them said: "Well, Smith, what in the world did you tie that rope around you for?" He said: "Well, I'll tell you; I hadn't gone but a little ways until I saw my mistake." [Laughter.] Perhaps it may take you a little while before you see your mistake.

I understand from my predecessor that this position involves considerable work. If I can delegate that to somebody else and have the other fellow do it I think I shall be quite successful. I think our president will keep me going perhaps.

Now, ladies and gentlemen, I beg you to believe that I am profoundly sensible of the honor conferred upon me and particularly upon our association in Central New York, and I beg to assure you that I will bend my best efforts to this work, as I thoroughly believe in the work, and I shall do all in my power to help build up and extend this magnificent influence. I thank you. [Applause.] President Scovel-In this great country there is no longer North or South, and even in this convention there is no longer any East or West. It is my great pleasure to welcome and introduce to you as one of the vice-presidents, the third vice-president for the coming year, who represents among us the great southland in which our work, we hope, is more and more to be extended, Col. Robert Shedden of Atlanta, Ga.

Mr. Shedden-Mr. President and Gentlemen of the

Convention: All these nominations are surprises, so each gentleman who has preceded me has said. Mine certainly was, because I got in this morning at one, and did not wake till half past eight this morning, and found myself nominated for third vice-president. I simply wish to thank the convention for my section of the country, and take it for granted that this second election from our association in Atlanta means that we are to have a permanent position as third vice-president for all future

time. [Laughter.] I know that my fellow general agents at home, members of the most active association south

of Baltimore, will feel the honor. I have nothing to say further, and will take advantage of Mr. Goulden's five minute resolution and print the balance, and let you have it later. [Applause.]

President Scovel-It takes no introduction to present to you for the second time the incumbent of the office which we are all so delighted he has consented to accept, our newly-elected secretary, Mr. Ernest J. Clark of Baltimore. [Applause.]

Secretary Clark-Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: I am laboring under a conflict of feelings at the present time. In the first place I am not insensible to

the honor which you have conferred upon me. In fact I consider it a double honor, having had the privilege of serving you this past year as secretary, and having my work approved by reelection to the office. It is indeed an honor for any man to covet to be selected an officer of this great organization. And yet on the other hand I know the responsibilities of the office, and the sacrifice that its labors require in order to conduct it as it should be conducted that the greatest service may be rendered by this rapidly growing organization to the insurance world. One year ago in Indianapolis I did not realize what was before me but I know now what is before me. The past year's experience has taught me. And the coming year is naturally going to be very much busier than the past as our organization is almost 50 per cent. larger in membership than it was eight months ago. However, I shall endeavor to do my best for the National Association and make this coming administration with its newlyelected president and official staff, the greatest in the history of the organization. I thank you again most heartily for the honor. [Applause.]

President Scovel-And what shall I say in introducing "the grand old man" of Connecticut, whose name is designated in weeks, whose service to this association already runs into decades, and whose life we hope will be

numbered by the centuries, whom we again welcome as the treasurer of the National Association. We cannot honor "Uncle Eli" any more than we have done by holding this convention here. [Applause.]

Three cheers were given for Mr. Weeks as he came forward to address the convention.

Mr. Weeks-Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: This is the eleventh time that you have seen fit to honor me and the Connecticut Association through me. I do not know that I am entitled to it.

I do not know that our association is entitled to it. I think it must be getting a little monotonous to bring me up time after time to accept this position. If you remember one year ago at Indianapolis I advised you, in my remarks there, and tried to impress upon you to put forth an effort to increase this organization. I think you have done it well through our president and secretary, and vicepresidents, and I think they are entitled to a great deal of credit at this time. One year ago our association included only thirty-one local associations. Today I think they number forty-five. So, gentlemen, you can see the work that has been done. We have come to Hartford with the

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largest representation we ever had. One year ago I urged you to come here. I am glad you have come. hope you have had a good reception. If you have not I do not know that we could do anything more. We have done everything for you, and I hope you will all go away satisfied. [Applause.]

Mr. Durham-If it be in order I would like to offer the following resolution:

Whereas, The National Association of Life Underwriters has had a most prosperous year under the present administration, and has increased largely in usefulness and in the number of local associations enrolled; therefore, be it

Resolved, That we tender to the retiring officers, and to those who continue as well, our thanks for their untiring efforts in the interest of the

National Association, and trust they will find their reward in the consciousness of personal duty well performed.

The motion was carried by a rising vote.

Mr. Van Tuyl-I ask consent for the introduction of one resolution, and after reading it I want you to indulge me just one moment:

Resolved, That the executive committee be requested to consider and to report to the next convention a resolution embodying the suggestion in the report of ex-President Dolph regarding the relation between the National and Local Associations; such resolution to specify qualification for membership in the local associations and also some method of controlling in a general way the work of local associations, and obtain uniformity.

I wish to move the adoption of that resolution, and in regard to it I wish to say just one word. There is no subject which more deserves the careful thought of the executive committee and of every member of this convention, and of every member of every local association in the United States than the question of any method which will raise the character of our membership. Every man who is a member of a local association eligible for membership in this body ought to be first, a representative of some company which is thoroughly entitled to confidence and respect; and second, he ought to be personally a gentleman and a man of honor. Now I am perfectly willing to commit that subject to the executive committee, but I do wish the executive committee could be asked to bring in a resolution which should carry out the suggestion of ex-President Dolph and do what we can in a general way to raise the character of our membership.

Mr. Dolph—I rise to second the motion, and in order to dispose of it quickly I will simply add the fact that I have been consulting with the mover of the motion, and I feel partly responsible for it on account of the report which I originally made. It does seem to me that the executive committee can with very great advantage not only survey the question which has been presented but even go further than that and consider the question of making the local associations active. Some of them are not active. Some of our associations hold practically no meetings. No effort is made to work, and necessarily

cess.

the members of those associations will report throughout the country that the association movement is not a sucThat is their conception of it. And so I feel that the executive committee could work out a plan that would keep all the local associations working at least and that I think is the more important problem for the executive committee.

The question was then put and the motion prevailed.

Mr. Cochran-Mr. President, this is a season of investigation and inquisition. I would like to ask if it is not possible that our honored treasurer has a report to make. According to one of the papers he has $20,000 in our treasury. I have been congratulated several times on that fact while I have been in Hartford. I know he is hunting for it. I have seen him figuring a great deal, and as a matter of information I would like to discover where that balance is. [Laughter and applause.]

Treasurer Weeks-Mr. President, I would like to say in reply to the gentleman that I have heard on pretty good authority that Mr. Cochran had the printer's devil out the night before, and he didn't know what he was reporting in that paper. [Laughter.]

Mr. Farley-Mr. President, I think that this is the most auspicious time for this association to voice a sentiment, which I am sure you all entertain, and that is, a hearty vote of thanks to the Hartford Association for the generous, yes, I might say glorious entertainment they have given the National Association in convention assembled for the sixteenth time.

President Scovel-I presume it will not be objected to if the Chair suggest including the citizens of Hartford who personally and through their automobiles have contributed so much to our entertainment. [Applause.] The motion prevailed.

Mr. Dolph-It is suggested by the photographer that immediately after we adjourn we go to the state capitol and have a photograph taken there. The photographer says the sun is so bright this morning in the street here that he won't be able to get a good picture, and I think it would be as well to ask if you agree to that proposition, so that the photographer will be ready. I move that the members of the convention, when we adjourn, proceed to the state capitol to be photographed.