ciety, announced the program of the evening, "The Constitutional Conventions of the State." In the absence of Judge Lake, the first paper of the evening was presented by Judge Wakeley on "The Defeated Constitution of 1871." Other papers were presented on the convention of 1875. The first, by Judge Broady, considered especially "The One-Night Constitution"; the second, by Judge W. M. Robertson, discussed the debate on the "Separate Propositions," that were subImitted to the vote of the people, in regard to the election of senators by popular vote and location of the capital.

Judge Wakeley then gave a brief discussion of the reasons for the defeat of the Constitution of 1871. There being no other business, an adjournment to 8:00 o'clock on Wednesday evening, January 13, 1904, was taken.

H. W. CALDWELL, Secretary.

R. W. FURNAS, President.

Lincoln, January 13, 1904.

The adjourned meeting of the Historical Society was called to order at 8:25 P.M. by President Hon. R. W. Furnas.

The program of the evening consisted of a round table on the Convention of 1875, under the guidance of Hon. J. L. Webster, of Omaha, who was president of the Convention of 1875. Mr. Webster opened the discussion by noting the conditions in the state in 1875, and the effects on the character of the constitution formed. He then called on various persons who were members of the convention to give their recollections of the various movements in and the decisions of the convention.

Judge J. H. Broady was first called on, but he asked to be excused as his paper of the previous evening contained his contribution, and now he preferred to hear from others. Hon. C. H. Gere was then called on. Mr. Gere discussed the reasons for the incorporation of various features peculiar to the Constitution of 1875, and found them in the conditions of the state at the time. Judge S. B. Pound then gave an

account of his experiences in the convention of 1875 and especially discussed the struggle over salaries for state and judicial officers. After Mr. J. A. Barrett had made a statement in regard to letters received from members of the convention who found it impossible to be present, Hon. M. B. Reese made a very interesting talk on the personnel and discussions of the convention. After a few remarks by various members of the Society Mr. Webster made a few additional observations and brought a very successful discussion to a close.

BUSINESS MEETING.

Mr. A. E. Sheldon called attention to certain documents of very peculiar origin and interest, but found no one who could throw additional light on their meaning.

On motion roll call was then dispensed with, the minutes were read, corrected in one item by Mr. C. S. Lobingier, and were approved.

Mr. Barrett's annual report as curator and librarian was then presented, and on motion placed on file. The Treasurer's report was read, received, and adopted. The Secretary then made a report as chairman of the publication committee and asked the desire of the Society in regard to publishing the material on the constitutional conventions of the state. After some discussion and several motions, the committee was instructed to edit and publish the material in full, subject to its judgment, to omit any immaterial matter.

Mr. A. E. Sheldon moved resolutions on the deaths of Gen. Victor Vifquain and L. B. Treeman, which were read and adopted.

The Secretary was instructed, on motion of Mr. Broady, to formulate plans for keeping a record of the deaths of members of the Society, to be reported on at the annual meeting each year.

The Treasurer called attention to the fact that many persons whose names were proposed from time to time failed for

some reason to pay their initiation fee, and thus their names did not get on the permanent roll of the Society.

The Secretary read the report of Mr. W. W. Cox in regard to the preparation of the Morton tablet to be placed in the grove of giant trees in California.

"MILLER, NEBRASKA, JANUARY, 6, 1904. "To the President and Secretary of the State Historical Society of Nebraska:

"Your committee appointed to secure a bronze tablet in memory of our late honored President, Hon. J. Sterling Morton, and have it placed on one of the great redwood trees at Santa Cruz, California, beg leave to report as follows:

"After much correspondence between the members of the committee, and also with the family of the deceased and a host of his personal friends, your committee contracted with the White Bronze Company of Des Moines, Iowa, for a tablet two feet square and three-eighths inch thick, with the following inscription: on the upper left-hand corner, these words, 'Plant truths'; on the upper right corner, 'Plant trees.'

"In memory of J. Sterling Morton, Father of Arbor Day. Born Apr. 22nd 1832

Died Apr. 27th 1902.

'By order Nebraska Historical Society.'

