[The following resolutions were referred to the executive committee:]

RETENTION OF MR. WHITE

Resolved, That the incoming administration be directed to retain Mr. J. L. White in his present capacity and as far as possible give him the whole power of N. A. R. D. support in this work.

EMPLOYMENT OF LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL

WHEREAS, We believe that the time has come when the association should have a permanent legislative counsel; therefore be it Resolved, That such counsel should be secured.

PUBLICITY IN LEGISLATIVE MATTERS

Resolved, That the National Association of Retail Druggists should empower the proper committees to expend any reasonable sum, for the purpose (1) of educating the public on these matters; and (2) of procuring popular petitions supporting our contentions.

THERAPEUTIC TOPICS

Resolved, That we instruct the executive committee to authorize the department of propaganda to issue Therapeutic Topics to two physicians for each dues-paid member.

President Finneran's address was devoted to the many subjects of interest to the trade, most of which are taken up in detail in other reports. We abstract the following from the President's address:

BUSINESS CONDITIONS

From such information as can be obtained from all sources, it is evident that the majority of retail druggists are in better condition financially than they were five years ago. There are many reasons why their condition has improved during that time. The main reason, however, is that through the activities of the National Association of Retail Druggists its members have begun to realize the possibilities of an increase of patronage through better service, more attractive stores, a better assortment of merchandise and lastly, but most important of all it is due to the fact that proprietors in most cases are more solicitious of the needs and whims of their customers.

PURE FOOD AND DRUG LAWS

It is evident to all who have made a study of this particular subject that the time is near at hand when the Pure Food & Drug Laws of the United States, as well as of the various states, should be made as near uniform as possible. The lack of uniformity in state laws, particularly causes manufacturers and retailers a great deal of trouble, and it is a

subject which was considered at considerable length at a meeting of the Food & Drug Commissioners of the various states, held during the last month at Portland, Maine. The enforcement of the drug laws in the various states should be, in our opinion, under the supervision of the Boards of Registration in Pharmacy. Furthermore, we believe that every person selling, dispensing or giving away anything in the line of drugs, should come within the provisions of the law. It is a well-known fact that the pure drug laws in many states cover only such drugs as are sold in drug stores and does not apply to the same drugs when sold or given away by grocers and others.

ITINERANT VENDING OF MEDICINES

According to a decision recently given by the United States Supreme Court, each state has now the legal right to regulate the vending of medicinal products. We would suggest that a persistent campaign be carried on in the interests of the passage of such laws in the various states, to the end that medicines shall only be sold of standard quality, and by persons who are qualified by law to make such sales.

CUT PRICES

This is a subject which has absorbed the attention of this organization from the time it started in St. Louis, 16 years ago up to the present time. We were of the opinion then and we are now that price cutting was a bad thing for every one. It has been a long hard fight for us to convince the public as well as the members of other retail organizations that our position in this matter was correct.

am thankful to say that our work for the past 16 years is now bearing fruit and that ere long we will see a bill upon the Federal Statute Books which will legalize the standardization of prices. I want to congratulate you and the many noble men who have been your officers for the past 16 years and who have fought so valiantly in your interests on the probable successful termination of the fight which we have waged so long and intelligently.

But you cannot stop now, feeling that your work is completed; on the other hand you must continue to work hard and persistently in favor of price standardization and against unfair competition.

Your representatives contended before two congressional committees that price cutting on standard articles and unfair competition was driving the small dealer to ruin, in every branch of trade. Did these honorable gentlemen agree with us in our contentions? You will find your answer in a bill which has passed Congress and also a bill which was reported in

the Senate on June 22. The Senate number is 15657, Calendar No. 612.

Both of these bills contain sections making it illegal to indulge in unfair competition. Gentlemen, you have a right to feel elated over the success of your work in this particular direction, if in no other, for I am sure that the statements as made by your representatives were accepted as truthful and sincere.

As one of your representatives before these committees of Congress, I want you to clearly understand that the credit belongs to the rank and file of this Association, as they at all times were ready and willing to back up the men who had the honor to represent them.

ABSTRACTS FROM REPORT OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

OUR RELATIONS WITH WHOLESALERS
AND MANUFACTURERS

The apparent fear of legal entanglements which seems to obsess the wholesaler, has resulted in suspension of reciprocal relations with the jobber since the Indianapolis decree, except in the exchange of greetings and expressions of good will of most formal character. We frankly admit that we regret this situation.

We cannot repress the opinion that the jobber is injuring his cause by the exercising of such non-fraternal precaution. It seems SO unnatural for the National Wholesale Druggists' Association to abandon substantial relationship, while individual members of the National Wholesale Druggists' Association are more cordial in their behavior and less fearful of trouble by reason of it.

