114 



TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 



funds, would make eight hundred dol- 

 lars to begin with. When this fund 

 shall be depleted to one hundred dol- 

 lars, or less, an assessment would be 

 necessary to replenish the fund. Some 

 by-laws would be necessary. For in- 

 stance, after the charter members, no 

 member would receive benefits for the 

 first six months of his membership. 

 This feature would protect the old 

 members against some one already in 

 trouble dropping in. Neither should 

 a new member be liable for an assess- 

 ment during the first six months of 

 his membership. 



This whole matter can easily be 

 worked out if it is thought best to 

 undertake it, and the National manage- 

 ment are willing to go ahead and work 

 out the scheme as soon as the mem- 

 bers request it. 



I have been drifting from the sub- 

 ject, but to return. The members are 

 now buying their tin and glass for 

 containers of extracted honey at about 

 25 per cent less money than before 

 the National undertook the supplying 

 of the members with these goods. The 

 members present ai'e asked to kindly 

 give the National credit for this sav- 

 ing to them. 



On June 1, 1912, the Directors of the 

 National bought the Bee-Keepers' Re- 

 view for the members. Since that time 

 the Review has paid all expenses of 

 the National, besides paying for its 

 own publication, with very bright pros- 

 pects ahead for the future. 



The directors do not claim any very 

 great credit for their part in the trans- 

 action, for we know very well that this 

 could not have been achieved had it 

 not been for the very loyal support of 

 the members, for which the nianage- 

 ment is very grateful indeed: 



In closing, I cordially invite ever'*' 

 member present to meet with us in 

 Cincinnati, February 12-13, 1913. 

 As ever yours, 



E. W. TOWNSEND. 



Pres. Huffman — You have heard he 

 reading of the paper; it is open for 

 discussion. You may ask any ques- 

 tions you may see fit to. There are 

 some questions he has suggested that 

 might be well for us to take up and 

 discuss. I think perhaps some of the 

 members may look at it a little dif- 

 ferently than he does; I do for one. 



I want to say in regard to this 

 paper — don't be afraid to ask questions 

 and tell what j-ou think, because of the 



fact that this letter is from one of 

 the directors of the National Associa- 

 tion. They are our servants, and if 

 they do not suit us, let them know it. 

 If you have anything to say for or 

 against, make your appeal now. 



Mr. Dadant — In one place in the 

 paper you will notice that Mr. Towns- 

 end said he asked for a price on a 

 carlot of bee supplies for his members. 

 As you all know, I am connected with 

 a bee supply manufacturer, and ought 

 not to have anything to say, but I know 

 how those things are handled. Bee 

 supply manufacturers, such as the A. 

 I. Root Company, and Lewis, have 

 their jobbers throughout the country, 

 and they have gone to no little trouble 

 to work up a trade so that they could 

 handle the stuff in carload lots and 

 distribute it. If the factory had gone 

 to work and sold these supplies, the 

 Association would simply put their 

 jobber out of that much trade; the 

 jobber would have had to live on what 

 little trade he could get up, when the 

 people wanted a few sections or a few 

 'ives, as the case may be. 



Mr. Huffman — If jou will permit me 

 to say a few words, I want to say this 

 in\ regard to this . same question that 

 the secretary has been talking about: 

 Circulars were sent to cur section of 

 the country, claiming that certain 

 goods could be bought cheaper, and a 

 better article. We in our section of 

 the country investigated, to a certain 

 extent, and found out that the can 

 they recommended, as to the number 

 and quality, was light in weight. 

 Heavier weight could be bought for 

 less money. If there 'is anything to 

 what they claim, I would like to have 

 them explain where it is, and how it is. 



To change over to another thought 

 in this paper, as I remember it, some 

 twenty years ago, in the state of Wis- 

 consin, at Richland Center, the Na- 

 tional was organized for the benefit 

 of its members and to protect and in- 

 sure them against any trouble. It was 

 started for that purpose and it was 

 kept up along that line all these years, 

 until the new constitution came up, 

 and now they want to make a new 

 association, and we pay one dollar. 

 Are we going to do this simply because 

 they want more money? I say no. If 

 our National Association cannot be 

 run for what it was organized, and 

 for -what it was intended, I for one 

 don't want anything of that kind. 



