Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-24
F|REMEN IN SESSION
State Association Opens Con-
vention at Alexandra.
CITY IS IN GALA ATTIRE
Occasion q Big Frolic for Both Wis
itors and Townspeople.
STREETS LIGHTED UP TONIGHT
Band Concerts for Cash Prizes Also
on the Program-Big Parade
Tomorrow.
STREETS LIGHTED UP TONIGHT

ALEXANDRIA. Va, August -. 1910.
The twenty-fourth annual convention OF
the Virginia State Firemen's Association
convened at the opera house shortly after
2 O'Clock this afternoon, with j. r. n
Curtin. state president Of the association
Of this city. presiding and about 200 dele
Portsmouth. secretary. served In that ca
pacity.
In a few appropriate remarks President
Curtin introduced Mayor Frederick J. Paff
who delivered an address of welcome to tn,
firemen on behalf OF the city government
He was followed by Representative
Charles c. Carlin. who Also delivered ar
address of welcome on behalf Of the city
John IL Trimyer spoke on behalf OF the
local firemen. All of the speakers paid
tributes to the state association and its
work.
Immediately following the delivery OF
the addresses of welcome the appoint
ment OF the general committee was an
nounced by the president and The names
Of the various committeeman read by
Secretary Cummings. Within a short
time thereafter the credential committee
through Its chairman, Mr.. Marshall. made
Its report. which was followed by the
delegates. The reading of reports next
came up from the VARIOUS state officers,
all OF the reports showing the association
to be In an excellent condition fnan.
cfally and otherwise.
Reports Occupy Afternoon.
The reading Of reports will be contin-
ued until 4 o'clock this afternoon when
an adjournment will be taken until :
o'clock tonight. At the night session
several of the delegates will make
speeches. This will be followed by the
annual election OF officers and the selec-
ton OF place for the next state con-
vention. Staunton and Lexington are
said to be in the field for the convention
and both are reported to be working hard
for it.
The opening night OF the convention
Will be marked by the illumination of
King street from Fairfax to West streets.
distance OF eleven squares. This. with
the decorations, will add considerably TO
the attractiveness OF that thoroughfare.
The decorations are profuse, and the old
town tonight will present a gala appear
ance with the large throng of firemen in
their brfght-colored uniforms, together
with the hundreds OF visitors who are
within the city's gates. IL is predicted
that record-breaking crowd will turn
out tonight. Many visitors from Wash
Already the street takers. who usually
follow conventions Of this sort. are In the
city. Canes. flags. ticklers. horns, bells.
crickets. the scratching balloons and a
thousand and one other noise making de-
vices are on hand, to say nothing OF the
confetti which is in readiness for the
merrymakers.
Everybody Wears a Badge.
Everybody wears a badgs Some are
not content with one and are wearing
dozen or more streamers including
every color Of the rainbow. The official
badges that are being worn by the local
committee consist Of a blue ribbon with
handsome metallic badge bearing the
word Committee above, incased in
metal the same as the badge. An official
ladies' badge was also distributed to the
visiting ladies this morning.
Incoming trains this morning. beginning
at 3 o'clock, brought hundreds of firemen
from every section Of the state. BY =
o'clock this afternoon practically all of
the fire ladies, with the exception of one
or two companies. had arrived. The Wis
itors were met at the trains and wharves
by members of the local entertainment
committee. who escorted them to the gen.
eral headquarters Of the committee at the
rooms of the chamber of commerce. which
place was very animated today. At the
headquarters they were assigned to the
hotels and boarding houses selected for
them.
The city is practically alive with fire.
men today, and everybody seems bent on
having q good time. The convention il a
big frolic for the boys. and they are max
ing the most of it. The bands In the city
with the various companies will. IL is ex-
pected, parade up and down the streets
tonight to enliven things and give a num-
her of informal concerts. inasmuch as
there is no set program for tonight other