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AUGUST 17, 1906. 



The Weekly Florists' Review* 



685 



stated at that time was to promote 

 amicable adjustment of controversies 

 between members when requested by 

 interested parties to do so. The five 

 members of this committee are to be ap- 

 pointed by the president and approved 

 by the executive committee. If it is still 

 your wish to carry forward this de- 

 partment as shown by your records, 

 probably it should be revived by a mo- 

 tion and a vote. 



A Spring Flower Show. 



President Gude at Omaha in 1898 

 said: "You should let your light to 

 shine before men that they may see 

 your good works. If London can pro- 

 duce monthly a great flower exhibition 

 there is no reason why America could 

 not have annually at some great me- 

 tropolis a flower exposition wherein the 

 whole country could join; and before 

 concluding I trespass this suggestion 

 upon you that steps be ^aken here at 

 this meeting to carry out this idea." 



State Vice-Presidents. 



I urge upon state delegations to 

 choose only members for state vice- 

 ])resident3 who are known to be work- 

 ers in matters of this kind. The empty 

 honor is of little value to him who 

 receives it, while neglect of the so- 

 ciety's 'interests is disastrous. 



Our Sports. 



The present division of time among 

 the varied interests at the annual con- 

 vention was brought about, after the 

 most careful consideration. A liberal 

 portion of the available hours has been 

 given to our bowling and gun clubs. 

 We must not disparage these features 

 of our meeting. Those kindly spirits 

 among us who are active in these 

 recreations are generally rich in those 

 elements of human nature which help 

 to make life worth living. But it must 

 be borne in mind that our organiza- 

 tion convenes but once a year. Its 



existence depends on a certain amount 

 of careful deliberation as a body. Ques- 

 tions vital to its advancement are to 

 be decided and to do this we require 

 and must have the careful judgment of 

 our best minds after frank discussion. 

 That ability which can carry forward 

 the various sports and interest our 

 members in them we ask to be devoted 

 also to the public sessions. Men 

 prominent in our affiliated societies, 

 the carnation, the chrysanthemum, the 

 rose, the peony, can aid us in the same 

 way. Then we in turn shall rally and 

 interest ourselves in their gatherings. 



Merchandising at the Convention. 



The display of plants, florists' requi- 

 sites, building models, heating and ven- 

 tilating appliances and of the many 

 articles of merchandise have always 

 been a feature of these conventions and 

 have always paid their way. But many 

 of our commercial brothers, as well as 

 some of our sporting friends, we must 

 admit have not always honored our ses- 

 sions with their presence or their busi- 

 ness counsel, which we need. Now I 

 hold that both those who lead in our 

 recreations and those who solicit the 

 attention of the large gathering of 

 buyers here assembled, are in honor 

 bound to attend these sessions of the 

 society so necessary to carry it for- 

 ward and without whose successful man- 

 agement there will be neither bowler, 

 nor buyer, nor seller to be found. 



For the General Welfare. 



I must not close without paying trib- 

 ute to those earnest and loyal men 

 who have made and held together this 

 body. Never was more patriotic work 

 done in any cause. The locked doors 

 were then opened; the wise lips un- 

 sealed; the skilled hand directed the 

 beginners. 



These earlier years illustrate the 

 great success possible where all are 

 actuated by a single purpose for 



the upbuilding of the organization 

 itself. In those years our officials 

 were selected from those who had 

 made record for efficient and disinter- 

 ested service on behalf of the organiza- 

 tion. In more recent years with the 

 broadening of our lines of work, and 

 the increasing number of enterprises 

 which seemed to place personal prestige 

 before the general good of the society, 

 we find apparently less whole-souled ef- 

 fort for the direct benefit of the or- 

 ganization, more inclination to criti- 

 cism. We do not see the frank and 

 open consultation which we should 

 have on all subjects with a willingness 

 to leave the final settlement to the 

 arbitration of the entire society. This 

 tendency to internal and factional dif- 

 ferences, which those who promote 

 them are unwilling to exploit in public 

 before the entire body of our mem- 

 bers, is certainly to be regretted and I 

 hope that at this session the voice of 

 the convention will be heard placing 

 loyalty to the society above all per- 

 sonal likes or dislikes, all petty or pri- 

 vate schemes. 



If there are \tho3e among us who 

 deem our present line of work unwise 

 and leading in a wrong direction, let 

 them frankly bring forward such opin- 

 ions in our sessions, that we may with 

 a full and free interchange of views 

 settle them amicably and be started 

 forward again with that strong impetus 

 of the earlier years of the organization. 



The address was referred to a com- 

 mittee consisting of Messrs, Hill, Craig 

 and Esler. 



At the conclusion of tlie president 's 

 paper a large part of those j)resent 

 started for the door but were stopped 

 by Mr. Gude, who announced the re- 

 ception of the evening and stated that 

 the president and the directors invited 

 all to accept their hospitality at any 

 time at the Eathskeller. 



Once more the crowd started but the 



Partial View of the Trade Exhibit Staged on the Lower Floor at the Armory. 



(At the Washinfrton Oonvcntlon. August 15 to 18. 19a5t 



