Mr. Snow of Rochester.-I am sure it is the desire of this Convention to have a permanent organization as speedily as possible. We have no time, gentlemen, to waste in complimentary votes or useless balloting. We are fortunate in having one member whose fitness for the high office of President is recognized by us all, a man of large experience, a man of sound judgment, a lawyer, a financier, and a public servant of tried capacity.

Mr. Snow of Rochester moved that the Convention proceed to the election of a President of the Convention, and that the temporary secretary be instructed to cast one ballot as the ballot of the Convention for Hon. Albert O. Brown of Manchester for President of the Convention. The motion was seconded by Mr. Harry W. Spaulding, Manchester.

Question being on the motion of Mr. Snow of Rochester,

On a viva voce vote, the motion of Mr. Snow of Rochester was adopted.

and Hon. Albert O. Brown of Manchester was declared elected President of the Convention.

Messrs. Streeter of Concord and Hutchins of Stratford were appointed to conduct the President-elect to the chair.

(The President in the Chair.)

On assuming the chair, Mr. Brown addressed the Convention as follows:

GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION:

To be selected to preside over the deliberations of those to whom the people of New Hampshire have delegated the power to revise their ancient Constitution is a great honor. In the nature of things, it can come to few men. Indeed, the roll of Convention Presidents for the whole period of the history of the State bears but nine names. For the place you have assigned to me

in this honorable succession I return my sincere thanks and my promise of faithful service.

This Convention has fallen upon solemn times. The nations are at war. Upon the ocean and upon the fields of France, our first ally, we are face to face with a formidable and malign enemy, whose purpose is the spoilation of the world. Should this design seem incredible, it is only necessary to remember that the plunder of contiguous peoples and the annexation of their territory have for more than two hundred years been the business and pastime of the Kingdom of Prussia. Meanwhile, by force and diplomacy based on force she has consolidated nearly thirty states into the foremost military power of this or any age.

It is not strange that the warlike plans of a people of such antecedents and achievements should be broad and comprehensive, if not universal. That they extend at least to us has been established out of the mouth of him who alone can make war in their support. And he has proved his words by monstrous deeds. He has destroyed our people without regard to sex or age as, exercising the rights of neutrals, they sailed the open seas. He filled our land with spies, sowed the seeds of insurrection among us, and urged other nations to attack us while his accredited representatives were yet guests in our official family. Insult followed insult and injury followed injury, until from self-respect and in self-defense we turned from the arts of peace to the arts of war.

From the first our sympathy went out to those who were struggling against the common enemy of free governments; but sentiment was powerless in the presence of unconscionable profits. Year in and year out a great fleet and great armies withstood a military machine that seemed to be irresistible and saved our shores from harm. And we accepted the benefit but declined the burden of the service. Moreover, although in our own person we were smitten on the one cheek, we failed to protect the other. It is plain we cannot regain our former position of influence and advantage, but we can in a large measure atone for our defaults. We can as one man the more fully devote our time, our means and our all to the everlasting defeat of the policy of "blood and iron."

Once in every generation America has fought a great war and concluded peace, but she has never concluded peace except upon her own terms. She is determined not to do so now, and she has counted the cost. So far the Germans and their subordinates have more than held their own with the allies. They are not greatly weakened in numbers, are not naked or hungry or

ill equipped.

On the other hand, it may be doubted whether they have passed their highest efficiency. In addition to their own ample resources in men and materials, they now have behind them and largely at their command all those of eastern Europe and western Asia, the extent of which it is difficult to comprehend. But America is in the war and must "see it through."

But upon

A crisis is impending. It may be one of many. success or failure of this season's campaign the final result is likely to depend. America can decide the issue. Her men, her money and her supplies, if in sufficient quantity, will turn the tide. It is our duty to make the quantity sufficient, and there is little room for any activity that does not in some degree contribute to that end.

What action this Convention shall take in the premises is for you to determine. It is not probable, however, that any proposed change in our fundamental law can be supported as a Therefore it must be agreed that as little time as possible should be spent here and none whatever wasted. Within this limitation several courses suggest themselves, any one of which it is safe to pursue. But the Convention is entirely in

war measure.

your hands and I await your pleasure.

On motion of Mr. Streeter of Concord, the following resolution was adopted:

Resolved, That Messrs. A. Chester Clark of Concord and Bernard W. Carey of Newport be elected Secretary and Assistant Secretary of the Convention respectively by accla

mation.

Messrs. A. Chester Clark of Concord and Bernard W. Carey of Newport appeared and qualified as Secretary and Assistant Secretary respectively.

On motion of Mr. Quimby of Concord, the following resolution was adopted:

Resolved, That a committee, consisting of twenty delegates, each county to be represented thereon, be appointed by the Chair to select and report to the Convention the names of persons to fill the offices of Sergeant-at-Arms, Chaplain, four Doorkeepers, Warden of the Coat-Room, Assistant Warden of

the Coat-Room, an Official Stenographer, and an Assistant Stenographer.

The President appointed the following named gentlemen as members of such committee:

COMMITTEE ON PERMANENT ORGANIZATION.

Quimby of Concord.

Livingston of Manchester.
Entwistle of Portsmouth.

Cobleigh of Nashua.

Perkins of Antrim

Gray of Columbia.

Sherry of Dover.

Nute of Farmington.

Philbrook of Laconia.

McNally of Rollinsford.
Wellman of Keene.
Ball of Washington.

Connor of Manchester.

Sanders of Derry.

Perley of Enfield.

Edgerly of Tuftonborough.

Bilodeau of Rochester.

Head of Hooksett

Thompson of Concord.

Roy of Somersworth.

On motion of Mr. Gibson of Conway, the following resolution was adopted:

Resolved, That a committee of twenty delegates, each county to be represented thereon, be appointed by the Chair to report rules for the government of this Convention, and recommend methods of procedure, and until the report of this committee shall have been accepted and adopted the rules of the Convention of 1912 be adopted as the rules of this Convention.

The President appointed the following named gentlemen as members of such committee:

COMMITTEE ON RULES.

Gibson of Conway.

Sherman of Claremont.

George of Concord

Weston of Derry.

Wesley of Dover.

Childs of Henniker.

Mason of Keene.

Chase of Manchester.

Horan of Manchester.

Pike of Lisbon.

Pillsbury of Manchester.

Wescott of Rochester.

Thomas of Stratford.

Whitcomb of Stratham.

Stoddard of Portsmouth.

King of Walpole.

Paul of Claremont.

Lombard of Colebrook.

Robichaud of Nashua.
Young of Laconia.

Mr. Lyford of Concord offered the following resolution:

WHEREAS, The United States is engaged in a world war for the preservation of civilization and for the perpetuity of free institutions.

a war that will tax our resources to the utmost, a war that calls for the undivided loyalty and support of every citizen of the Republic, and the sacrifice of all material and personal considerations in the interest of humanity, and a war that has already brought German atrocities to our shores; and,

WHEREAS, Our thoughts are with our sons, our brothers and our kindred, who are shedding their blood on the bat