Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1913-07-17
B, P, 0, ELkS AT
ROCHESTER, n. Y.
ANTLERED CONVENTION HAS
TREMENDOUS CROWD-SPLEN.
DID ELECTRIC DISPLAY.

DID ELECTRIC DISPLAY.
Rochester, N. Y. July 11.-Never
in the history of Rochester have
more elaborate preparations been
made for the holding of a national
convention, than in the present
greeting and reception for the B. P.
o. Elks. ''The Best People on
Earth" own Rochester, and the Her
aid says, There are. thousands on
the job-there seems to be millions
of them-and more thousands are
coming" to witness the grand pa
rade, competitive drills, and water
carnival. Owe $4,000 Elks register
ed at convention hall up to July 9th
and they were coming by the thous-
ands every day. The city of Buffalo
and surrounding towns sent thous-
ands of citizens who were not Elks,
as we'll as members of the order to
witness the big ceremonies and pa
rade. Large delegations from De-
troit and cities in neighboring states
turned out, and the facilities of
Rochester were taxed to the utmost
to take care of the crowds.
One of the finest features of the
meeting was the parade of automo-
biles decked in floral displays and
lighted with electric lights. It was
the finest exhibit of electrical de-
signing ever seen in the city. Hun
dreds of thousands of people watch
ed the parade. There were more
than $50 cars in line. Thousands of
dollars were spent trimming them
with bunting, confetti, natural fow-
ers and electric bulbs. Others were
transformed into unique floats with
occupants depicting characters. Ev-
cry vehicle in the parade, except one,
was motor propelled and that was
the real western stage coach Of the
Wells-Fargo Express company.
brought here all the way from Chi
cago. LAUNDERING along behind four
handsome grays, its springs sunken
under a heavy burden Of fair femin-
unity, If fair femininity Is ever a bur-
den, it divided applause with the
ubiquitous Angelo Newman, imper-
sonating club perception of Father
Rochester, under arrest for speeding
and in the custody of rather too
bashful policeman.
There was a hot fight for the elec-
ton of officers for the ensuing year.
Edward Leach of New York was
elected Grand Exalted Ruler of the
Grand Lodge, and Fred Robinson of
Dubuque, Ia, was reelected grand
secretary.
A report of the grand secretary
showed that Elks lodges had given
$4,000 the past year for the relief
of lodges suffering from tornadoes
and floods. In the last eight years
the membership of the Elks has
doubled. In 1905 there were 9Ss
lodges with 100000 members; in
1918 there are 1906 lodges with
408,281 members. There are two
lodges in Hawaii. one in Porto Rico,
one in the Philippines and one in
Guam.
Denver was selected as the place
for holding the next convention.
The boys are having grand time.
"Bill" is much in evidence, and many
Rochester ladies are entertaining
the visitors. The events Of the
meeting came thick and fast, and the
parade was one Of the grandest Elk
demonstrations ever seen In this
country. There were many bands,
and the delegates wore 40 q rule
white duck trousers. white shirts.
sailor hats with purple bands, car
rying canes and penants.
Two Of the Elks from Texas were
shipped as livestock" !" on one way
bill, with the direction ''handle as
rough as possible" There are many
prominent men attending the con-
vention, including congressman, gov
ernors. ministers. and we'll known
business men from nearly every city
in the union. A typical Yankee Elk
from Bangor, Maine, was overheard
to exclaim to q delegate from Dallas.
Texas, with southern makeup,
"Gosh! we're here from all over"
The Grand Lodge has accepted q
bid for $3.50. 1000 Of q Salt Lake con-
tractor, for the erection Of q new ma
tional home, the site for which has
not yet been decided upon. Bedford,
ho.s nipaysod 30 4aK0 0(fl site