The Arbeiter Bund

The twenty third aimual convention, of the Arbeiter Bund of Michigan is in session in this city. It began lts sessions today with President Christian Martin, of this city, in the chair. About 150 prosperous looking delegates are on hand and ready for business. The city is decked in holiday attire to greet the visitors who come torn all over the state. Many of the delegates arrived yesterday and put m the time viewing the city. But the larger portion of them arrived this morning. These delegates do the real business of the state meeting. Besides them, tomorrow will see a large gathering of Germans, excursions bemg run from all sections of the state, who comé to see the city and witness the parade of tomorrow forenoon and listen to the speakers of the day. A dinner was served the delegates in the rink at noon and after ampie ustice had been done to it, President Martin introduced, in a few well chosen words, Mayor William G. Doty to make the address of welcome in behalf of the city. Mayor Doty said: Mr. President:- In behalf of the city of Ann Arbor, I have the pleasure and honor as her chief executive, to extend to you and the State Bund of the Arbeiter Verein, a most cordial and hearty welcome to her hearts and hornea.. I well remember the pride I experienced as a patriotic citizen when I learned that you had determined to hold your 23rd annual assembly in our city. In my message to our council I feit it my duty to cali tlieir attention officially to this event, feeling sure that our citizens, without distinction of nativity, would appreciate the compliment you thereby paid them as highly as I did myself. And I am proud to assure you, fellow citizens, that there was no mistake in my estímate of the civic patriotism of Ann Arbor. She has awaited your coming with eager, expectant eyes, and now that you are here she has arrayed herself in all her vernal lovliness with leafy verdure, burstihg blossoms, and frag rant flowers to evidence her joyful radiant welcome to you all'. We know, Mr. President, that your mission here is not for pleasure simply for the sturdy Germán heart knows no pleasure that does not have its complement in work and duty. Pleasure to you springs out of labor, as the harvest follows the seed time and sunshine follows showers. But as the bow unbends when the shaft has flown so we hope that in the hours when your labors will permit, you will unloose the sinew, unbend the bow and freely test the fraternity, the iriendships and the hospitality which we extend to you to-day. Go with us to our factories and our shops, promenade our busy streets where the kindly customs of fatherlaod have grafted themselves upon the severer habits of our distant past, note the robust Germán speech which mingles in melodious harmony with the English tongue, grasp the hands of countrymen and of kindred and let that saddest word which you cali "heimweh" be at once and forever lost,- you are at home. As citizens of the state let your interest take you to your great University and feel yourselves free to inspect its museums of science and art, its libraries, its laboratories and its halls of learning. Converse with its professors and its students, an army in themselves, and note the Germán types and the Germán methods which here exert their potent sway. Inspect our municipal and county systems, cal upon our officers, the latch string is out. View our modern appliances for transit and for light wherein the thunderbolt of Jove has been har nessed for our use and the fiery mes senger made as peaceful and as coy as the Mercury of the Gods, and where ever you go and whatsoever you do enjoy our liberties, our advantages and our hospitalities as freely as I now extend them to you. ', I shall not attempt to symbolize the freedom of our city. I ueed not pre sent to you the symbolic keys for yoi will not need them and if you do I am well assured that the massive key which a sister city once bestowed upon you will amply suffice to open fill the doors of Ann Arbor. For sirs, we know the work of your hands and well too, we know that the "Cnterstuetzung" which you profess and do is a blessed rninistry for the relief of your fellow men. Ann Arbor is pre-erainently a city )f fraternitiès. No city in the state ■an boast a greater array of those societies which are charitable, provident or fraternal in thelr aims; but among them all none shme with righter luster than the Germán asSOCiationa for fraternal aid. It is indeed a happy coincidence that lic great uuion of the state holds its convention here at the time when our own .society celebrates the quarter-centenary of its birth. it thus enables his municipality not only to welcome her guests from abroad, but at the same time to set her approving seal upon the record which her own citizens have made. And I am sure that he honorable gentleman who presides over our city council, the colleague of Mr. Martin and myself in our duties as your hosts, will extend to you and hem the thanks of the council for ourtesies received and renewed and repeated assurances of welcome from the egislative body of which he is the ïonored head. Mr. President and Gentlemen, allow me to present Prof. Mortimer E. Cooley, President of the Common Council of the City of Ann Arbor. As we go to press, President Cooley is addressiug the Bund. He opened by tating that he represented the busmess portion of the government. His speech of welcome was being vigorously applauded.