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Quite different in contrast are the relations between the Proprietary Association America and the National Association of Retail Druggists since most satisfactory relations have obtained, especially during the past two years. President Finneran was appointed by the executive committee to respond to the invitation extended to the N. A. R. D. to send a representative to the proprietors' annual meeting, held in New York City last May. The reception accorded our President was very cordial and satisfactory, notwithstanding his plain, frank and pertinent address elucidating to the minutest degree the terms of reciprocal relation and the advantages which would result through co-operative measures, such as should exist between the manufacturer and the final distributor.

ORGANIZATION DEPARTMENT

Six organizers are now on the general staff with one additional working on a commission

basis. The supervision of organizers has been left in the hands of the President, Secretary and the Chairman of the Executive Committee. The territory for each man to cover was selected by the above named sub-committee and the results have been about equal to what has been achieved in other years. We have a very efficient corps of organizers who not only understand the work required of them, but also do it.

With the organizers your committee hopes to effectually introduce a number of service features as fast as they are decided upon as per resolution five, passed at the last convention, such for example as "The Peoples National Drug Almanac," which has, in some sections, been received with marked favor by our dues paid members. The organizer can thus be of inestimable value to the organization and himself receive encouragement from the knowledge that he has something else of value to sell in connection with a membership.

One organizer feels that no money should be accepted by him unless he knows that the druggist feels that he is benefited by his membership in the association. This organizer believes that with the almanac and other service features yet to be inaugurated he will have ample material to convince nonmembers that a membership in the N. A. R. D. means more than the mere paying of dues.

NATIONAL DRUGGISTS' HOME

Under resolution Nine, approving the recommendation of Former President Merritt, the Executive Committee was "authorized to inquire into the exact financial state of the National Druggists' Home and take such action as in their discretion may seem advisable." Your Committee begs to report that it approached this resolution with the utmost caution, because it was the wish and desire of your Committee to at least assist in the promotion of the proposition and to render whatever aid in its power to establish the Home. Our first and most important consideration was the erroneous rumor which had gone abroad that the Executive Committee of the N. A. R. D. was instructed to take over the responsibility of establishing the Home without regard of course to constitutional limitations of your Committee's power.

Our investigation was thorough and searching, in spite of the knowledge of constitutional limitations. One whole day during the April sessions was devoted to this subject. The officers and board of trustees of the National Druggists' Home were invited and attended the sessions, as well as a committee from the

Chicago Retail Druggists' Association. After the officers and trustees reported conditions a general discussion ensued. The Chairman of the Executive Committee called on every one present for opinions and views, after which the Committee again went into executive session and further considered the problem. Our findings were to the effect that without regard to our limited powers we could not consider the saddling on to the N. A. R. D. of a project which to say the least, would have bankrupted this organization, even if the Home were handed over free from debt instead of having to assume an initial obligation of $50,000.00. We find that the maintenance alone would be a vastly larger expense than the N. A. R. D. could hope to assume. Our deliberations resulted in the following motion, which was passed unanimously:

"It is moved and seconded that we decline the proposition submitted to us by the Board of Trustees of the National Druggists' 'Home, and that the Secretary be instructed to inform them of our action." Your Committee asks this body to sustain its action in its conclusions and recommends that if any further action is desired to save the Home and the liberal contributions made to it, you do so without involving the Executive Committee of the N. A. R. D. alone, but give the matter over to a joint committee composed of delegates from all allied associations.

PROPAGANDA.

U. S. P. and N. F. propaganda is without question second in importance to price protection in the tenets of our association and should therefore receive equal patronage from members. It is felt that too little attention is paid to the session devoted to this subject and your Committee does therefore urge a more thorough discussion of the problems presented by the Committee on Propaganda. We could say much more upon this subject, but prefer to let the very able and hard-working Chairman of the Propaganda Committee advise you of his Committee's activity and what was accomplished.

GENERAL RESULTS OF THE YEAR'S WORK AND OUTLOOK FOR THE FUTURE

The work of the past year has not been so fruitful of results as your Committee had hoped for. It is perhaps hardly necessary to explain that some of the problems which engaged the time and attention of the Executive Committee cannot be solved within the N. A. R. D. year. Notably among these are questions of national legislation, which have during the year been the subject of continual attention in conjunction with the Committee on Legislation.

COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL LEGISLATION

The above Committee report is a very exhaustive one and covers a broad field. Its length is such, however, that we cannot reprint it here, and while it is probably more important to the trade than any work accomplished by the Association, much of the information was made public from time to time during the year and is therefore now common knowledge.

The report outlines the plan adopted for securing the aid of the druggists themselves to further legislative matters. The plan was to organize each state so that every Senator and Congressman could be quickly reached by one of his own constituents. This was done in several states. In others lists of active druggists were made which enabled the Committee to keep in close touch with the trade in all localities. The result was a great help in securing the assistance of legislators.

