The Washington times., 1912-09-10

NATIONAL DENTAL
ASSOCIATION OPENS
ANNUAL CONVENTION
Welcomed to Capital by Rep
resentative of the Com
= missionerS.

Without hitch. tug, jar. jolt. jerk,
pull. or strain, the sixteenth annual con-
vention of the National Dental Associ-
alton got under way at the New Will
lard at 10 o'clock this morning. Several
hundred delegates were seated In the
ballroom of the hotel when the program
began with the invocation by the Rev.
]. Henning Nelms, who appeared in
place of Bishop Harding, absent from
the city. DR.. William r. Tindall secre-
tary of the Board of Commissioners,
gave the address of welcome in place
of Commissioner Rudolph, who failed to
arrive In the city this morning. and the
annual address of the president of the
Dental Association. DR.. Arthur r. Mel
endy, of Knoxville, Tenn, was next in
order
/ Dr. Tindall summed up the profession
Of dentistry in the course of his ad-
dress by saying:
"It IS the happy opportunity of the
cry, but to facilitate the harmonious
working of the whole bodily economy
by keeping in order the machinery es-
sential to that end
DR.. Tindall Explains.
DR.. Tindall explained to the dentists
the nature of the government for which
he spoke
DR.. Frank o. Hetrick, Of Ottawa,
Kan, acknowledged the greeting of the
District government and then President
Melendy spoke, saying:
I'VE are proud of our National Capt.
tai. We are proud of its magnificent
system of parks. its broad boulevards,
beautiful homes, public buildings, art
galleries, impressive monuments, and,
above all, its splendid citizenship. That
1t Is now, or in the not distant future
will be, the most beautiful capital city
Of all nations, we firmly believe, and at
is a great privilege which we are enjoy
ing to meet under such auspicious en-
vironment."
vention, President Melendy declared in
favor of reorganizing the National
Dental Association along the lines of
the American Medical Association. If
this goes through. as is said to be likely,
dentists will not hereafter, as now, be
compelled to join both State and ma
tional associations, but by enrolling In
the State associations will become men,
bers of the national organization.
President Melendy warned the conven-
ton, however, against the threatened
reduction in revenue which the reor-
of t5e scheme mabd% f Is
this reorganization rather than reor-.
ganization in itself that differences of
opinion will be manifest at this conven-
ton and around which debate will rage.
Tribute to DR.. Donnally.
DR.. Melendy congratulated the dem
lists .n the abelishment of that part
of the contract system for dentists
In the army and navy, whereby these
dentists were not ranked as officers,
and he paid tribute to DR.. William
Donnally, Iof this city, among others,
for getting Congress to pass this leg
islation
- President Melendy urged the establish
ment by the association of a chair of
research, and suggested the appoint
ment of ways and means committee
of two members, one of whom shall be
a resident of Washington.
Section Meetings Begin.
Section Meetings of the association
began this afternoon with the assembly
of the first section. of which DR.. Wes-
ton A. Price, of Cleveland is chairman
Section two, of which Dr. Hetrick. OF
Ottawa. is. chairman, will meet at {
o'clock tonight One of the papers ther
to be'read is by DR.. B. Holly Smith, OF
Baltimore, who will talk on "Aristoc.
racy in Dentistry. Do We New It?"
Tomorrow section meetings will con
tinue. In the evening there will b.
meeting Of general public interest. a
upon the effects of impure foods anc
drugs upon the human system, and DR.
George z. Hunt, of Indianapolis. will
discuss Teeth and Health
Election of officers will come abou
Thursday. Friday is clinic day anc
that evening the Oral Hygiene Associa
tion will have meeting, at which man,
addresses on topics of public health will
be given"