The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1915-08-28
D.vILLE GETS CONVENTION.
State Firemen's Association to Meet
Here Next Year.


sDonaldsonville gets the conven-
tion," announced President L. B. LIE
Blame Of the Louisiana State Fire
mems Association, AN instant before
the gavel fellec1osing the second days
convention of the organization in New
Orleans last Saturday The selection
of the 1916 meeting place was by
far the feature of the days pro-
ceedings. Baton Rouge, Donaldson
vile and Alexandria were candidates
for the honor of entertaining the gal
liant fire ladies next year, but the
Alexandria invitation, which came in
the form of a letter, was tabled be-
cause that city was not represented
at the convention.
AS soon as the president announced
that the choice of a meeting place for
1916 was in order, Donaldsonville
and Baton Rouge boosters were on
the floor voicing the advantages and
inducements of their respective cities.
After the speeches a ballot was taken,
the fremen writing their choice on
slips of paper which were placed in
hat under the eyes of three tellers.
The ballots were counted and it
appeared that Baton Rouge had won,
the vote being 50 to As. The total
number of ballots cast, however, was
fifteen more than had been cast in
any preceding election at the same
session, and the Donaldsonville del
egates declared the ballot box had
been stuffed" Baton Rouge par
tisans resented this charge, and for
some minutes several of the delegates
were talking at the same time. The
president called the meeting to order,
and after announcing that the COM
mittee which conducted the election
had reported the ballot stuffed, he de-
clared the vote null and void and
stated that another ballot would be
taken.
Here the Baton Rouge spokesman
got the floor and announced that if
another vote was ordered he would
withdraw his city from the competi-
ton. This threat was made good |
when the president stood pat on his
ruling that the original election was
without effect, and DonaIdsonviIle
was declared the winner.
Members of the Central Fire Sta
ton of New Orleans were strong sup
porters of Baton Rouge, and as they
had left the hall after placing their
ballots in the hat, the capital city
would have been minus ten or more
votes on the taking of se%end ballot.
A big delegation of members of
Protective Hose Company No. 4, and
some eight or ten members of Phoenix
Steam Fire Company No. /, took part
in the fremen's parade and celebra-
ton on Sunday afternoon which was
the concluding feature of the conven-
ton. The local contingent was head
ed by John Schaff, the efficient and
popular chief of the department,
who distributed large number Of
ribbon badges bearing the inscription,
sDonaldsonville 1916"
In the hose reel contest, one of the
zig events of the festival, Protect
We Hose Company's crack team finish
I'd second, being bested by Natalbany
~ narrow margin. The winners
lme was 20 1-5 seconds, Protective's
q seconds, and the other compete :
ors 38 and 46 As seconds respect
vely. The teams were required to
un 100 yards, unreel 100 feet of
lose, couple it to hydrant and put
N the nozzle. The companies finish
ng third and fourth were disuuali-
led for failure to properly couple the
ose at the hydrant.
The DonaldsonvilIe delegates to
he convention, and local fremen who
vent to New Orleans to participate in
sundays program, report having been
icely treated by their Crescent City
osts and are warmly appreciative of
ne generous hospitality accorded
hem.