AUGUST 23, 1917. 



The Florists' Review 



31 



•nrofcssion. I will call your attention to 

 the proposed drastic quarantine law, 

 -wliich if it goes into effect, will practi- 

 cal! v eliminate the importation of all 

 foreign stock. If not for the alertness 

 of our legislative committee, this law 

 will likely be passed. 



I also want to call your attention to 

 a matter that will be presented to the 

 interstate commerce committee, in re- 

 <rard to allowing the express companies 

 a delay of twenty-four hours on cut 

 flowers, as a reasonable delay in trans- 

 ])ortation. The florists of the country 

 realize the extremely heavy loss this 

 would mean in the transportation of 

 their stock. 



There is at this time a great need 

 for a uniform interstate inspection law, 

 and I would urge the legislative com- 

 mittee to work in connection with the 

 committee of nurserymen, who have al- 

 ready started the mover^ent to get this 

 matter adjusted. 



These are just a few of the numerous 

 things that confrpnt this committee 

 from time to time. Yet, regardless of 

 tliis committee's effective work, a num- 

 ber of live florists have asked me, 

 ' ' What good is to be derived from be- 

 ing a member of the Society of Ameri- 

 can Florists!" 



I wish here to thank personally each 

 member of this committee, and wish to 

 urge each member of the Society of 

 American Florists to lend his coopera- 

 tion in the furthering of this great 

 work. 



Publicity. 



Great men have told, and great events 

 have shown, how patriotism and good 

 business go hand in hand in these days 

 of America at war. The value of an 

 even keel, and a steady ])ull tlirougli 

 the rougli waters of international strife, 

 has been sliown in many ways. The 

 maintenance of everyday l)usiness, in 

 its accustomed even routine, lias its 

 magnificent part in the winning of free- 

 dom for all. It is the nation's normal 

 lieart-beat, i)umi)ing blood to the brain 

 and muscles of war. This is why great 

 minds have seen in the ]>erpetuation of 

 everyday business conditions the real 

 winning of the war. And if there ever 

 was a time in the history of our profes- 

 sion when we needed a nation-wide co- 

 ojierative i)ublicity campaign, it is now. 

 During this time of so much pul)licity 

 given to economy, we are liable to suf- 

 fer if we do not give more publicity to 

 the use of flowers, plants and other 

 ornamentals. 



Just an example of what does haj)- 

 pen occasionally: An article ajipeared 

 in one of our Houston local jiapers, ad- 

 ilressed to one of the local charities, 

 saying, "Find enclosed my check for 

 $!<•, which, under former conditions, 

 would have gone for flowers, but I feel 

 it my duty to send this instead." This 

 article -was published just after the 

 funeral tlie same afternoon of one of 

 Mur townsmen, and would liave had 

 telling effect if it had appeared in the 

 morning jiaper. T am only looking at this 

 from tlie viewjioint of my liaving flow- 

 ers to sell — my only commodity for sell- 

 ing and making my living — and not 

 from anotiier viewpoint which we must 

 often take, that of helping willingly and 

 liberally in all deserving causes. 



Such agitation, you see, calls for us 

 to keep ever before the public the use 

 of flowers. We must keep tiie senti- 

 ment alive. We must have some means 

 of quick action, and I am convinced 



Joseph Manda 



(Dlrector-eU'ct Society of Anii-ricnii Florists.) 



that it would be well for every city to 

 follow plans similar to those of the 

 Chicago Florists' Club, *very florist in 

 the city contributing his pro-rata to a 

 cooperative a<lvertisement to appear as 

 often as is deemed best, on the subject 

 of the general use of flowers. If this is 

 done by individuals, they can sign their 

 names; if by clubs, then the club name, 

 or some similar plan can be followed. 



Our publicity committee can be of 

 vital importance, stirring up interest 

 throughout the country i)y such a co- 

 operative plan. And a movement of this 

 kind is inexpensive but effective, deriv- 

 ing a direct benefit. I would strongly 

 urge the publicity committee to give 

 serious consideration to this or some 

 other good plan, that will get immedi- 

 ate results. This is a time to think, 

 and think straight. Use your heads, you 

 business men, not your hearts alone. 

 You have got to think straight for the 

 future, not for the present. The cross 

 currents are strong, and sweep from 

 whirlpools of immeasurable depth. 



National Credit and Collections. 



For the last two years there has been 

 a great deal of discussion on this im- 

 jiortant subject. These two years have 

 been devoted to serious study and in- 

 vestigation, and we are now ready to 

 get tiown to business. 



We all realize the importance of this 

 department of our work. I am not go- 

 ing into details in this matter, as the 

 chairman of this committee, Patrick 

 Welch, will present this matter in de- 



tail, and you may depend upon his com- 

 mittee bringing this work into success- 

 ful ojieration. 



Our Revenues. 



We return this organization to the 

 east, bringing to you more members, a 

 larger treasury, tlie society in a more 

 thriving condition than ever before. 

 And we have discussed, from time to 

 time, the duty of expending our reve- 

 nues in sucli a way that the trade, as a 

 whole, will he most benefited. 



Many times I liave been asked by 

 members, "What do you expect to do 

 with the accumulations in the treas- 

 ury?" I think we have reached a suf- 

 ficient amount to give serious consider- 

 ation to the proper expenditure of it, 

 and I would recommend to the members 

 of tlie incoming board that they give 

 consideration to this matter. In mak- 

 ing the recommendation, I am mindful 

 of the fact that expenditures through 

 the legislative committee, the publicity 

 committee and our other imjiortant 

 committees, are benefiting our memher- 

 shij) in general. Rut a study of the re- 

 ]iorts shows that this money is coming 

 (uit of our revenues each year. I am 

 of the oyiinion that revenues from our 

 interest should be devoted to some spe- 

 cific ]>urj)()se, and I see no reason for 

 further delay in tliis matter. 



I am sure that the meml)ers of our 

 organization will be exceedingly ]deased 

 to know that our treasurer was author- 

 ized to invest .$10,(I0(I in Liberty Loan 

 bonds. I'ndoubtedlv this shows the 



