bution has been made unconditionally. But there is a little error. It seems to me you have $25 from the Western Massachusetts Association, and $25 from Springfield. We have paid only one $25. We shall let our subscrip tion remain. Mr. C. A. Stringer, Detroit, Mich.-$100. Mr. W. H. Van Slyke, Minneapolis-Mr. Chairman, we have a divided delegation. Mr. Meyers states that if he were president he would subscribe $100. In a stort time we will have an election. [Laughter.] Mr. Van Tuyl offers to subscribe conditionally $50, but I will guarantee that we will send at least $25, and $50 conditionally. President Scovel-On what condition? Mr. Van Slyke-$50 provided we have the authority of the local association. You are absolutely sure of $25, or $100 if Mr. Meyers is elected. Mr. Meyers-That statement was garbled. I stated if I were president at this time I would take the stand and say $100, but Van Slyke dodged the issue. [Laughter.] Mr. A. Ray Edmiston, Nebraska-$50. Mr. Hamilton-I am not a delegate, but a substitute; but since none of our New Jersey delegates are here I will subscribe $25 personally, and will try and get a subscription of $50. Mr. T. R. Fell, New York-I have not had time to consult with anybody but the president yet; but as one of our leading delegates has made a subscription I am inclined to think it is a personal subscription; if it is we raise our ante to what Chicago did originally. President Scovel-Now, gentlemen, let us have that. Is it $300 or $350? Mr. Fell-$300. President Scovel-Now, is this personal, or not? Mr. Cochran-It is a personal subscription. [Applause.] Mr. Fell-New York makes her subscription $300, with Mr. Cochran's personal $50, making $350. Mr. F. E. McMullen, Central New York-$50. Mr. W. G. Justice, Buffalo, N. Y.-Of course it is not possible to say what our association will do. I think it is safe to say $50. I will give $25 anyway. Mr. Durham-Philadelphia stands at $250. Mr. Wood, Pittsburg-$100 guaranteed, $50 paid in. scribed by St. Louis has been paid. I would like to enquire at this time whether the subscription you are making up now is to be used in future. We understood the amount subscribed last year to have been expended by this time. President Scovel-We have not expended a third. Mr. Herrick-Of course, during the coming year more money is still required. I presume St. Louis, as usual, will be ready to respond, although our association may feel that unless all signs fail the National Association will get the rest of our money before the year rolls round, anyway. [Laughter.] Secretary Clark-$110 for St. Louis, the way it stands at the present time? Mr. Herrick-Yes, sir. Mr. C. H Tennant, Syracuse, N. Y.-We will subscribe $25 conditionally. We were not instructed by our local association. Mr. Flickinger, Indiana-We will subscribe $50 and no string to it. [Applause.] President Scovel-President L. C. Slayton of the Connecticut Association has an announcement to make regarding the entertainment of the ladies this evening. Mr. Slayton-At two o'clock there will be a special car at the city hall to take the ladies to the Country Club at Farmington. It is suggested that as that is a congested part of the street railway system, the car cannot be kept waiting We must be there very promptly. President Scovel-The secretary reports $1,990 and Pittsburg, to stand pat with St. Louis, will at least make $110, so as to make the $2,000 round out. [Applause.] The next in order is the matter of subscribing to the Official Proceedings of the convention, and that, gentlemen, is one of the most important things in my mind that the convention does; to take pains, by official action, and subscription of the different associations to see that the proceedings of this convention are widely distributed among local men. The larger audience is there. I want to say, personally, that I have found the use of copies of these proceedings among my own agents one of the most instructive things in stimulating and helping them in their practical daily work that I know of. We will now take up the matter of the subscription to the Official Proceedings for this year. They are $1 a copy, and we shall ask each association to designate what number of copies they will take. Secretary Clark-We had last year a total subscription of 1,300 copies, and I should like very much to see that number increased this year, and doubt not that it will be. In addition to the associations that subscribe we have a number of individual subscriptions, and also subscriptions from life insurance companies. And I will ask in this roll call that the ones who respond for an association will name the association and also call out their name and initials. I want to know to whom we should look for the subscription individually. Last year I had considerable correspondence because we were unable to trace different subscriptions, and various associations denied the subscription. I wish to have no such trouble this year, and that can be avoided if the one who makes the subscription gives me his name and initials. The secretary then called the roll and the following subscriptions were received: Baltimore-Edwin W. Heisse: The Baltimore Association desires to subscribe for 60 copies. That is about one-third more than our membership, but