MORNING SESSION, SEPTEMBER 8th, 1922
The Convention was called to order by the President at 9:30 o'clock A.
M.
THE PRESIDENT: After a night of good rest we are ready to proceed with our deliberations and as we have a lot to do we are going to try to push things along fast this morning.
Some of the papers have not arrived and some of the speakers will not be here. Senator Penney of Michigan wrote me that he was not only in rather poor health but he was in the midst of an election primary and that it would be impossible for him to be here but that he would endeavor to send a paper. I am sorry to say that it has not arrived.
I was pretty sure that ex-President Linton would be here. But I have a telegram from him this morning saying it is absolutely impossible and that he, too, hasn't had any time to prepare a paper. Mr. Linton is a very busy man and about the only way to get a rise out of him is by wire. I have written him three times and wired him five times. Finally I succeeded in getting a telegram from him this morning. I was particularly anxious that he and Senator Penney be here to discuss the roadside planting of nut trees and the legislation of Michigan in that regard, believing that such aid would materially help us in getting other states interested along the same line. I'm sorry, therefore, that they are not here.
This telegram from Mr. Linton, received this morning, reads as follows:
"Expected until yesterday that I would get to Rochester convention but am bitterly disappointed in being unable to do so owing to fatal illness of chairman of our state commission, whose called meetings and pendent duties have fallen upon me. Senator Penney is in midst of strenuous primary campaign closing Monday and can not leave and Mr. Beck is in hospital recovering from operation. So your Saginaw trio, positively with you in spirit and good wishes, is held here this time absolutely and all regret the situation beyond measure. I expressed to you yesterday, prepaid, the Washington walnuts, fine young trees only eighteen months old, and will replace them next spring if necessary. Penney and Beck join me in sincerely desiring the success of your convention and extending kind regards to you and those present, all of whom we hope to meet another year.
WM. S. LINTON.
The trees we are going to plant tomorrow morning, if these seedlings get
here, are grown from nuts furnished Mr. Linton by the superintendent of
Mount Vernon. Last year we planted some in one of the parks at
Lancaster.
I will ask Mr. Vollertsen to read his paper now.