The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-06-12
From Tuesdays Daily.


the number of more tnan thousand
are guests in Mankato today, in the
capacity of delegates to the thirty
sixth annual convention of the Mime
sofa State Fire Department association
which commenced this morning and will
close tomorrow evening.
All day yesterday the fire fighters
gathered here and incoming trains this
morning brought still larger numbers.
At noon today it was given out upon
excellent authority that the attedance
at this meeting would exceed that at
any other in the history of the organ
ization. The forenoon sessio6 at the
opera house was given to an excellent
program and several excellent address
ses were heard. The Mankato theatre
is deliberately decked with flags and
bunting and two life sized figures, clad
in firemen's garb, Occupy prominent
places at either side of the store. The
auditorium and stage were well filled
during the forenoon, which shows the
interest the delegates are taking in
the addresses.
Chief n. Kleinschmidt, of this city,
president of the state organization
called the convention to order about
half past ten o'clock and after Rev. L.
Ross Paden mad read prayer, intro
duced mayor j. w. Andrews who de-
livered an address of welcome to the
visitors.
A. Wa1c
After patriotic reference to the dec
orations, the audience and the event,
Mayor Andrews remarked that it was
not his intention to make an extended
address but simply to assure the dele
gates that Mankato gives them most
hearty, cordial welcome. The chief
executive asked the visitors to notsSe
the beauty of the city in which they
the delegates, things of which every
resident is proud. The citizens of
Mankato he said, not only welcome the
tirement but are glad to have them here
because of pride they take in the Manka-
to fire department, whose peer does not,
exist in the state, whose especial guests I
they are. Adding compliment tol
Chief Kleinschmidt's ability, Mayor An
drews, asked the delegates to enjoy
themselves and feel entirely at liberty
while in Mankato He knew the visi-
tors were gentlemen-not carousers,
and for that reason they were received
with pleasure and presented them with
the keys to the city. They are well |
come in Mankato's public buildings,
stores and other places of business, and
in her homes and Mankato boasts some
of the very finest of residences. The'
MAYOR concluded in the midst OF a I
burst of hearty applause.
At this juncture Chief kleinschmidt
presented Second Vice President
Kent, who presided during the remainder
of the session and introduced E. NJ.
Twiford, chief of the Owatonna Fire
department who delivered the response
to the mayor.
Chief Twiford knew of the beauties
of Mankato because yesterday after
noon he had enjoyed an automobile
tour of the city and was very favor !
ably impressed with all he saw. Every
thing was indicative of general pros
perity in Mankato.
Wanted the Best.
With numerous story. Chief Twi-
ford illustrated that the fireman came
prepare to pay their way and wanted
the best. They would upon leaving
feel indebted to Mankato for its hos |
pitality but would enjoy the satisfac-
ton of knowing they were not indebted
in the measure, that is, the visitors
who says simply, "Thank you, we have
had lovely time"
Chief Twiford sketched briefly the
history of the state organization and
the Firemen's Relief association and
the advantages they must have brought
TO members and the classified firemen
into three divisions, the paid, men the
volunteers and the amateurs, discus
SING each class in an interesting IA
shion. /
Reaching the class of the amatuer
in his remarks, Chief Twlford referred
to him in plain talk, saying that he ;
didn't believe there were any OF the
class i'm the audience and hence none
need feel hurt. The amateur fireman
might be discovered first because he Is
always the last one to reach hre
and upon his arrival never tried to
offer any assistance but instead joined
the crowd of loafers and accOstlng one
of them asked, SCOT the maxim S,
BILLY" And when the amateur attended
the convention he would first deck
himself out in all the badges proeur-
able and then take on few and
start out to hit the middle and both
sides of the walk all at the same
time. Examination would prove that
this class of freman's varbureator is
wrong, his differentials are out OF j
whack and his spark plugs are thickly
coated-in brief the only thing that
was running right on him would Bbe his
buzzer. For this mans mother, for
the delegation of which he might be
a member and the town he represented {
Chief Twiford asked pity. "Take him
to the garage and don't blame !
all the firemen for the antics of any
amateurs that may be found among
them"
Chief Twiford then expressed APP
probation of the welcome extended by
Mayor Andrews. They would CRATE
fully accept the freedom offered but
as for the keys of the city-ne was
skeptical places were. locked tight