INTELLIGENCE AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE-REPORT. 437 
being looked upon by the laity as the representative body of the 
profession will no doubt live for a long time in the States where 
they exist. While I do not uphold or commend much of the 
work brought out by these associations, nor do I approve of 
their aims and efforts in certain respects, still where they have 
faltered and gone astray, I charge the responsibility upon those 
to whom it belongs, and that is upon the regular members of our 
calling, and I am here to defend to-day the necessity, usefulness, 
powers and achievements of these associations, when kept within 
the proper bounds. Alike, 1 am here to condemn the one main 
argument offered by opponents of these associations ; that they 
are not strong enough in numbers in individual States to form 
such organizations. It is estimated that there are over -3,000 
practitioners in the United States ; over 1,000 qualified members, 
being an average of 25 to each State. I care not if your number 
is less than 30 ; I care not if your number is less than 20, or even 
10 ; the labors of ten zealous and earnest men closely banded 
together are capable of accomplishing much, and I venture to 
say that less than this number compose the active workers of 
almost every veterinary association in this ( country. When you 
realize and think of the importance given to these associations 
by the press of the various States, you will alike realize why, 
fellow members, you should identify yourselves with them. You 
should be a component part of these bodies to first control and 
guide them, and I claim that it was possible for a few resolute 
men to have gone into these bodies and directed them, but by 
your indifference and denied support you keep out so long that 
some of them have gotten beyond your control now. Your first 
efforts should have been to have elected the prominent officers 
and in your battle you would have found this a fair test of your 
strength. Failing in this you could have waged your battle on 
the Board of Censors, the real governing body ; composed of 
five members, you certainly could have secured a ruling or at 
least a working majority; from here you could have marked out 
your field of labor, not by accepting a cut and dried set of rules, 
but by distinctly stating who and how members should be 
admitted. In my own State, that of Pennsylvania, we admit 
