The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-01-15
MR.. BARNES is
APPOINTED CHIEF
.SERGEANTATARMS
Telephone Con
vention In Chicago

=
The most important meeting of the
telephone interests in the United
States and Canada ever held. will be
the annual convention Of the Internn,
tlonal Independent Telephone Associa-
ton, to be held at the Coliseum in Chi
cago January 81. 22 and 90. during the
progress of the Electrical Show. Mr..
]. Walter Barnes, general manager of
the Consolidated Telephone Company,
has been selected as a delegate to the
convention by the West Virginia Inde-
pendent Telephone Association and
has also been appointed Chief Ser
geant At Arms. by Theo. Gary, presi-
dent of the International Association.
Mr.. Barnes is one of the pioneers In
the Independent telephone field. He
was one Of the organizers Of the West
Virginia Independent Telephone AS.
ISOLATION, being the first president of
that body. He is at present member
of the executive committee of the
West Virginia Association and has al.
ways been actively identified with in
dependent organization. On number
of occasions he has represented the
Independent association at State con-
ventions and other important conven
tons. Mr.. Barnes's company is one
of the strongest in West Virginia.
From the view point of the general
public, the most important item II
connection with this convention is the
demonstration of the tremendous
strength of the independent telephone
interests in the United States. AMI
Canada. the uninterrupted advance,
against all kinds and sorts of obsta-
cles and handicaps from nothing to
over 100000 instruments in less than
fifteen years, and the fact the as
ISOLATION and its members must be
taken into consideration wherever the
telephone exists or is contemplated IN
this country. According to the Off
cials of the association. the growth of
the Independent movement has been
SO steady and flourishing that it is i'm
possible to keep up with the demand,
but with the true American spirit, the
hands are reaching out for more while
the planning apparatus Is endeavoring
to take care of the material already
being served.
Any number of vital questions and
important issues are scheduled for dis
cussion and treatment. and some of
the best papers ever heard on the va
rious subjects of interest are in prep
aratIon by number Of pastmasters
in the art of analysis and argument.
President Gary has recently issued a
call to the independent people OF the
entire country, urging them to attend
the convention and participate in dis
cussing and deciding policies of the
association, for taking care of the very
important issues Of compulsory inter-
communication legislation, financing
the association, outlining the best
methods for developing new territory,
pushing the independent interests to
the best advantage, handling tele-
phone securities in large and small
communities, employment Of charac
teristic advertising devices and many
other leading subjects. The conven-
ton will be held in the Coliseum an
mex, during the Electrical Show, which
is undoubtedly the most compreben-
slve and extensive electrical exposl-
ton ever given, and presents many
educational and interesting features
for every one associated with any
branch OF the electrical industry. There
will be three day convention opening
Tuesday, January 81, with an address
Of welcome by Mayor F. A. Bussee,
and response by Mr.. NJ. L. Clawson,
of indianapolis, Ind. President Theo-
dore Gary will deliver his annual adj
dress, followed by the reports of the
officers. appointment of convention
committees, reports OF State, terri
toria1 and provincial association and
discussion OF papers and addresses as
selected. The first day VIII close with
discussion Of the subject present
Problems and Their Solution" The
second day will be devoted almost en-
tirely to the discussion OF vital sub
jects. with a smoker in the evening,
and the final day of the twelfth annual
convention of the independent tele-
diana y,noD1a NJ +hta coNnfrr will oou,
clude with election and installation of
officers. discussion of different papers
and addresses and free.for.all wres-
tie with the subject of "our Future
Policy"
Stress has been laid on the telephone
tcontinued % Page FeGEo