COUNTY CONVENTION P. 0- S. of A. j ".he Northern and Southern Districts Hold 1 Their First Joint Session. The Patriotic Order Sons of America in Columbia county has heretofore been divided into three districts—the northern, comprising the Camps located above the river ; the southern, comprising those be tween the river and the mountains to the south, and the northern Schuylkill, comprising those in Columbia county south of the mountains. In response to an invitation from the northern district a joint conven tion of the northern and southern dis tricts was held in the camp rooms of Camp 540, Catawissa on Tuesday. It is expected that all the C3mps in Columbia and Montour counties will soon be united in yearly conventions. Over one hundred delegates and members of the order were assembled when the convention was called to order by C. S. Waltz, of 540, and the opening ode was sung with spirit, followed with prryer by Brother Unangst, of 105. An address of welcome was deliver ed by Burgess I. H. Seesholtz, of 540. Hon. J. U. Kurtz, of 105, Berwick, was unanimously chosen President of the convention ; W. C. Thomas, of 635, lola, and Wilbur Harder, of 540, were chosen Secretaries j the follow ing Vice Presidents were elected : C. J. Fisher, 540, Catawissa ; C. E. Whitenight, 319, Bloomsburg ; W. H. Hayman, 635, lola; Millard Eves,"" 336, Millville : Geotge T. Morehead, 105, Berwick; Chas. Ripple, 23, Canby ; C. H. Kingsbury, 684, Miff lin ; Geo. Miller, 374, Rohrsburg ; H. H. Brown, 17, Light Street ; J. W. Harvey, 672, Elk Grove ; D. J. Lewis, 123, Benton ; W. J. Smith, 551, Stiliwater : W. Kingsbury, 503, Jonestown ; Ellis Lowery, 397, Lime Ridge : C. VV. Houseman, 205, Roar ingcieek ; I). W. Snuman, 485, Mai villi- '"here being no representatives ~yy_. i camps at Espy, Newlin ,1 . .-aver no Vice Presi tienhj vere elected those camps. Master of Forms, ChR. 105; Past President, A. R. 503 ; Vice President, J. W. 672: Conductor, Henry Stettler, 319 ; Chaplain, Philip Unangst, 105 ; In ( side Guard, John Barber, 551 ; Out , side Guard, Elwood Yocum, 374; ( Treasurer, I. H. Seesholtz, 540. , The chair appointed the following , committeess ; On credentials—J. E. Snyder, 684 ; S. T. Lewis, 635 ; Geo. Unangst, 105 ; on resolutions, E. H. Brown, 17 1 B. F. Ryan, 540 ; D. F. 1 Pealer, 551 ; J. \V. Perry, 672 ; Mill ard Eves, 336. Statements of the condition of the ( various camps in the district were , listened to by the convention. The reports showed the order in a healthy condition, financially and otherwise. , Berwick is the banner camp, having a ( membership of 399, with a $12,000 , opera house nearly paid for. AFTERNOON SESSION. The committee on credentials re- ; ported the following camps represent ed : Bloomsburg, 319; Catawissa, 540 ; lola, 635 ; Millville, 336 ; Ber- ; wick, 105; Canby, 23; Mifflinville, 684 s Rohrsburg, 374 ; Light Street, 17 ; Elk Grove, 672; Benton, 123; 1 Stillwater, 55 1 ; Jonestown, 503; Lime Ridge, 397 ; Roaringcreek, 205 ; Mainville, 484. Espy, Newlin 1 and Beaver Valley camps were not represented. On motion of I. H. Seesholtz it ' was decided to hold another joint 1 convention on Feb. 22, 1899, and 1 that date be fixed as the regular meet- ; jng of such joint conventions. The 1 vote was 27 to 3. Bloomsburg was selected as the place of holding the ' next convention. At the suggestion of President Kurtz an advisory committee of five was appointed to take into considera- 1 tion all matters looking to the best interests of the order in the county, ; and advising when required. The committee is as follows : H. A. Myers, 635 ; H. V. Hower, 684; U. Myers, 540 : G. T. Morehead, 105 ; H. H. Brown, 17. Camp 672, Elk Grove, was report ed in a peculiar position. The popu lation there is transient, being chiefly employees in the lumber enterprises in that neighborhood, the membership of the camp is mostly of the same class, and while there are members enough in good standing, plenty of money in the treasury, a full outfii of paraphernalia hnd candidates ready, they cannot get enough of the mem bers there at one time to hold sessions, elect and initiate members. The cases of Espy and Elk Grove camps were referred to the advisory commit tee for action. Vice Presidents to be ex-officio members of the advisory committee. On motion of J. W. Perry the right hand of fellowship was extended to Brother W. C. Sholes, Berwick, with the wish that he experience a speedy recovery from his illness. Mr. Sholes is the lather of the county convention idea. The committee on resolutions pre sented their report, which with some amendments was adopted. The reso lutions are as follows : WHEREAS, The United States is receiving emigrants of all classes, in cluding those who have no lr/ve or respect for our tree institutions Ar the laws of our land, therefore, tie it Resolved , That the P. O. S. of A., of Columbia county, in convention this day assembled, request and urge our member of Congress to use his voice and vote in the passage of the bill now pending before Cr ogress for the restriction of emigration. Resolved, That we recommend that the Camps of this county secure the erection, according, to law, of j flags over the various sclioolhouses in their districts. Resolved, That eacl'i member pre sent endeavor to secure at least one good, patriotic citizen as a member of this grand and patriotic order in tht year 1898. Resolved That we deeply syi pathize with the suffering Cubans their brave efforts to secure their f. dom, and heartily recommend o those who are \'J authority in ur country to use 1 ' honorable 1 ins looking to the s