Filiatrault for RI President

Filiatrault for R.I. President in 1912

by Rachael E. Martin, Club #25 Historian

"Filiatrault is Slated to Head the Rotarians: Duluth Man will Probably be Elected President of International Organization at Meeting Today." This was the headline of the Duluth News Tribune on Friday, August 9, 1912.
 

Excitement ran high prior to the Friday final business meeting of the Duluth 1912 International Rotary convention. A new president would be elected, replacing the retiring president, Paul P. Harris. Two candidates had expressed their interest in the presidency - Glenn C. Mead of Philadelphia & David C. Farrer of Pittsburgh.
 

However, popular opinion in Duluth was captured as the local newspaper reported: "It is expected that Edward J. Filiatrault of Duluth will be elected to head the International Association of Rotary Clubs when the election of officers takes place at the business session at the Commercial Club this morning." Because of his executive ability in handling the 1912 convention so smoothly, many delegates expected Filiatrault, president of the Duluth Rotary Club, to be elected to this top position. Filiatrault made no effort to secure the office, but a large number of people advocated on his behalf.
 

In addition to selecting a new president, delegates were also vying over the selection of the next convention city, which would be decided at the Friday meeting. Cincinnati and Buffalo were the strong bidders and both city's delegates were doing the "buttonhole act" by distributing literature. The Rotarians would have considerable difficulty in making an impartial choice. Cincinnati described itself as "Beautiful, Busy Cincinnati, the Queen City", while Buffalo's slogan was "Buffalo, the City That Does Things."