THE AMERICAN FERN SOCIETY 



At the recent election of the Society fifty-nine votes 

 were cast for two candidates not regularly nominated 

 and a Judge of Elections, selected from members ad- 

 mitted this year, declared these two candidates elected. 

 Although Messrs. Dowell and Hopkins do not seem 

 legally entitled to the offices it is not likely that their 

 possession of them will be challenged, since few people 

 care to hold an honorary office that must be fought for 

 to be gained. It may be mentioned in passing how- 

 ever, that many members are of the opinion that the 

 legally elected candidate for president is Mr. J. B. 

 Flett and for secretary is Miss Pauline Kaufman. 



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The Constitution of the American Fern Society 

 places the nomination of all candidates in the hands 

 of an Advisory Council consisting of the past presi- 

 dents of the Society. In any association coming to- 

 gether for regular meetings such a restriction of the 

 nominating power might properly be considered to be 

 too arbitrary, but in a society like the one under dis- 

 cussion in which the members are not well acquainted 

 with one another and in which a majority of the mem- 

 bers have never been present at a stated meeting, it was 

 felt that this restriction was well advised and the pass- 

 ing years have but emphasized the wisdom of this 

 P^ an - * * * 



In presenting the amendment to the constitution 

 under which the recent election was supposed to have 

 been held. Mr. B. D. Gilbert said (10th An. Rep't. 

 1902) "The duty of nomination ought to be placed in 

 the hands of an Advisory Council * * * as these 

 gentlemen probably possess a wider knowledge of the 



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