Remarks, Colonel John I. Martin
Col. Martin—Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen: For the very cordial manner in which you have carried out the suggestion made by our popular, esteemed and whole-souled President of the National Conservation Congress, the Hon. J. B. White, that I briefly address this association, and for your kind invitation, I return my most profound thanks.
Nowhere in this wide and extended country can there be found a grander association of noble, unselfish women, planning, acting, counseling upon the great subject of conservation of human life than this organization under whose auspices we are all assembled this evening. Nowhere can there be found an institution more efficient for good, more blessed in all its labors of love and humanity, more universal in its application to the advancement of love and sympathy, stimulating education, encouraging enlightenment and scientific and humane development and morality, than an institution of the character of this band of noble women, engaged in such a magnificent undertaking as your association promulgates. Fully appreciating the fact that as the world grows better and people become more educated and more honest in their endeavors to espouse the cause of the weak against the strong, and the right against the wrong, then such organizations as the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the National Conservation Congress will be heralded as the very acme of perfection along the lines of the contemplated work in which you are now engaged. (Applause.)
In all ages of the world chivalry has yielded to feminine beauty, patriotism, loyalty and devotion, and I am sure that our popular President, Captain White, his efficient officers and all the members of the National Conservation Congress are at all times ready to listen to advice and counsel from the fair sex, and to surrender with wise discretion to all her laudable undertakings. (Applause.) Wherever cheeks have turned pale with waiting, weeping and watching, there was woman’s presence to cheer, to comfort and to save, and in her garden of the sun heaven’s brightest rose is yet to bloom, and when it comes it will be the bright-hued mission of a heavenly charity. The poets have sung no truer rhyme than that inscribed by one of your own number:
“Woman, not she with trait’rous lips her Savior stung,
Not she denied him with unholy tongue,
She, when Apostles shrunk, did dangers brave,
Last at the cross, and earliest at the grave.”
God Almighty, in his crowning work of creation, gave woman to man, made weakness her strength, modesty her citadel, truth, gentleness and love her attributes, and the heart of man her throne. (Applause.)
The Chairman—The meeting will stand adjourned.
[TENTH SESSION.]
The Congress convened in the Murat Theater, on the morning of October 4, 1912. It was called to order by President White.
President White—We will put things through on the ten-minute plan this morning, so as to give every one a chance who has a place on the program. Today we have reports from the committees, and elect our officers. We can then get ready for another Congress, for we are all going into the field, we are going to work for Conservation, and the whole country is going to take it up. We will give them the text, and the press will take it up, the politicians will take it up, and we will each be a committee of one to go forth through the country and make this Conservation idea a potent force that will change and correct legislation for the benefit of all the people. (Applause.)
Mr. A. B. Farquhar, who was to speak this morning, spoke yesterday, and therefore his address, for which a great many expected to be present, will be printed and you will have an opportunity to read it. Every one should subscribe for as many copies of the Proceedings as he can afford, for distribution among friends. It is without doubt going to prove to be the greatest book on conservation of human life that has ever been written. These papers are scholarly, and they are true, and the truth will prevail if we can only get people to read and to think. We want to give you all an opportunity to subscribe for this publication, which will be published as soon as possible, and will only cost one dollar, and those who pay this dollar will be entitled to membership in this organization next year, so that if your Mayor, or your Governor, or your civic body does not reappoint you, you are sure of membership next year, because you have paid in your dollar and subscribed for the book.
Dr. Livingston Farrand, of New York, will now speak to us on “The Problem of Tuberculosis.”