June 25, 1903. 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



405 



[ Convention Proceedings ] 



Chicago-Northwestern Convention. 



Report of the Chicag-o-Northwestern Bee-Keep- 

 ers' Convention, held in Chicago, 

 Dec. 3 and 4, 1902. 



BY OUR OWN SHORTHAND REPORTER. 



(Continued from page 391.) 



Pres. York— We have spent a good deal of time on this 

 subject, and Mr. Moore has an article somewhat along this 

 same line. After he has read it, we will take up the question- 

 box. We will now listen to Mr. Moore : 



THE FUTURE OF THE NATIONAL, AND THE DUTY OF 

 AFFILIATED ASSOCIATIONS. 



The future of the National Bee-Keepers' Association is 

 a theme that is of interest to all of us. Two years ago we 

 raised the war-cry of "1000 members for the National !" and 

 now we have it. Let us, here and now, in this Great City, 

 at the center of population and energy for the Great West, 

 raise high the cry "10,000 members for the National I" 



And shall we not have it ? Is there any impossibility 

 inherent in this high aim ? Let us consider for awhile a 

 few phases of the question. 



The United States Department of Agriculture reported 

 that in this country there are over 700,000 who are engaged 

 in apiculture on a large or small scale. 



The bee-hive factories and supply dealers are sending 

 out their catalogs to from 150,000 to 200,000 different ad- 

 dresses. 



The bee-periodicals have about 25,000 paid subscribers. 

 Is there anything impossible or wonderful in an asso- 

 ciation of io,ooo members from this host of over half a mill- 

 ion strong. 



So it is settled that we are to have 10,000 members in 

 our National organization in the near future. The Good 

 Book says, " According to your faith be it unto you ;" and 

 our faith is more than equal to this height. 



We shall proceed to mention a few of the steps up to 

 the full realization of high ideals. 



First, at the election for General Manager held this 

 month, let us elect to this high oflfice the best man in our 

 ranks, regardless of location, controversies, or any other 

 disturbing element that may seem to complicate the situa- 

 tion. The only one thing that should be considered is. Who 

 will serve the National best, and lead her up to the highest 

 points of success and influence? Then having recorded the 

 will of the majority, let our whole 1000 officers and members 

 go forward in the New Year, resolved to put petty differ- 

 ences and jealousies behind them, and work for great things 

 for the bee-keeping world. 



Publicity and promotion are, in any business enter- 

 prise, of first importance. At the World's Fair held in our 

 city in 1893, Moses P. Handy was employed at a salary of 

 about 310,000 a year, and his sole function was to let the 

 world in all languages know what we were doing and pro- 

 posed to do at Chicago. No doubt the Great Fair would 

 have been a failure without the Bureau of Publicity and 

 Promotion. 



We are now in the 20th Century, and 20th Century 

 methods must prevail. 



Our opportunities are great, our field of usefulness is 

 large — wide as the Nation. 



We must succeed grandly, or disgracefully fail ; there 

 is no middle ground. 



We must have our " Bureau of Publicity and Promo- 

 tion " if we are to achieve great things. 



Let every bee-paper in the land run a column in every 

 issue, headed, "What the National is Doing." Let the 

 officers, especially the General Manager, be responsible for 

 the supply of copy to every bee-paper in America, small and 

 large. 



In the opinion of the writer, hundreds are waiting to 

 see the National do things, before putting in their dollars to 

 help. 



You can see by the quantity of material submitted in 



the annual repor' what a large amount of readable copy 

 could be made, and the skeptics would be speedily convinced 

 that the National was doing things, and could also be 

 trusted to do more in the future. 



Therefore, let the National advertise, and advertise 

 largely, and I venture to say that no bee-paper in the land 

 would render a bill for space. 



The National Association must in the future rise to a 

 sense of its responsibilities and privileges as never before. 

 It must look forward, and up, to plans and aims that may 

 seem now out of reach. 



In nearly every State in the Union laws are made to 

 protect the interests of bee-keepers. It takes lots of money 

 to influence legislation. 



Look at Illinois. No foul brood law ; no spraying-in- 

 fruit-bloom law. It is distinctly one of the functions of a 

 National organization to get laws that are needed by bee- 

 keepers passed in all the States. 



An Association of 5000 to 10,000 members, and having 

 the power to levy assessments for proper objects, can raise 

 all the funds necessary to put needed laws on the statute 

 books in every State. 



I am no prophet, nor even the son of one, but I venture 

 that there will be no lack of members and money to accom- 

 plish any lawful end, when bee-keepers all over the land 

 realize that the National is going to do things on a scale 

 commensurate with the size and wealth of our beloved 

 country. 



One of the laws greatly needed is a law of Congress 

 forbidding the use of the word " Honey " on anything ex- 

 cept real honey gathered by honey-bees. 



Right here I want to whisper that this is a land and an 

 age of majorities, and if you wish to lead it is wise to take 

 your hat in hand, and say to the great body of the plain 

 people, who finally settle everything in this country, " Sirs, 

 what are your wishes ?" 



I will pass along to my next head : 



THE DUTY OF AFFILIATED ASSOCI.\TIONS. 



This was one of the greatest and wisest laws ever passed 

 by our governing body, allowing any association to join in 

 a body at half price. This has helped to the 1000 mark. 

 'Our General Manager will confer a favor on us all by giving 

 the total of members affiliated in this way since the law 

 was passed. 



Let us not think that our duty is done when we pay our 

 dollar. Every member must have and feel a personal inter- 

 est in the work of the National. Any General Manager will 

 welcome letters from the members with suggestions as to 

 any phase of our work. 



Let us talk up the National to our bee-keeping friends. 

 Urge them to send in their dollar right away. Tell them 

 they never know when trouble may come, and then it is too 

 late. 



Suppose every one of our 1000 should be a committee of 

 one to get new members, does any one doubt that we could 

 average two new members for each old member ? and lo, 

 we have 3000 members ! Next year we have 27,000 members. 



How important it is to get the membership aroused to 

 action. No one person can do it all, but " united we stand," 

 and nothing is impossible for us. No argument is neces- 

 sary to prove that all questions are safe in the hands of the 

 people, and sure to be decided rightly, if the majority really 

 speaks. Therefore, let all aftiliated associations send in to 

 the General Manager nominations for all offices in the gift 

 of the Association. 



I need hardly mention as one of our duties, to join 

 promptly again on expiration of membership, and remit 

 promptly for the same. For only with the " sinews of war " 

 can we do battle for the right and the interests of bee-keep- 

 ers. Herman F. Moore. 



WINTERING BEES ON HONEY-DEW. 



"Having nothing but a crop of honey-dew, how can I 

 winter my bees on it?" 



Dr. Miller — The first thing to know is whether that 

 honey-dew is of the kind that kills bees. In some places 

 they winter successfully on it. If the questioner has had 

 experience with it he will know. 



Pres. York— He can probably tell better next spring. 



Dr. Miller — He may have tried in past years. 



Mr. Wilcox — I had a very little experience with it, but I 

 am rather inclined to the opinion that something can be 

 done toward helping it by feeding sugar syrup. When that 

 brood hatches out, feed sugar enough until they care for 

 themselves, and they will get through the winter. 



Mr. Watts — Some seven or eight years ago this occurred 