The report takes up the Harrison Bill and recites the history of its various amendments and the arguments on it in the Drug Trade Conference, with which our readers are already familiar.

Price-maintenance bills, including the Stevens, Clapp, Metz, Covington, and Newlands, are fully discussed and the Committee's efforts to secure or prevent their enactment reviewed.

tax mail The Hinebaugh Bill to order houses, amendments to the Pure Food and Drugs Law, the Net-weight law, Insecticides law, and Shirley amendment, all come in for a more or less exhaustive report.

The Hughes-Bacon Bill to better the condition of pharmacists in the Army, the pure advertising law, national prohibition, the Owen Bill, Trading Stamps, parcel post limitation, one cent postage, postal sub-stations, etc., are all discussed in the report.

Under the head of Court Decisions, the report reviews some decisions by the U. S. Supreme Court, which have a bearing on legislation in which the drug trade is interested. The repeal of the Guaranty Clause in the Food and Drugs Law is gone into to some length. A Treasury decision on which the retail trade is more or less uncertain is:

TREASURY DECISION 33456

This decision was promulgated May 28, 1913. It provides for a sworn declaration of all

purchasers of cocaine, coca or any of their products, to the effect that such drugs are intended for use not injurious to the public health; that a complete record will be kept of their disposition, and that the purchaser will secure from every person to whom any of the drugs are sold, a like sworn declaration. Should this declaration be enforced to the end, cocaine, coca or any preparations of the same, could not be sold on a physicians' prescription without a sworn declaration of the same form, made by the ultimate consumer. Other minor regulations are embodied in the declaration. If this declaration could be enforced, there would be no need of a "Harrison Anti-narcotic Bill." In reply to an inquiry, a letter was received July 2, 1914, from the Bureau of Chemistry, stating that the "regulation is in force at the present time." It is said that it is enforced so far as the importer is concerned, but on account of its doubtful legality, no attempt is made to enforce it further. The provisions of this decision are much more drastic than any bill that has yet been proposed.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Your committee submits the following summary of recommendations:

We recommend that the work of organizing a country wide auxiliary legislative committee be continued until every state and territory is so organized.

That we re-affirm our approval of the Harrison Bill, provided that its requirements are applicable to all alike.

That this Association heartily endorses the Stevens' Bill H. R. 13305, and will exert every effort to ensure its passage.

That the Association approves and will support the Hinebaugh Bill for the taxation of mail order business.

That this Association favors an amendment to the Food and Drugs Act that will establish a single standard for official drugs and preparations.

That this Association is strongly opposed to the further extension of the parcels post system, and is strongly opposed to the autocratic powers invested in the Post Office Department for making rules and regulations.

That this Association favors one-cent postage on first-class matter.

That this Association opposes the creation of a National Department of Health, unless pharmacy, as an allied profession, be recognized in its make-up.

That this Association urge upon the Revision Committee of the United States Pharmacopoeia, the desirability of providing for

an official form for tablets of bichloride of mercury.

That this Association is in favor of legislation that will forbid the distribution, in interstate commerce of convict-made goods.

That this Association heartily endorses the great work being done by the American Fair Trade League in the interest of Price Maintenance legislation.

That this Association instructs its Legislative Committee to cause the introduction into Congress, of a bill to provide for a nominal tax upon the sale of alcoholic liquors, when sold by pharmacists for medicinal, mechanical and scientific purposes only, and that a special stamp be issued for this purpose.

That this Association use every effort to the end that Treasury Decision No. 153 be so modified as to properly protect retailers.

That the Association continues its support of legislation to improve the condition of pharmacists in the army and navy of the United States.

That this Association approves of any legislation that will suppress fraudulent or misleading advertising.

SPECIAL ADDRESSES.

The Convention was addressed by Mr. Edward F. Trefz, Field Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce of the U. S. A. and Mr. William J. Burns, of the Burns Detective Agency, who advised of a plan by which druggists could be protected from blackmail.

Invitations were received for the 1915 convention from Denver, Chicago, New York, Mackinac Island, Mich., San New Francisco, Orleans, Colorado Springs, Oakland, Cal., Baltimore, Los Angeles, and Springfield, Mass. C. H. Huhn extended a cordial invitation on behalf of Minneapolis, which was warmly seconded by Charles Harding, of Ohio, and S. A. Eckstein, of Wisconsin. The various invitations were referred to the executive committee.

OFFICERS FOR 1914-1915.

President, Samuel C. Henry, Philadelphia; First Vice-President, A. S. Ludwig, St. Louis, Mo.; Second VicePresident, W. L. Humphrey, Huntsville, Ala.; Third Vice-President, T. C. Coltman, LaJunta, Colo.; Secretary, Thomas H. Potts, of the United States; Treasurer, Grant W. Stevens, Detroit, Mich.; Executive Committee-Chairman, C. H. Huhn,