■.rHE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW. 



231 



Most of these results are due to organiza- 

 tiu)t and combination. 



Small manufacturing concerns even if 

 they make fair dividends, are at the mercy 

 of the large concerns who rule the markets. 

 The large plants can emi)loy trained mana- 

 gers, superintendents, and run their con- 

 cerns more systematically ; by combining 

 together they are able to rule the wages paid 

 and the prices at which their product is sold, 

 within certain limits, depending a great deal 

 upon the thoroughness of their organiza- 

 tion. The money invested brings larger 

 returns because everything is planned to 

 bring the cost of production down to the 

 lowest limit and to sell the product for the 

 highest possible price. The large number 

 of corporations, stock companies, trusts, 

 etc., now in existence, prove that in " organ- 

 ization there is strength." 



The food we eat, clothing we wear, the 

 fuel many of us burn, material for houses, 

 farm injploments, etc., etc., are regulated, 

 more or less, by organized capital and deal- 

 ers. The wages of the laborer in the facto- 

 ries, etc., are regulated in a great measure by 

 what the capitalists will pay. The mechan- 

 ics are organizing in a desperate attempt to 

 get fair wages. The products of even the 

 farm are raised or lowered at the will of 

 combinations, la large cities the price of 

 milk is regulated to the producer, and con- 

 sumer by organized dealers. There are 

 some articles of minor importance or diffi- 

 cult to control, that as yet, suffer but little, 

 because cai)ital can make larger dividends, 

 in other investments. 



When we see how by orgauizition of cap- 

 ital and combination ot interests the pro- 

 ducer is mulcted, and the consumer forced 

 to pay more than a fair price : how vast for- 

 tunes have been squeezed from the "dear 

 people ;" how Presidents havd been made, 

 congress ruled, judges appointed, courts 

 run, cities debauched, political rings rul- 

 ing Cities, Counties, Townships, and States, 

 labor oppressed, wages lowered, prices 

 ruled, the laws juggled with, uatil the guilty 

 rich escape and are often pro'ected in their 

 r^iscality, while the poor are denied their 

 rigiits, we ought to realize ilrit "organiza- 

 tion is puwer.'^ 



Capital, controlled by but few (compar- 

 atively) and united in a desire to obtain all 

 the " Almighty dollars " possible is lavishly 

 expendetl to still further increase its power. 

 To prove this it is only necessary to look at 



the legislation of the past few years ; privi- 

 liges and donations without number have 

 been granted to corporations and rail roads, 

 manufacturing companies, etc. 



By organization politicians rule the coun- 

 try ; while the liquor dealers defy the laws. 



It seems to me that bee-keepers are so 

 nearly united in interests, that it should not 

 be hard to agree upon a practical, effective 

 organization. Our products are not imme- 

 diately perishable, the crops of honey and 

 wax are limited, and should sell for a fair 

 price. No doubt a few large honey produ- 

 cers receive fair to good prices above mar- 

 ket quotations ; but if honey was five or ten 

 cents per pound higher than it is, their rep- 

 utation as ^ood would still command a 

 higher price. Thousands, however, are sit- 

 uated differently, either by distance from 

 market, variableness of seasons, or some 

 other reason. Many of these ship here or 

 there or elsewhere to dealers or commission 

 men, some of whom are not responsible, or 

 do not know how to handle honey. So they 

 sell for what they see lit, making returns 

 when they please and for as niucli as they 

 please ; or, perhaps, not at all ; but as they 

 are agen s the producer can dd nothing for 

 lack of proof of rascality. 



Now the officers of the "Union " (or what- 

 ever name it may be called) could send cir- 

 culars to all commission men and dealers 

 who advertise in the bee journals (and to 

 others if thought best) stating that the ob- 

 ject of the association was to protect mem- 

 bers, and, that any complaints would be 

 fully investigated and if found necessary 

 for the interests of the Union, published. 

 The honest dealers and commission men- 

 would court the fullest investigation, as only 

 rogues desire to hide their business methods 

 from their customers, and the dishonest ones 

 would Soon have no trade, ur^ they would be 

 reported. 



I know sometliing about frauds in the 

 commission business, as, until nine years 

 ago, I lived in the peach section of New Jer- 

 sey, and peaches at that time were mostly 

 sent to commission men. As many as 28 

 cars were loaded one day at one R. R. sta- 

 tion. Since I have Ix en here, while I have 

 never lost personally, I know a good many 

 who have lost by commission men. 



Again, a bee-keei)er who goes before the 

 Board of Freight managers for an association 

 of R. R.'s to jietition for reduced freight 

 rates on honey would have no influence, even 



