Evening star., 1935-08-18
BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.

BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.
The Golden Jubilee Convention of
the American Philatelic Society was
a grand success. That, in any case,
was the verdict of veterans like Will
liam c. Stone, Springfield, Mass, a
former president of the organization,
who has been attending annual meet
ings since 1887.
Paid registration at convention
headquarters in the lobby of the
Hotel Carlton. Sixteenth street,
reached a total of 263, but a large
additional number of collectors who
did not enroll were present at the
several meetings beginning Monday
and continuing until Friday.
The traditional reception to the
national officers, held at the National
Museum, Constitution avenue, Mon
day evening, brought out a crowd
estimated at 500. In the receiving
line we're Roscoe B. Martin, presi-
dent; Carter Glass, jr., vice president;
DR.. Holland A. Davis, secretary; How
ard H. Elliott, treasurer; Eugene
Klein international secretary; A. H.
Wilhelm, director at large; Mrs.
Catherine L. Manning, philatelic
curator, Smithsonian Institution;
Philip Simms Warren, chairman,
General Committee; Albert F. Kunze,
chairman, Exhibition Committee; DR..
Ellis Haworth. president, Washington
Philatelic Society, and, representing
the Smithsonian regents, DR.. Alexan-
Ger Wetmore, assistant secretary.
Formal proceedings began Tuesday
morning at the Carlton, when the
first business session was called to
order by Mr. Martin Visitors were
welcomed in the name Of the Distric.
Commissioners by Capt Howard F.
Clark and in that of the host society
by DR.. Haworth. President Roosevelt's
message was read and prolonged ap-
plsuse greeted the announcement
that former President Herbert Hoover
had applied for membership in both
the national and the local bodies.
But it was the keynote address of
Secretary Of the Interior Ickes which
was the most notable contribution to
the initial meeting. Introduced by
Gerard Ten Eyck Beeckman, he de-
scribed himself as "a barnyard variety
Of stamp collector who has had lots
Of fun collecting and not a philatelist,
whose pleasure it is to study stamps
for little cracks and other minor
faults"
The Secretary's remarks bristled
with epigrammatic wisdom. Col
lecting," he said, sis distinguished
from other alleged mental diseases
by being contagious think
We can defend our hobby. Psycholo-
eists appear to be agreed that hobby
is good thing. Especially as We
grow older we find We need something
outside our ordinary routine work to
occupy our leisure, to give us recrea-
tion and mental peace"
Mr.. Ickes urged the society to make
It a duty to keep collecting clean"
Those who break the rules, he in
sisted. should feel the rod of the Or
ganization's wrath.
A tour of the Bureau of Engraving
and Printing was the feature of Tues
day afternoon. The members were
greeted at the doors by Alvin w. Hall,
director; had luncheon in the bureau
cafeteria, and we're conducted through
the currency and stamp printing divi-
sions by expert guides.
Tuesday evening offered three at
fractions. The exhibition at the
Museum was open. the Collectors
Club, Branch 5, Society Of Philatelic
Americans, entertained at the Thom-
son School. and there was a dinner
at the Carlton for philatelic Journal
lists and their friends. Mr.. Kunze
was toastmaster at the last-named
meeting and the speakers included
Mr.. Martin, Mr.. Klein, Mr.. Glass, Mr..
Stone, Mr.. Beeckman, r. A. Barry of
the New York Herald Tribune, Frank
lin Bruins Of the New York Sun,
Justin L. Bacharach Of the New York
American, Eugene L. Pollock of the
Philadelphia Inquirer, Roland E.
Flower Of the Buffalo Evening News.
Col. Ralph A. Kimble of the Chicago
Daily News, Harry L. Lindquist of
Stamps Magazine, David H. Daven-
port Of The Star and Mekeel's Weekly
Stamp News. Augustine Dietz of