The Cortland Democrat, Friday, August
24, 1888.
FIREMEN’S CONVENTION.
Proceedings in Full—A Harmonious Meeting and a Very Large Attendance.
The
village of Cortland never presented a more beautiful appearance than on last Tuesday morning, the date fixed for the opening of
the Firemen's Convention. Main street through the business portion is literally
a mass of bunting and flags and a large number of private residences on the other
streets are tastefully and handsomely trimmed. Banners and flags are strung across
the street at every few paces.
At the
corner of Main and Clinton Ave., a large arch has been erected which is heavily
trimmed with evergreens and bunting and surmounted by colored lights. At the
corner of Tompkins is another similar in design to the above. The most elaborate
display has been made at the corner of Court and Main streets, where a mammoth
double arch has been erected, on the summit of which stands the effigy of a
fireman in uniform. The grand stand has been built on West Court street just
opposite this from which the grand parade will be reviewed this afternoon by
Gov. Hill and staff.
The business
of the Convention was opened at 11:20 o'clock Tuesday, when Chairman T. J.
Armstrong called for order and introduced Rev. J. L. Robertson, who offered
prayer. J. E. Eggleston, Chairman of the Citizens committee, made the address
of welcome. He said:
Mr. President and Delegates: I consider it a high honor to stand before
you—the fighting front of the firemen of the State of New York. I consider it a
high honor, on behalf of the citizens of my village, to say, "You are welcome
here at this time." You have
come from your beautiful homes, your places of business, the advanced guard of
the noblest, truest and most loyal men to the world—men who are banded together
for the protection of property and life.
You have left your homes, your loved ones, your business, yet while you are
here you are assured that there are men at your homes who, if the alarm of fire
should be given by day or night, will
risk their lives and give their lives if necessary to protect your homes and
your families. You have met here to discuss what is in the best interest of the
volunteer firemen of the state. No man has a higher appreciation of what you
what you represent than have I. I know that firemen must have a cool head and a
brave heart. I have seen them save lives at the risk of their own and at their
personal injury. We honor all firemen for what we know firemen have done. I
cannot express in words the welcome with which we greet you. The firemen always
have to be on duty. They have an enemy to oppose that is never subdued. It
breaks out night or day, and on you and those whom you represent we depend for
protection. You are welcome. While here you are our guests and entitled to all
the privileges we can give you.
The
president responded:
Mr. Eggleston
and Gentlemen of Cortland—In
behalf of the Firemen's Association of the State of New York, it is a duty and
a pleasure imposed on me by the order of business adopted by our organization to
respond to the words of welcome which you have addressed to us. I do know that
the words of hospitality and welcome so warmly uttered by you are expressed
even more warmly by the open-hearted evidences of hospitality in decoration and
friendly greeting all over the village. The promise made by you, gentlemen, at
Troy, was no idle promise. The recently introduced novelty of holding the
annual convention in a country village is no cause for regret and there is no
evidence of anything to cause regret. We thank you most heartily for
your kind words of welcome and are confident when we leave you that you will be
glad the firemen of the State of New York have been with you.
After the addresses, both of which were heartily
applauded, the members of the convention settled down to business. A committee
of seven was appointed on credentials and as a large number of contesting
delegations were present an adjournment was taken till afternoon to enable the committee
to hear the claims of the rival companies. At 2:30 P. M. the convention
assembled and the report of the committee was received. It stated that the
number of delegates in attendance was 123, together with 71 members and 9 life
members, making a total of 203.
After the adoption of the report an address
was made by President Armstrong in which the work of the association during the
past year was reviewed and which showed that the promises made the year before
at Troy, had been fulfilled. The association is now on a solid financial basis
and has more members than ever before. During the year two of the bright lights
of the association have passed away, viz., ex-Chief Kaess of Poughkeepsie and
Robert T. Dick of Buffalo, two of the landmarks of the association.
As the president ceased, Geo. W. Irish moved
that in mark of respect to the departed members, the convention take a recess
until 7:30 o'clock, which was adopted by a rising vote
The evening session was devoted to the reports
of the Secretary and Statistician and also in discussing the matter of a home
for volunteer firemen who may have become incapacitated for caring for
themselves and their families. The convention then adjourned to Wednesday
morning at 9 A. M.
WEDNESDAY.
The convention was called to order by
President Armstrong at 9:40 A. M., and the question of amendments to the constitution
was taken up and discussed. The subject was finally referred to a committee of
three, after which a paper on "Automatic Sprinklers" by Chief Holroid
of Watertown, was read by Win. E. Churchill of Mohawk.
The time had now arrived for selecting a
place at which to hold the next convention. Mr. Kirk of Bay Ridge presented the
claims of Plattsburg which was warmly seconded by Mr. Patterson of that village.
Invitations were also extended to the convention to meet at Coney Island, Round
Island and Little Falls. During the discussion all the places except Plattsburg
were withdrawn and the secretary was instructed to cast the ballot of the
convention for that town.
The hour of 11 had now arrived and under the
rules the election of officers was next in order. Hon. J. E. Eggleston
requested President Armstrong to call Mr. Fitzgerald to the chair. Mr.
Eggleston in a brief speech which routed the convention to a wild state of
enthusiasm presented the name of T. J. Armstrong for president for the ensuing
year. The nomination was warmly seconded and a motion was made that the secretary
cast one ballot for Mr. Armstrong, That gentleman thanked the convention briefly
for the honor but said that under no circumstances could he accept the
presidency again.
