.
4 Mayor cutchin welcomed the .dele-
4 gates TO Roanoke. He said that even
a Mayor would make a poor showing
with such takers as travelling men.
He hoped that their stay would be so
/ pleasant that they wotild come again.
i President B. B. Adams responded brief
i ly, and then announced the following
+ committees:
/ Committee on Rules-J. T. Wilmer.
chairman: Hampton Fleming, c. E. Her
bert. r. w Price and D. L. Traynhan.
/ Ie
Sale chairman: f. Fl. Cloves. e. NJ.
i Stribling and j. s. Oliver.
1 Committee on Resolutions-C. w.
4 Saunders, chairman: O.. II. Kirk, j. H.
Bailey. j. w. Num- and r. W. Harvey.
4 Committee on Gonstitution-E r.
Barksdale, chairman; A. D. Brackett.
G.. H Harrison, e. D.. Quarles.
Auditing Committee-W B. Ryan,
4 chairman; w. II. WhIchard.
A He Wanted Them Full.
Mr.. Stewart Westover was made SER
4 geant lat arms See said President
Adams. that the delegates stay in
their places" which moved one dele
1 gate to cry out: mo baseball for mel"
The committee on credentials reported
the number Of delegates each post wa
entitled to- and that none were fun.
LET them get full.' said the presi-
dent, and there was more laughter.
Messrs. E. r. Barksdale, c. E. Her
4 bert and ]. T.. Williams were appointed
a committee to prepare resolutions on
the death of John j. King. of Norfol TX.
] President Adams presented his report,
which complimented the officers of the
Organization. with big bouquet for
George Rogers, the press committe e.s
4 chairman: A. D. Brockett. e. II. Cloves.
Il E. r. Barksdale and Hampton Flem-
i ing.
i Bclicyc. in Publicity.
!. Chairman Rogers submitted the res
port of the press committee. In this
i he says:
The year has been exceedingly
/ prosperous from a publicity stand #
point. I estimate the amount of
space given to the work under
/ taken by the association and posts
to be over $50 columns.
Our association is regarded by
the press of this State as the great
est commercial body in it's borders.
urge each post to take an ac-
tive interest in the commercial
welfare of their city, and give
the e5newspapers an account of their ~
/ meetings. and invite thee newspaper
i men to attend the meetings. espe-
cally the smokers.
4 Good publicity will assist in
building up any commercial body.
ITO the work of your chairman.
I conducted the publicity campaign
| 4 and assisted the chairmen OF the
legislative and good roads commit
tees In the fight before the Lesis-
| lature for good roads. AS to the
results, refer you to their reports.
In this fight, the majority OF the
State papers were with us, and 8
devoted columns. both editorially
and local, to our side of the fight
/ trust 1t will be the pleasure OF 4
\ this convention toseNtend a vote OF
thanks to- the press of the State
for their assistance. On a nun,-
ber of occasions ] furnished the
News Letter. with an article on
the happenings of the Virginia Di-
vision. also assisted Post a IN
their extensive publicity
Large Increase In Members.
The report Of the state membership
| committee. submitted by Chairman =,
w. Saunders made a fine showing, and
aroused great enthusiasm. This says
/ In part: Frs 81
Gentlemen, ,-In making my fifth t
T annual report 1 feel; some pride In 8
saying this has been one Of the
most successful years in Virginia.
Division, n P. A.. work that we
have ever had Notwithstanding
the unprecedented shrinkass S4i
l4p values OF ail8 KINGS as Wei ~
fearful financial condition which u
has enveloped our entire country
/ durins the past six or seven
months.
Soon after our last animal con-
j vention. our national officers asked
this division to send In 400 new
members during the year 1907 and
III 1905, We have done more than
they requested OF us, and sent In 2s
| nearly 500, some or which. nt
course. have been rejected for good
i and sufficient reasons,
At orr last annual meeting we
had La bout e..a75 n,emhers. to-day, s..
Notwithstanding our en- orn,ous
lapses. transfers. eta, we have
about a,45o, or a net gain Of yery
nearly q par cent. must say his
work as fine, and that each post IN
\ ths u statS deserves cgedt fos IN 81 \ y y