1905-06 Volume 30 No 1–5 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

THE SCROLL. 463Dr. Wm. H. Condit, president of the alumni club, presidedas toastmasterand George Simpson, assistant attorney-general, of St. Paul, was the firstspeaker. Bro. Simpson's speech, "Political Nuts to Crack," did not dealas the title might suggest, with partisan politics, but with the larger problemswhich would be presented if absolute honesty prevailed in politics.Walter Godart spoke entertainingly on "The Active Chapter." WilliamC. Leary, who was to have responded to "Ten Yards to Gain," was unablelo attend owing to illness. In his place Bro. J. A. Straight gave an interestingtalk interspersed with his ever ready fund of jokes. "What theActive Chapters Owe to the Alumni," was the subject of a toast well expoundedby H. L. Murray; and George Miller, of South Carolina Alpha,responded to "In the Good Old Summer Time" and gave a choice selectionof southern songs. "Days to Come," given by L. K. Sowle, concluded theprogram of brilliant and witty toasts.Following the toasts the question of the chapter house came up for discussionand it was reported by Bro. Ostrom, treasurer of the chapter housefund, that in the past year $3,600 had been raised and that the erection ofa new chapter house is now only a question of months.The tables at which the guests were seated were formed in a great oblongsquare and were notable for their exquisite appointments. Crystal candelabraupheld burning tapers and the air was heavy with the fragrance of thefraternity flower, the white carnation.After the social session the annual election of officers was held. Geo.W. Stiles, Iowa, '92, was chosen president; Arthur J. Edwards, Stanford,'00, secretary and treasurer; L. A. Straight, Illinois Wesleyan, '87, Historian;and Robert W. Wetmore, Minnesota, '02, reporter.ROBERT W. WETMORE.SIOUX CITY.March 15 was a sad day for the members of the Sioux City alumni club.Our committee on Alumni Day made arrangements for an appropriate celebrationincluding banquet, speeches, music, flowers and fraternity colors,but owing to the unfortunate and serious illness of our president, Bro.George W. Beggs, the celebration was indefinitely postponed. Bro. Beggs,is very low but we still hope the tide will turn and that he may be able toattend a celebration some time this spring.We met informally on March 15 and talked over fraternity matters and Iwas instructed to extend to the fraternity at large our best wishes for aprosperous year and to express to the alumni commission our appreciation ofthe courtesy which they have extended to us. We feel that the commissionis doing excellent work and should be permanently maintained.During the past year our alumni club has met with a severe loss in thedeath of our beloved brother, Hon. George W. Wakefield, Lombard, '66. Bro.Wakefield wasone of the district judges in this judicial district and at thetime of his death he had been upon the bench continuously for over twentyyears.As a jurist he was learned, pure, just, incorruptible and impartial, as amember of the bar he was one of the foremost among the lawyers of the state,and he was president of the state bar association during the year 1904. Heserved his country well as a soldier, his state as a jurist, his county as anofficial and his community in numberless ways. He was beloved by all whoknew him and to the members of our club he was a close friend and loyalPhi.