The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29
Addresses of Welcome Will Be Made by State
 Educators
MODEL INITIATION
 AT SESSION TONIGHT
Smoker at the Athletic Club Tonight. Over 200 Delegates Already Reg istered and 100 More Ex-
 pected This Morning

The formal opening of the national con- vention the Phi Delta Theta fraternity will be held this morning at 10 o'clock. With more than 200 delegates registered and with at least 100 present unofficially attached to the convention, Birmingham is host to one of the most widely attended conventions of late years. All trains yes- terday and today brought additional visi- tors and delegates to the meeting, while today it is expected that the number of visitors will be increased something like 1O0 The official registration yesterday was in charge of Ali Smith and Edgar Bowron.
 This morning at 10 o'clock the conven- ton will be called to order by Gen. L. V. Clarke, president of the Birmingham Alumni club. He will speak few words of welcome and will turn the meeting over to pr. Guy Potter Benton, president of the fraternity. It is planned to have words of welcome from the governor of Alabama, Dr. George H. Denny, president of the University of Alabama Dr. C. c. Thach, president of Auburn: Comnis- sioner George B. Ward, and Commits sioner James Weatherly. Hugh Morrow will make the address of welcome on be- half of the Birmingham alumni. while the Rev. Willis c. Clarke will offer the in- vocation. The reply to the welcomes will be made by Dr. Benton.
 Morning Session Open The morning session is open to the pub lie and many invitations have been issued to local citizens to be present, among them being P. G. Shook of the Chamber of Commerce R. W. Ewing, president of the Board of Trade; w. c. Radcliffe, W. Blanks Everette, Burden Burr of the Sig ma Nu fraternity; Gen. W. w. Brandon of Tuscaloosa, Maj. J. M. Tutwiler and others.
 After the open session this morning there will be business session with an- other in the afternoon.
 Upon their arrival yesterday morning members of the general council went into session and remained busy all day get ting the details of the work to be done shaped up. It was not announced what questions had been taken up. It is stated that the programme arranged will be car
 
 bers of the general council yesterday ex- , pressed their approval of the arrange ments that have been made and subse- uuently announced the standing commit 1 tees of this convention.
 | The business sessions are executive and | are expected to develop some questions of great importance. It is stated that the council is being petitioned by no less than ten well known colleges for chapters. The question of bestowing chapters upon the applicants is very serious one and I is being given careful consideration One of the most active and spirited fights is being waged by the delegation from Col gate and it is confidently believed that Colgate will secure the chapter.
 Model Initiation Tonight | The programme for tonight includes model initiation. This ceremony will be in charge of Dr. Benton and members of the general council and 1t will prove of decided interest to the visitors. It is stated that several men will be initiated at the model ceremony arranged In ad- 1 dition to this affair there will be a smoker at the Athletic club. The smoker will | include many gr.diron stunts that have been arranged by committee in charge of that part of the programme. Adn1is- l sion to the smoker will be by cards which have been supplied the visitors. 1 The visitors here express great approval of the programme that has been mapped out. At the Alabama Glee club concert last night at the Southern club the visi- tors were introduced to a great many of I the local young ladies and the custom of | allowing "breaks" in the dances seemed to appeal very much to the visitors. This {, will be in force at the ball to be given at the Tutwiler this afternoon from 4 1 until o'clock. the same custom will ap- I ply.
 l The ball tomorrow night will be the big event of the day although the the-dansant will attract a very large crowd The principal affair will be the banquet to be given Thursday night at l the Tutwiler. There will be quite few