A.m.  Jour.  Pharm.  \ 
March,  J 901.  / 
Editorial. 
149 
parliamentarian  as  presiding  officer,  in  order  to  facilitate  the  work 
of  the  organization.  I  can  refer  to  this  matter  graciously,  for  I  re- 
flect my  own  shortcomings  in  doing  so.  The  good  judgment  of 
this  Association  wisely  associated  with  me  a  superior  parliamen- 
tarian, capable,  willing,  obliging,  and  I  thank  you  for  the  considera- 
tion shown  me;  but  especially  am  I  indebted  to  this  gentleman, 
Mr.  M.  W.  Alexander,  who  has  so  discreetly  and  acceptably  con- 
ducted your  meetings. 
"  I  believe  that  it  would  be  well  to  honor  such  men  and  serve 
yourselves  by  extending  them  lengthened  positions  in  presiding 
over  us,  and  create  in  our  body  a  new  office,  a  presiding  chairman, 
who  can  both  preside  over  the  general  meeting  and  fill  vacancies  in 
the  absence  of  the  chairmen  of  the  sections. 
"The  President  elected  by  reason  of  a  special  fitness  for  other 
labors  will  then  have  time  to  attend  to  his  peculiar  duties;  he  may 
appoint  committees,  etc.,  etc.,  during  your  meetings  without  the 
distractions  attending  the  chairmanship;  the  conducting  officer, 
elected  by  you  at  stated  periods  because  he  is  really  capable  of 
being  a  parliamentarian,  will  conduct  your  deliberations  in  a  proper 
manner.  He  will  become  acquainted  with  faces,  names  and  meth- 
ods, and  facilitate  the  order  of  your  meetings.  #  *  *•  # 
I  will  admit  that  some  of  our  Presidents  are  capable  parliamentari- 
ans, but  it  is  sometimes  desirable  to  elect  men  without  such  accom- 
plishments. In  support  of  this  opinion,  since  writing  this  section, 
I  have  reviewed  an  editorial  article  by  Dr.  Fred.  Hoffmann  on  the 
subject  in  the  Pharm aceutische  Rundschau  (September,  1885),  and 
extract  the  following  sentence:  'A  thorough  familiarity  with  the 
subject  matters  of  the  deliberations,  and  the  rare  gift  of  wise  tact,  of 
quick  and  good  judgment,  and  of  energy,  are  requisites  for  manag- 
ing large  conventions  with  success.'  If  men  with  these  talents  and 
ability,  and  with  comprehensive  knowledge,  can  be  placed,  or  have 
been  found,  at  the  helm  of  the  association,,  it  certainly  would  be 
conducive  to  the  best  interests  and  efficiency  of  its  annual  meetings 
to  retain  them.  If  it  is  not  considered  advisable  to  add  this  new 
officer,  I  strongly  urge  that  the  Vice-Presidents  be  selected  for  the 
purpose  of  filling  this  position,  and  that  the  President-elect  be  re- 
lieved from  the  detail  work  of  conducting  the  meeting,  giving  his 
entire  attention  to  the  real  work  of  his  office." 
The  mode  of  procedure  in  selecting  the  presiding  officers  in  the 
