102 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
purpose of correcting abuses and securing relief from unjust 
freight rates 
Mr. Aubrey Frink of Glen St. Mary, Fla., gave an interesting 
account of how Florida nurserymen had by united, intelli¬ 
gent and persistent action secured important concessions 
from the railroad authorities of that State. Mr. Albert,son 
suggested that a classification schedule for the various sec- 
tions covering car lots, boxes and bales be printed in the 
annual report for the benefit of the members ol the association. 
Finally all members were urged to second to the utmost 
unselfishly and unreservedly the efforts of the Transportation 
committee. All members felt that progress was being made 
and that the outlook was more cheering than in the past 
although there was much yet to be desired. Mr. Albertson 
will undoubtedly give important assistance to the new com¬ 
mittee on Transportation. 
LEGISLATION—IMPORTANT ACTION. 
The work of the committee on legislation may be said to 
have reached another important stage. After the presenta¬ 
tion of the report a lively discussion ensued out of which a 
resolution emanated and was presented by Chairman Wat- 
rous of Iowa, authorizing the new committee to investigate 
the feasibility and constitutionality of a federal law affect¬ 
ing the interstate shipments of necessary stock; and in the 
event of finding that the law is constitutionally possible they 
are to bend their efforts toward the drafting of such a law as 
shall meet the requirements of the nufsery states of the Union. 
The next effort will be toward the enactment of such a law. 
This of course involves a large contract but the committee 
will attack the problem courageously. 
PARCELS-POST AND EXPRESS. 
The United States postal laws as regards the parcels ser¬ 
vice were handled without gloves and a committee consisting 
of Watrous of Iowa, Kelsey of Massachusetts, and Hale of 
Tennessee, was appointed to confer with a similar committee 
of the American Seed Trade Association and the Society of 
American Florists, at their coming meetings for the purpose 
of formulating united demands to be presented to Congress 
upon this important subject. 
THE AUDITING COMMITTEE. 
Mr. McFarland, of Harrisburg, Pa., on behalf of this com¬ 
mittee recommended the cutting out of the report all advertise¬ 
ments and all lengthy and unprofitable discussions. 
He recommended further that the report be condensed as 
much as possible by abstracting unduly lengthy papers. 
These recommendations were adopted. We shall then have 
a smaller report but it will be not padded and the expense of 
printing will be reduced. 
A PLEASING INCIDENT. 
The souvenir booklet published by the National Nur¬ 
seryman received special commendation by President Kirk¬ 
patrick in his address and was the means of calling attention 
to the fact that the only charter member of the first meeting 
of the Society present at the 30th annual convention was 
Mr. J. J. Hai ■rison of Painesville, Ohio. Mr. Harrison was 
called out by the chair and acknowledged in a few well chosen 
words the kindly recognition of the Society. 
VETERAN MEMBERS PRESENT. 
In addition to Mr. Harrison we should note the presence of 
Arthur Bryant of Princeton, Ill., who was present at the 
meeting of the Northern Illinois Horticultural Society where 
the proposal to organize an association ol American Nursery¬ 
men was first made. Mr. N. H. Albaugh, of Phoneton, Ohio, 
enjoys the distinction of having attended twenty-four con¬ 
secutive meetings. J. Van Findley, of North Carolina, and 
W. F. Heikes, of Alabama, each have a record which runs 
back to early days—and there are many others. 
DALLAS FOR ME !—THE NEXT MEETING PLACE. 
One of the most exciting incidents of the convention was 
that in connection with the choosing of a place for the liext 
annual meeting. Atlantic City, Chicago and Indianapolis 
were candidates. Dallas had been spoken of but not seriously 
considered. Quietly there arose a tall, lean figure with the 
black hair, sallow complexion and aquiline features of the 
native born Texan. This youthful looking individual began 
to speak in those smooth flowing sentences peculiar to the 
South. There was magnetism in the fluidity of the speech 
and there was method in the manner of presenting the claims 
of Texas fundamentally and Dallas particularly, as a place for 
the next meeting of the American Association of Nurserymen. 
Interest grew into enthusiasm as the glowing sentences des¬ 
criptive of the natural and artificial advantages of the lone 
star State fell from the orator’s lips. One need but glance 
over the face of the audience to be convinced that the con¬ 
test was won before the speech was concluded." 
When the vote was taken Dallas won and the credit of the 
victory belongs to Mr. Stanley II. Watson. His speech was the 
talk of the corridors and Mr. Watson the Tccipjcnt of much 
well earned congratulation. 
ENTERTAINMENT AND EXCURSION'S. 
The comfort and pleasure of the members were exceedingly 
well cared for by the Program committee and our Indiana 
hosts. Everything that forethought and opportunity could 
devise was taken advantage of to make the meeting pleasant 
and successful. 
RECEPTION AT FRENCH LICK HOTEL. 
The reception of Tuesday evening tendered by Mr. Taggart, 
proprietor of the French Lick Hotel, was greatly enjoyed by 
a large number of the members after they had time to remove 
the dust and stain of travel. Those who accepted Mr. Taggart’s 
hospitality carried away pleasant memories of excellent 
music, dainty flowers, delicious refreshments and a fine ball 
room. 
LADIES AFTERNOON. 
The attendance of ladies at this convention while very 
good would have been much larger had a fuller realization of 
the social opportunities afforded by the place been more 
general. 
A small beginning was made by way of recognizing the 
ladies who attended the convention. This was in the nature 
of an informal gathering in one of the parlors for purely 
social purposes called by the Indiana delegates on Thursday 
afternoon. The little “at home” did much towards extend¬ 
ing acquaintances and greatly added to the pleasure of the 
ladies of the party. 
THE BANQUET. 
Those who attended this important function on Friday 
night and not far from one hundred and fifty sat down— 
agree that the table display was one of the handsomest they 