"Cost of tablet was $30 delivered in Lincoln, Nebraska. "It would have been very agreeable to your committee if it had been possible to send a member to California to make a proper presentation, but the means to bear the expense was not at their command. The Santa Fe R. R. Co. kindly offered transportation from Kansas City to San Francisco and return, but the other expenses of from $40 to $50 were not at our command. We prepared an address to the people of California with the view of having the tablet placed on last Arbor Day, and the tablet was forwarded to the mayor of Santa Cruz, but it arrived too late for that, and then we ordered it held for the Society to take further action.

"Your committee corresponded with the President of the United States, with Secretary Wilson, Governor Mickey, and all the living ex-Governors of our state, with the Governor of. California, and other distinguished citizens, and we now hold

very many responses, to be used when the tablet is placed and afterward to become the property of our Society. The letters of President Roosevelt and Secretary Wilson are very pathetic and worthy a place among our treasures.

"Your committee would like to complete arrangements to present the tablet to the people of California and place it upon the grand tree, with fitting ceremonies next Arbor Day, April 22.

"Respectfully submitted,

"W. W. Cox, "Chairman Committee."

This report was ordered received and filed. The President then spoke briefly on the Morton memorial at Nebraska City, stating that about $1,500 was on hand, and the Association hoped to add $5,000 more. After a brief discussion it was concluded that the finances of the Society prevented it from making any contribution at this time, especially as so few members were present.

The names of the following persons were proposed for membership, and on motion the Secretary was instructed to cast the vote in their favor, which was done:

C. E. Persinger, Lincoln.
L. E. Aylsworth, Lincoln.
Mrs. E. E. Blackman, Lin-
coln.

C. S. Allen, Lincoln.
A. R. Talbot, Lincoln.
H. K. Wolfe, Lincoln.
L. Stephens, Lincoln.
R. Pound, Lincoln.
W. O. Jones, Lincoln.
Mrs. H. H. Wheeler, Lincoln.
Rev. F. S. Stein, Lincoln.
Lee Estelle, Omaha.
M. L. Learned, Omaha.

H. P. Leavitt, Omaha.

Joseph H. Millard, Omaha.
Rev. John Broz, Dodge.
R. Dibbles, Beatrice.
Milo Hodgkins, Beatrice.
Mrs. Robert Grey, Schuyler.
C. E. Rice, Blue Springs.
Frank Dunham, Roca.
E. H. Clarke, Ft. Calhoun.
P. Edgar Adams, Paxton.
C. B. Letton, Fairbury.
W. J. Whitmore, Valley.
Mrs. W. J. Whitmore, Valley.
Otis Allis, Council Bluffs,

(Honorary.)

On motion the Secretary was ordered to cast the unanimous vote of the Society in favor of the reelection of the present officers. Under this vote the following persons were elected for the year 1904-5:

R. W. Furnas, Brownville.

C. S. Lobingier, Omaha..
H. T. Clarke, Omaha...

C. H. Gere, Lincoln...
H. W. Caldwell, Lincoln.

President

First Vice-President Second Vice-President

Treasurer
Secretary

On motion of Mr. H. T. Clarke, as there was no other business to come before the Society, adjournment was taken. H. W. CALDWELL, Secretary.

TWENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING, 1905.

Lincoln, January 10, 1905.

The regular annual meeting of the State Historical Society met in Memorial Hall, University of Nebraska, at 8:15 P.M. and was called to order by President R. W. Furnas. Invocation was then offered by Rev. Mr. Marsh. As there was no business to be transacted the Secretary in a few words introduced the first speaker of the evening, President Furnas, who addressed the Society on the "Past and Future of the Historical Society." Governor Furnas dwelt especially on the history of the "Historical Block" in the city of Lincoln, and pointed out the need of more room in order that the Society may perform its work properly. After the reading of this valuable paper the President called on Dr. Geo. L. Miller, who addressed the Society on the early history of the state and some of the men who laid its foundations. Owing to the lateness of the hour the paper by Judge John H. Ames was read by title, and in the absence of Judge Ames, presented to the Society to be printed. Mr. Sheldon then gave