OF THE AMERICAN HUMANE 1896-'97. ASSOCIATION: PRESIDENT: JOHN G. SHORTALL, 560 Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Ill. SECRETARY: FRANCIS H. ROWLEY, 163 Winter St., Fall River, Mass.* TREASURER: E. C. PARMELEE, Room 317, City Hall, Cleveland, O. GEORGE T. ANGELL, CALEB S. DENNY, RODNEY DENNIS, VICE-PRESIDENTS: Boston, Mass. New York, N. Y. Detroit, Mich. Chicago, Ill. Philadelphia, Pa. Cleveland, O. Providence, R. I. New York, N. Y. San Francisco, Cal. Indianapolis, Ind. Toledo, O. Canton, O. Brooklyn, N. Y. Philadelphia, Pa. Milwaukee, Wis. Denver, Col. Albany, N.Y. Louisville, Ky. Dedham, Mass. Mobile, Ala. Hartford, Conn. New Orleans, La. Chicago, Ill. Buffalo, N. Y. New Orleans, La. MRS. CAROLINE EARLE WHITE, MRS. LILY LORD TIFFT, ROBERT J. WILKIN, JAMES M. BROWN, JENKIN LLOYD JONES, MRS. MARY F. LOVELL, Chairmen EXECUTIVE Chicago, Ill. Philadelphia, Pa. Buffalo, N. Y. Brooklyn, N. Y. Toledo, O. Chicago, Jik Bryn Mawr, Pa A. S. PRATT, E. A. ROCKWOOD, MISS GEORGIANA KENDALL, COMMITTEE: E. FELLOWS JENKINS, Washington, D. C. Salem, N. H. Cincinnati, O. Nashville, Tenn. Henderson, Ky. Washington, D. C. Milwaukee, Wis. Ft. Wayne, Ind. Nashville, Tenn. Minneapolis, Minn. South Bend, Ind. Colorado Springs, Col. Pittsburgh, Pa. Chicago, Ill. Philadelphia, Pa. New York, N. Y. Philadelphia, Pa. Cleveland, O. Nashville, Tenn. Aurora, N. Y. Louisville, Ky. Cincinnati, Ŏ. ALBERT LEFFINGWELL, M.D., AND THE PRESIDENT. SUB-EXÉCUTIVE COMMITTEE: JAMES M. BROWN, MRS. CAROLINE EARLE WHITE, E. FELLOWS JENKINS, Toledo . Philadelphia, la, 'New York, N. Y *Attention is called to the change in the Secretary's address. TWENTIETH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN HUMANE ASSOCIATION; HELD AT CLEVELAND, OHIO, SEPTEMBER FIRST DAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND. The twentieth annual convention of the American Humane Association was called to order at 10:30 A. M. in the Chamber of Commerce, Cleveland, Ohio, by the President, Mr. John G. Shortall, of Chicago, Ill. Prayer was offered by the Rev. Levi Gilbert, of Cleveland. The Mayor of Cleveland, Hon. Robt. E. McKisson, was then introduced, and, extending a hearty welcome to the delegates in behalf of the citizens of Cleveland, spoke in part as follows: "Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: It is with great pleasure that I come here this morning to bid you welcome to the city of Cleveland. In doing this I am not only expressing my own personal opinion of your work in these few words, but I am prompted by the feeling of all of our citizens of sympathy with your great movement. When we realize the amount of good you are doing for humanity, it is with a humble spirit we come before you and express our acknowledgments of our own shortcomings. When we also realize that your Society exists for the alleviation of the suffering at once of animals and children, it is with the highest pride of a citizen that we bid you to Cleveland with a hearty and cordial welcome. I want to congratulate you upon the work you have done, and I am sure, Mr. Chairman, you will be able to take care of it as time comes and the years roll by. May your deliberations be for the betterment of mankind and for the assistance of all, and when your labors are done, all must say that you have worked faithfully, loyally and well, at all times. "I bid you welcome to Cleveland, and may your sojourn be pleasant and profitable." The President acknowledged, on behalf of the delegates, the cordial welcome of his Honor, the Mayor, and addressed the convention as follows: THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. MR. MAYOR, AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: Upon the suggestion of certain gentlemen connected with the Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty, of that day, the American Humane Association was organized in this city of Cleveland nineteen years ago. It was at that time thought to be expedient for the promotion of the common work, as it was felt certain it would be for the pleasure of its annual associates, that representatives of the several societies for the prevention of cruelty should assemble, year by year, to meet one another and exchange experience; also, so that there might be personal knowledge and friendly association among the individual members, who, although laboring in fields remote from and often inaccessible to one another, were yet striving along common paths (often difficult and unfriendly) toward a common end: the recognition of the rights of dumb animals and helpless children and the enforcement of those rights. Certainly no more unselfish motive could be dreamed of to actuate, to grace, to inform humanity, than that which lies at the roots of these beneficent activities. Founded thus, and sustained in a spirit of philanthropy and of humble devotion to the principles of life and love that guide them, these humane societies are quickly known in their several communities as part of the great Good, whose birth-right is immortalitypart of that great "light that shines before men ;" and in every community, however few in number, or remote, we shall always find standing near to this Good, and for this Good, sponsors, through whose self-renunciation and quick benevolence its light shall be kept shining and guiding the feet of men. Beside the opportunity of counsel, one with another, for the common good, afforded by these annual meetings, there have come to us for discussion, and appropriate action thereupon, abuses of dumb animals-cruelties, some of which had no parallel in their generality and grossness, in any other civilization. Much has been done to relieve these, but much more remains. Amongst other national abuses those which occur in interstate and transatlantic transportation of cattle have had frequent consid |