The independent-reporter., 1910-02-24
SKOWHEGAN BOYCHOSEN
PRESIDENT
Paper mead by Elroy Lacasce Loudly
Applaaded.

Eighteen Skowhegan boys repre-
sented the boyhood of the town at
the great boys convention held FRI
day, Saturday and Sunday In Angus
ia. Edward B. Hinckley, editor of
the Independent-Repor acted as
leader of the delegation. The follow
ing are the names of those who at
tended: Elroy Lacasce, Milburn Fow-
ler, Paul Murray, Omar Badger,
Howard Weston, Everett Bacon, Roy
Steward, Frank Richardson, Enroll
Chase, Lyle Moore, Guy Lawrence.
James Gilfillan.. Arthur Merrill, Fred
Weston, Elliott Spear, Abner Mitchell.
George Day and Merton Pierce.
The boys took the noon train Fri.
day, arriving In Augusta at about A
o'clock. All went at once to Cony
High school where the students of
the school had prepared light refresh
ments and were rendering reception,
with music by local orchestra. The
Skowhegan delegates were properly
tagged with Hello Badges"-giving
the name of the wearer aod the town
from which he came-and went up
to the reception hall to help sing
America" and incidentally visit the
punch bowl. Everything suited the
boys except that slight
ly starchy atmosphere was bit diff
ficult to breathe, and they proceeded
at once to break up the stiffness with
a mighty yell, ending with a most
emphatic assurance that they hailed
from Skowhegan. Their cheer was
the first to be heard in the hall, but
was a signal for yell after yell from
the hundreds of boys present repre-
senting over eighty towns In the good
old State of Maine.
At seven o'clock Friday evening six
hundred boys sat down to a banquet
in the city hall, and here, too, the
Skowhegan delegation was Johnny
on -the-sp0t with cheers and applause.
Governor Fernald, the first post
pr a.,dial speaker, was given an ova-
ton by the boys, and opened his elo-
quent address with the remark that
he was much embarrassed as the gov
ernor Of Maine tn be addressing SO
many future gcvernDrs at one time.
Saturday morning at the opening
-~--a>.- - A. x,r,~, ao,S.x,ca Hta 0hmvy-
hegan delegation was twice Ereatly
honored. Arthur Merrill was a1nani-
mousiy elected president of the con-
ference. which, tn view of the fact
that it was the largest boys confer
ence ever held anywhere In the world
was a very pleasing recognition Of q
Skowhegan boys merit and trustwor-
thiness. A few minutes later q paper
ON the work of the IN. c. A. might
school In Slaowhegan was read by En-
roy Lacasce and was received with
close attention, followed by great ap-
planse.
Saturday afternoon the boys at
tended group conferences In various
places, one of which WIS presided
over BY George Merriam, BDys 6ec-
rotary in Portland, who is we'll known
In this town. Later IN the afternoon
they visited either the Soldiers F4ume
at Togus or the State House. AS the
State house To amderyOing extensive
repairs and large improvements. there
was not mnch OF interest to he seen,
and accordingly the majority of the
delegates went to Togus
Saturday evening the boys l!stened
to an address by L. L. Doggett, prcti-
dent of the r. M. C. A. Training
school at Sprinyaead, Mass. Hts ad-
dress, illustrated with atersOpffcon
views OF many Y. M. C. A. buildings
in all parts OF the world, was deeply
interesting and we'll appreciated.
Sunday morning each boy went to
the regular service In the local
church which his host attended. Au-
gusta churches we're ail given many
boys for their morning services.
In the afternoon H. w. Gibssn, State
secretary for boys in Massachusetts
and Rhode Island, said to be the nm
est afternoon speaker to boys In
America, gave a wonderful address on
"Chums." and in the evening Rev. G.
w. Hinckley of Good Will Farm ad-
dressed the conference, and hundreds
Of Augusta people who filled the gal
leries, on "Organlzed Boys Work"
After this address a few announce
ments were made and then all Joined
hands in a great endless chain, and
sang the closing hymn. "Blest be the
tie that binds" As the last words Of
this grand hymn died away President
Arthur. Merrill stepped forward and
declared the conference closed.
Anson Quarterly Meeting