Mr. Hull of Fort Edward, in a short, well
received speech, presented the name of Frank B. Merrill of Canandaigua, which
was warmly seconded by Mr. O'Brien of Canandaigua.
Mr. Churchill of Mohawk thought it was bad
policy to change horses while crossing a stream. The association was now in a critical
state and needed careful management. He would name a man who was thoroughly
acquainted with every detail of the associations affairs and whose honesty and
probity were above question. He referred to the present efficient secretary Geo.
W. Irish of Cazenovia. The nomination was seconded by Mr. Brown of Bay Ridge
and President Armstrong. A ballot was taken with the following result:
Whole number of votes cast 189.
Geo, W. Irish, of Cazenovia 140.
Frank B. Merrill, of Canandaigua 49.
President Armstrong declared Mr. Irish duly
elected and on motion of Mr. Merrill, his election was made unanimous. The chair
appointed Mr. Merrill and Mr. Hull committee to conduct Mr. Irish to the chair.
As he came on the stage amid a tumult of applause Mr. Armstrong said:
Mr. President: I desire in transferring
to you the gavel of this Association to express to you my extreme
gratification that a man whom I believe to be as honest, straight-forward and upright
as yourself has been chosen to preside over the largest organization of its
kind in the United States. I bespeak for you the same kind of consideration
that has always been me by this association during the year that is past. I
congratulate you, sir, on your unanimous election to the office of president of
the State Firemen’s Association.
Mr. Irish replied as follows:
I really don’t know what to say. I never
knew that I would be a candidate until after some of my friends came to me upon
the platform after Mr. Churchill had presented my name and asked me to accept
the nomination. I had started to decline and made the move to do so. The result
you all know. If I can perform the duties of this office to your satisfaction
it will be the greatest of all my desires.
An adjournment till 2 P. M. was taken soon
after.
President Irish called the convention to
order and announced the committees on organization after which Mr. Daniel E.
Engel of Lyons was elected secretary. A telegram from the secretary of the
National Association was then read, sending greetings to the association and
expressing wishes for a large and successful meeting. The telegram was on motion
accepted and a reply sent informing the sender of the election of Mr. Irish to
the presidency. A ballot for secretary was then taken which resulted in the
election of Mr. L. H. Groat, of Oneonta. A resolution offered by Judge Courtney
of Brooklyn, in reference to the two per cent tax for the benefit of widows and
orphans of volunteer firemen was passed after which the convention adjourned
till 8 P. M.
The evening session was called to order by
President Irish. The report of the committee appointed to examine the books of
F. M. Baker, late a secretary of the association and in whose accounts there was
alleged deficit was received and showed that Mr. Baker’s accounts were
absolutely correct and that he stood before the convention without a stain on
his character. The report was received with stupendous applause and on motion
unanimously adopted. An adjournment was then taken to the banquet at Taylor Hall.
THURSDAY.
Thursday morning every one knew that the
convention had come. Early in the morning the streets were filled with marching
companies headed by fine bands that made the air resonant with their music.
During the previous evening the Fairport Hook and
Ladder Co., accompanied by the famous DeLand Cornet band had arrived in town
and also the Wilber hose of Oneonta who brought with them Brown's band of that
village. A short farewell session was held at the Opera House after which the
delegates dispersed to greet their friends in the different companies who were
now pouring a steady throng through the crowd. As we go to press the races are
being held at the park. The program is as follows:
HOSE RACE.
First Prize
$250.00
Second Prize.
150.00
Third Prize
100.00
Fourth Prize,
Presented by the Cortland Wagon Co., Silver Trumpet.
Fifth
Prize, Presented by the Cortland Mfg. Co. (Lim.,) Portland Cutter.
HOOK AND LADDER
RACE, 4 P. M.
First
Prize $100.00
Second
Prize 50.00
Third
Prize, Presented by the Howe Stove Company, Howe Stove.
GRAND AND
EXCITING ROMAN CHARIOT RACES,
With four horses attached to each chariot, from
the great International Fair of Buffalo, N. Y. will be run at the driving park
Thursday afternoon, Aug. 23. Heat best two in three.
The order of exercises for Friday is given
below:
PRIZE
DRILL AT 9 A. M.
First Prize
, $250.00
Second Prize,
150.00
Third Prize,
Presented by F. D. Smith, Red Cross stove.
Fourth Prize,
Presented by Cortland Desk Co. (Lim.) Economy Wall Desk.
HAND
ENGINE CONTEST AT 10 A. M.
First Prize
$100.00
Second Prize
50.00
Third Prize,
Presented by the Homer Mfg. Co. of Cortland. N. Y. [??]
Fourth Prize,
Presented by the Cortland Harness Co. Riding outfit.
The grand stand has been erected on Court
street, where at 8 P. M. to-day the grand parade will he reviewed by Governor Hill,
Lieutenant Governor Jones, General Porter, Hon. Frederick Cook. Secretary of
State; Hon. L. J. Fitzgerald, State Treasurer; Hon. Chas. Tabor, Attorney General;
Hon. Edward Wemple, Comptroller; Hon. James Shannahan, Supt. of Works, and Hon.
Elliott Danforth, Deputy State Treasurer. It is confidently expected that the
parade will be the finest ever seen in the state.
