290 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
There are necessarily many details to be worked out in 
a plan of this magnitude, and yet it is apparent that this 
economic waste if possible must be stopped. 
Committee on Arbitration. While not incorporated 
in the constitution and by-laws, there is one matter that 
is of such importance that I deem it not out of place to 
refer to in this address, that is the resolution adopted by 
the assocation providing for a committee on arbitration. 
In the multiplicity of transactions of life it is impossible 
to avoid complications. The majority of people, however, 
and we believe this is true beyond any question of doubt, 
earnestly desire to do right and to avoid as nearly as 
possible all conflict. There are few controversies that 
can not be adjusted out of court, and the mover of this 
resolution, being a strong advocate of arbitration, be¬ 
lieved that a committee on arbitration would solve with 
the minimum cost, and the preservation of business 
friendship, practically all matters of controversy be¬ 
tween members. To this end the resolution providing 
for a committee on arbitration was offered, and by unan¬ 
imous vote adopted by the association. If we have a dis¬ 
pute that can not be adjusted between any two members, 
let those two members refer the matter to the committee 
on arbitration which becomes a court of adjustment. We 
know of no resolution heretofore adopted that can be 
made to render a greater service to the membership than 
this. Those who have a need for the services of this 
committe will be advised how to proceed in the matter 
by conferring with our general secretary, Mr. John Hall. 
Finally. Through the appointment of various com¬ 
mittees, any one of which is a subject of vast importance 
and susceptible of great elaboration, your executive com¬ 
mittee hopes to accomplish a great and lasting good for 
the members of the association. It earnestly desires the 
co-operation of every member whether doing a small or 
a large business. It is not reasonable to suppose that the 
new constitution and by-laws in every instance meets 
the approval of our present five hundred members, but 
it does meet the approval of a very large majority of the 
membership attending the last national meeting. It is 
not a perfect constitution and by-laws to be sure, because 
it was written by men, and man has not as yet reached 
perfection. It represents in the minds of the committee, 
and in the minds of the association, the best working 
basis that it was possible to procure. Let us accept it as 
it comes to us, live squarely up to every demand that it 
makes upon our time and money, give it a thorough 
trial, and we believe that it will place the nursery bus¬ 
iness upon a more stable basis than has been true of the 
past. On behalf of the present administration, and with 
an earnest desire that this association may be of real 
service, your co-operation and assistance is asked. If it 
is not just like you would have written it, remember that 
you were not there, and that those who were responsible 
for it labored unselfishly to give you the very best pos¬ 
sible constitution and by-laws. It is up to you as a live 
member of the American Association of Nurserymen to 
make it a success. Will you do it? 
J. R. Mayhew, 
Executive Committeeman from Southwest ... 
Waxahachie, Texas, July 16, 1915. 
BETTER TIMES DEMAND BETTER MEN 
By Rodney H. Brandon, Sec’y-Treas. Loyal Order of 
Moose, Mooseheart, III.— Read at the Nurseryman’s 
Convention, Detroit, June 23-25, 1915. 
T IIE time is past when any considerable number of 
us longer doubt the basic truths of the Darwin¬ 
ian theory of evolution. The most natural thing 
in the world is to be natural. The first, result of man’s 
change from the condition of other animals was that of 
Rodney II. Brandon, Mooseheart, III. 
becoming artificial. The first move of the poor peddler 
who after years of struggle with his pennies and nickels 
achieves wealth is to bedeck himself and his home with 
the richest and gaudiest of ornaments. From one ex¬ 
treme he flies to the other; and in the same way man, 
rising above his animal kin, proceeded with all haste to 
become artificial. Ilis first move was to make his sur¬ 
roundings as unnatural as possible. He sawed the beau¬ 
tiful tree into unsightly planks. He delved in the earth 
for iron and made nails and with the nails fastened the 
planks together in ugly and unnatural poses. He re¬ 
moved from the front of his rough house the trees and 
shrubs that the world might know that he—man—had 
now arisen above the mere commonplace natural sur¬ 
roundings. He had conquered nature. He glorified in 
his artificiality—regarding it as a mark of his own power 
over nature. 
The poor peddler who after achieving riches bought 
his gaudy red, yellow and green draperies, found his 
children and his childrens’ children discarding them for 
plainer and more harmonious material and design and if 
this same old peddler was wise enough to see it, he found 
that two or three generations of reform and culture was 
