Mat 15, 1914] 



SCIENCE 



715 



■were returned and canvassed tlie directors 

 prepared a "directors' ticket." This ticket, 

 together with a statement of the votes re- 

 ceived by all the candidates who had received 

 not less than 3 per cent, of the entire number 

 of votes cast, was issued to the membership. 

 Members could vote for any one whose name 

 appeared on this blank. The directors' ticket 

 was always elected, as the vote against any 

 one upon it would be scattering. For geo- 

 graphical considerations the directors did not 

 always select the candidates who had received 

 the largest number of nomination votes. The 

 principal objections to this method appear in 

 the Proceedings for January, 1912. They are 

 these. There is no official way by which a 

 group of members who desire to recommend a 

 certain candidate can make their wishes known 

 to the entire membership. Members can not 

 usually tell whether a man they think of 

 nominating is willing to accept. The scatter- 

 ing vote is increasing each year. The only 

 way to suggest candidates is by circular let- 

 ters, which become a nuisance. Not more than 

 20 per cent, of the members fill out nomina- 

 tion forms; so that a man with a very small 

 vote can get on the directors' ticket and be 

 elected. The new rule provides that on peti- 

 tion of fifty members a man's name may be 

 printed on the nominating blank as a candi- 

 date for nomination. This results in a larger 

 and more concentrated vote. 



In 1912 the American Institute of Mining 

 Engineers was practically changing its entire 

 management. Under the old rule there was a 

 board of directors and a council. Nomina- 

 tions for members of the council could be 

 sent to the secretary, who mailed to the mem- 

 bers a list of all nominations for each office so 

 received, together with the names of persons 

 ineligible for election to each office; and if 

 the council or a committee thereof should have 

 recommended any nomination, such recom- 

 mendation was sent also. The new method 

 recommended by a special committee resembles 

 that of the American Society of Civil Engi- 

 neers. 



In the American Chemical Society members 

 mail preference for president and four coun- 



cilors. Council elects president from the four 

 having the largest number of nominating 

 ballots. For council the highest eight are 

 considered nominated, and names mailed to 

 members. Usual double envelopes for secrecy. 

 Nine directors are elected by letter ballot of 

 the entire (102) council. The directors are 

 now the governing body, as council has grown 

 too large. 



In the Astronomical and Astrophysical So- 

 ciety of America members were nominated by 

 mail and the three with the largest number of 

 nominating votes were voted upon by mem- 

 bers present at annual meeting. In case of a 

 plurality of names in third place all were 

 included in list to be voted upon. Plurality 

 elected. The method had not proved entirely 

 satisfactory, and a committee had been ap- 

 pointed to consider its revision. 



In the Botanical Society of America indi- 

 vidual members nominate by mail. The coun- 

 cil then sees that there is at least one nomi- 

 nation for every office. Members vote by mail. 

 Plurality elects. A recent rule empowers the 

 secretary to eliminate the names of all nomi- 

 nees but the three receiving the highest num- 

 ber of nominating votes. Tet sometimes ten 

 or a dozen receive the same number and have 

 to appear on the final ballot mailed to mem- 

 bers. Another possible objection to this 

 method is that a few members of the associa- 

 tion in one of the large universities can easily 

 put a set of names in nomination by concen- 

 trating upon them when other nominating 

 votes are scattered. 



The conclusions which I am disposed to draw 

 from the material at my disposal are as fol- 

 lows: A governing board of some kind is in- 

 dispensable, and it is wise to follow the usual 

 practise of electing a given proportion of its 

 members every year for a term of years. If 

 there is much work to be done by the secre- 

 tary, he should be nominated either by a 

 permanent nominating committee or by the 

 governing board. If he accepts remuneration 

 for his services he should be nominated or 

 appointed by the board. 



It is not usually wise to try to elect mem- 

 bers of the governing board or other officers 