we propose to increase our membership this year, and do what we can to encourage the National Association to continue the publication. So we put it down for 60 copies. Birmingham-W. J. Cameron: 15 copies. Boston-S. F. Woodman: Will advise later. Chicago-H. S Dale: 50 copies. Cincinnati-Collin Ford: Will advise later. Cleveland -F. A. Kendall: 20 copies. Connecticut-L. C Slayton: 30 copies. Georgia-J. R. Nutting: 5 copies. IndianaE. G. Ritchie: 25 copies. Northern Indiana-C. W. Orr: 5 copies. Iowa-Mr. Miner: 25 copies. Maine—A. C. Westcott: 5 copies. Western Massachusetts-G. P. Mitchell: 15 copies. Michigan-Walter Thompson: 10 copies. Minneapolis-W. H. Van Slyke: 5 copies. Nebraska - A. R. Edmiston: 10 copies. New Hampshire -A. W. Childs: 5 copies. New England Women's Association-Miss Julia A. Sprague: 10 copies. New Jersey-A. H. Gesler: 10 copies. New York-J. Carlton Ward: 100 copies. New York Central-F. E. McMullen: 20 copies. Western New York-W. G. Justice: 5 copies. Philadelphia-J. Edward Durham: 145 copies. Pittsburg -W. M. Wood: 100 copies. St Louis-W. H. Herri They will hold a meeting in a few days. We shall want about so many, but many individual members will want them, and we will make the order at one time. President Scovel-Are there any individual subscriptions? The following gentlemen subscribed personally. John Dolph, Cincinnati, O., 20 copies; J. LaCroix, Portland, Me., 5 copies; Elmer Dwiggins, Des Moines, Ia, 5 copies; Collin Ford, Cincinnati, O., 10 copies. The above subscriptions showed 715 copies subscribed for with some associations still to hear from. Treasurer Weeks-Last year there were a number of subscriptions came in later. The Standard Printing Company, Boston, want to know what books are wanted as soon as possible. If there are any others who have not subscribed and you find there are more wanted I wish you would as soon as possible communicate with either the secretary or myself, for it is very necessary to know how many to bind. President Scovel-Unfinished business is the order that we have now reached. The secretary tells me there is no unfinished business. The next business is the selection of the time and place for the next annual convention. Is there any other suggestion, or motion, or invitation? Mr. Scott-If there is no place offered us I would suggest that the bylaw be suspended which provides that we shall vote by ballot for our annual place, and that the matter be referred to the executive committee with power to act in their discretion. Mr. Herrick-Mr. President, I should have risen sooner but that I supposed that the invitations were extended in the order of delegations. If everybody else will waive in favor of the association that I have the honor to represent it will afford me the greatest pleasure to extend an invitation to the National Association to hold the next convention at St. Louis. We have everything to offer you there. You all know where the Father of Waters and the Budweiser flow. We have what is very necessary for this convention, that is getting so large year by year, to consider, and that is, its personal convenience; we have ample hotel accommodation; we have three hotels, any one of which would house this con vention. And we have, of course, plenty to interest you. I do not need to expatiate on the beauties of St. Louis, the points of interest there, historical and other wise, because I appreciate the fact the National Association comes to a convention chiefly for the purpose of transacting business, and for individuals to get in their work, once in a while. But I assure you that if you come early enough in the summer you will get a warm reception. If you come at any time you may select I can assure you of a most cordial and hearty one. I am glad to note that this matter will be disposed of in the same manner as all other matters have been in a unanimous manner. I was advised that one other association came prepared to extend an invitation, but we soon took them into camp, and here is some of their ammunition, and I am pleased to see, too, that there is no disposition to oppose our invitation, and I trust the convention will see its way to accept it. [Applause.] Mr. Scott-I was going to say that I was going to move that this association convene next year in St. Louis at some time in October, the date to be fixed by the executive committee. I will say October because you know how hot it is in Hartford in September and it will be equally as warm in St. Louis in October. We have stood it well here and we can stand it about the same way there. I move that St. Louis be our next place. President Scovel-Before entertaining that motion I was reminded by Mr. Herrick's remarks that it is customary, if not an absolute rule, first to receive all invitations, before receiving any motions for action upon them. I will ask if there are any other invitations from any other city than St. Louis. Mr. Dwiggins-Mr. President, I did come down to Hartford with some hope of offering an invitation to the convention to come out to the Hartford of the West. We have a number of life and fire insurance companies there. We think it a great country. We have some good hotels, and when I saw how well the Hartford of the East had done I hoped the convention would be |