The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-10-19
H. j. Ross Extends the Glad
Hand in Behalf ioflLo-
cal Chamber.
RESPONSE BY G0RNVELL
President Louis Bennett Of
State Board Makes
Able Address.

Tile eleventh annual convention Of
the State Board OF Trade met this az
ternoon In the local Chamber OF Com.
merce rooms with more than 200 del
eBates In attendance. The proposed
increase In the freight rate on west
virginia coal which the railroads are
seeking of the interstate commerce
commission. and the problems of tax.
alton are the subjects which interest.
ed the delegates most deeply today
While the regular session or the
Board of Trade convention was beins
held IN large assembly room on the
second floor OF the Watson building,
the North Central West Virginia Coal
Operators Association was In session
across the hall. representatives fof the
entire tonnage OF the district being
represented at the operators meeting,
Mayor Anthony Bowen and Presi.
dent II. j. Ross. OF the Fairmont Cham.
Der of Commerce, welcomed the dele
gates TO Fairmont following an iiyo-
cation by the Rev. DR.. @. e. Goodwin,
pastor OF the Methodist Episcopal
church Of Fairmont. John j. Corn.
well, OF Romuey. responded In behalf
OF the State Board. Following Mr..
Cornwell Louis Bennett, OF Weston.
president Of the board, delivered the
presidents address. The report OF
the executive committeeS read by Sec.
| retary r. B. Naylor followed by va.
rious committee reports closed the
morning session OF the convention.
Discussion, Of { be work of the Fed.
ileral Trade Commission and the re.
ports OF committees took up the great.
er part OF the afternoon session. The
principal speakers this afternoon were
Edward N. Hurley, ayice.chairma1 Of
the Federal Trade commission, and
William ]. Harris, both OF Washing
ton, D. C.
In his address Of welcome Mayo,
Bowen said:
81 tender 10 you the hospitality oil
this fair city OF Fairmont. Itake pleas
ure In turning over to these delegates
the keys OF the city. i have noSfear
to place the keys OF the city In the
hands OF the men see before me be-
cause know you to be good men
willing and able to do good for the
city,
Mr.. Ross In his address said:
ut has been II years since this or
ganization was formed. During these
IL years have seen the state and the
city OF Fairmont developing rapidly.
Fairmont Is the center OF Ia great trac.
ti0n system with Ill miles OF track,
the greatest and largest system In the
state. The schools have grown until
now we have eight modern buiidings
all crowded to their capacity. We
have a fine Masonic temple and fine
y. NJ. c. a. building ailierected during
these II years"
Mr.. Cornwell, after telling OF the
growth of Fairmont during the third
of century that he has known It,
from struggling country Village tc
a city OF $4,000 people, devoted the
greater part OF his address to crit.
icism OF the methods OF state iegisla.
tion, declaring that members OF thu
state egislatureIofsbot political par
ties were in the habit OF spending tot
much time in "iog rolling.
President Bennett In his address
said: /. =
7.'As this is my first opportunity te
do so, and twill benny oniyone, i feel
that would not have served you lie
proper spirit did I3not take advantage
OF 1t to express my great atappreciation
OF the high honor you did me wher
without my solicitation or knowledge,
you placed me at the head OF q body
OF men such as you are, the most rep.
resentative of every leading profes.
sion. industry and Interest In the
State, busy men, able men, brainy
leaders in your respective spheres
who without remunerati lion and at per.
sonal sacrifice have taken Up thia
work In the service of all and with
the best interests of the whole people
at heart. i am free to say that no
body Of disinterested men have done
more for the general good of the State
than you." 10
Secretary Naylor in the report Of
the executive committee said:
The State Board Tof Trade enters
on the second decade of Its career at
this eleventh meeting. and Fairmont
has given welcome to It's guests.
members and delegates worthy OF It's
name and fame for brand Of iiospl.
tality second TO none. We are meet
ing here in the great coal center of
Northern West Virginia under fayora-
BILE auspices, for. Fairmont through its
excellent chamber OF commerce and
CONTINUED on page ten9