Correspondence to Dr. Albert Leffingwell, August 8, 1903

Bristol Ferry R.I.August,8,1903.

Dear Dr. Leffingwell:-

In your recent letter you speak of the selection of 5 directors I notice that you have only men on your board of directors. I do not speak because I wish to be a director, or wish to have anything to do with the society,I assure you I do not,but I thought it would be well to have some woman on the board but do not think it best to have Mrs. Caroline Earle White.

It may not however be best to have any woman on the board I onluy offer this as a suggestion.

Have you heard whether anything has been done in regard to the incorporation of the American Humane Association? You will remember that the matter was deferred because it was thought best to send notice of the proposed incoeporation to all the Humane Societies.

It seems to me that there is great need of having a National Society that is incorporated to receive bequests and look after matters that cannot be,or will not be attended to by the societies in the different states. I think if we had a National Bureau at Washington there might be still room for a National Humane Sciety. The National Bureau will be opposed by Mr. Jenkins, Dr. Stillman and others,whether they would oppose the National Society I do not know, but it is probable that Mr. Jenkins and Mr. Gerry would oppose anything they fancied might receive contributions that would otherwise be given to the New York Society.

I think that we should be prepared to do something at the next convention and I wish that we might have a meeting sometime soon,either the last of this month or the first of September. We could meet in Boston or I would be glad to have the meeting here. Board at reasonable rates could be obtained at Willow Brook Farm and of course I could provide

Dr. Leffingwell 2.

the place of meeting. I do not mean that we should invite all of the Executive Committee but have those of us present who would be especially interested in the formation of a National Humane Society.

I think also that we should be prepared to appoint a secretary if Mr. Taber refuses to continue to act as secretary. I have some one in mind who might make a very good secretary if sufficient salary could be raised.

I feel very much disappointed in what has been done,or rather what has not been done by the American Humane Association this last year; no circulars were sent out as were in previous years asking for contributions for the organization work. Mrs. Rood has done valuable work but they are not employing her at present and she could be employed to the advantage.

It seems to me that the American Humane Association amounts to very little;we go once a year at great expense and sometimes spend the time in a very unsatisfactory way. There should be an active National Humane Society working all the year round. Something should be done in regard to the freezing and starving cattle on the plains, in regard to Transportation of Cattle etc.

I intend to write to Mr. Taber and Mr. Brown suggesting that we do not spend so much money this year for a stenographer. The expense of the journey of the stenographer to the place of meeting is considerable. We surely do not need a stenographer all the time as abstracts of the papers could be prepared and an expert local stenographer could be found in the place where the Association meets at comparatively small expense. It woud not only save the expense of the journey but would save the board of the stenographer which is probably one item that makes the charges so high and with the money saved I think we would [written over] might be able to keep an organizer at work for a month at least.

Dr. Leffingwell,3.

If you agree with me I wish you would also write to Mr. Taber without mentioning me and I think I will wait before saying much to him to know what you write to him. I have an idea it will have more effect if the proposition comes from you about that & the meeting here also.

Please do not use the yellow paper when you write to me as it is so trying on my eyes.

I do not think it is necessary to have every word we say reported in fact I think it would be better not to do this and we would not need to have such a large report printed & save money in that also.

Yr S. J. E.