The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-07-17
FOLLOWED By JOHN GATES, JR,
COL. GROSSCJP AND OTHERS.

| 6OiAS w = u JOHN GtA1Aop OES'i
COL. GROSSCJP AND OTHERS.
Five hundred oil and gas producer:
of Nest Virginia. men who sink wells
and men who finance them. were wei
coined 10 Wheeling yesterday afternoon
by Mayor Thomas =. Thoncr in the
fourth annual convention Of the West
Virginia Natural Gas association. What
the convention lacks in numbers it over.
balances by remarkable enthusiasm that
showed itself in the very first minutes
OF the convention session. The meet
ing was called To order in tn" north hall
OF the Observation-Disclosures building. the
main auditorium being taken up by in
tcrcsling exhibits of oil and gas field
equipment.
In introducing Mayor Thoncr. the pres
dent OF the association remarked that
Mayor Thoncr certainly had the appear
anCe OF one who lives al the market
auditorium. and Chided the mayor for
his very healthy appearance. saying his
healthful appearance was a tribute to
Wheeling.
3 Mayor Thoncr's address was brief.
. but TO the point. and at its conclusion
, Colonel Grosscup said: Il have listened
: to many welcomes. but none ever i'm
pressed me so deeply"
The mayor said:
! Il assure you II is not only a pleas
ure, but an honor. as q representative
OF the citizens OF Wheeling, to be called
! upon to address such a large and intelli-
! gent audience, representing approx
mately $500 business men and citizens
! OF the state of West Virginia, to say to
! you that you arc welcome to the city.
AT this time I desire to congratulate
the Chamber Of Commerce and its Off
GERS for having succeeded in bringing a
convention OF this size 10 the city. I
am informed that your organization is
for the purpose of fostering a spirit OF
: fraternity and more cordial relationship
among the producers. distributors anu
consumers Of gas. l sincerely trust
that you will be successful in bringing
| about this result. l hope your delibera-
tions will be both profitable and pleas
ant. l understand that you are to be
addressed by & number Of prominent
people also that your local committee
has provided program Of entertain
ment which will take up all the time
, allotted TO you. For this reason l will
be brief:
"On behalr OF the city Of Wheeling
and its citizens take great pleasure
/ AZ OLOoAIS YOU HelCOHc-
Il turn over to your president the
keys Of the city. The old town Is yours
while You are our guests and when you
finish your deliberations and depart, 1
hope you will take with you pleasant
recollcctions Of your short visit and de-
eide TO return again at an early date
and make your'stay for a longer period"
Hon John Gates Jr., Responds.
Hon. John Gates. Jr., chief counsel for
the Pittsburgh and West Virginia gas
I company, responded to the mayors well
come saying: 1t is proper that our
deepest gratitude be expressed for such
welcome TO such fine city as Wheel-
ing. / am plain. blunt man with
neither wit nor words to speak but I
do want to congratulate the city Of
Wheeling for having such a substantial
citizen as Mayor Thoner as it's chief
executive. l want to convey to the
mayor and people OF Wheeling our APP
probation for the courteous and amiable
hospitality of the city. Mr.. Mayor. your
kindness will not be forgotten. 1t will
be written with pencils Of silver in
words of gold upon tablets Of love and
memory.
''Our association is one Of the largest
and most influential in the United
States. Our membership is made up of
men active in every branch Of the oil
and gas industry, mon good as the best
Of them and better than the rest Of
them.
mo industry contributed more to the |
winning Of the war than did ours for |
oil. gas and gasoline played mighty |
big part in making the world safe for |
Democracy. Yet l do not give the credit !
for winning Of the world war TO any in
duStry for the douGhboys, Gobs and |
r,,o -iy rfyit F,,1
OF Americanism. who sacrificed their |
all for us, were those who won the war |
The people OF Wheeling may be in
terestcd In knowing that not one foot
Of gas used in Wheeling is produced in !
West Virginia. so that this city shall
have vital interest in our industry
Ninety percent OF the men in the state
are native born West Virgin
ians. More than ninety-nine percent
are American born. One hundred per-
cent OF our membership is one-hundrcd
percent loyal American ctizcnry.
When we leave Wheeling we shall
carry away pleasant memories. We
trust that the prosperity Of this, the
largest city OF West Virginia, shall
and that the happiness of her
citizens shall last until the sun grows
,old and the stars grow dim" Mr..
Gates concluded his address with the
>Cautlful poem, u tTlenu or Two ana
expressed that the convention would re-
suit IN mutual benefit to we'll driller
Ind operator alike.
Those coated on The Platform.
On the platform with the speakers ,
;at: Senator Wallace Gribble. of West |
.'nion; Edwin Robinson. of Fairmont
;tate secretary Of the association. and
:. O. Sullivan. Of Pittsburgh. head of !
he Manufacturers Light and Heat COM
amy.
Colonel Grosscup. the president OF thu 7
ssociation, in his annual address. was s
n his happiest vein. He touched I
richly on the problems Of the gas and r
IL industry and OF the nation and re- =
LEVIED the progress Of the association !
nee it's organization at Huntington. !
our years ago. He talked of the social
uestions involved in developing tho in I
ustry in the southland and in closing :
aid much Of the credit for the success, T
Z the association was due to tho tire
css efforts Of Secretary Edwin Robin =
on, Of Fairrnont. !
Colonel Grosscnp.