320 



THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW. 



do so when I started the Review, but I did'nt 

 try hard enough to keep entirely out. I 

 was already in the queen and bee trade, and 

 old customers kept sending orders or asking 

 if T could supply them. Then some adver- 

 tiser wanted to pay his bill with goods (in 

 some cases had nothing else with which to 

 pay), and when goods were obtained in this 

 way they had to be sold. Then, again, I 

 frequently had an opportunity to secure 

 some article and pay for it in advertising, 

 when I would not otherwise get the advertis- 

 ing. Thus, in one way and another, I have 

 been led to dabble a little in supplies. I 

 don't know as there is anything especially 

 praiseworthy in an editor keeping out of the 

 supply businese, the only advantage being 

 that it leaves him free from that " uncon- 

 scious bias " — he is almost sure to favor the 

 goods he has to sell. Just see how long Mr. 

 Root clung to and advised the Simplicity 

 hive with its beveled joints, metal- cornered 

 frames and double-tier wide frames for sur- 

 plus. Perhaps he honestly thought it the be? t 

 arrangement, but it is possible that his hav- 

 ing it for sale helped him in his belief. (I 

 beg Bro. Root's pardon for using this as an 

 illustration. ) In justice to Mr. Root it must be 

 said that he allowed other hives and systems 

 to be described in Gleanings, but that " ever- 

 lasting foot-note, " as some have called it, 

 always seemed to kill the force of such arti- 

 cles, especially to those who were followers 

 of Bro. Root. 



But there are journals and journals, each 

 having its own set of supplies, and if a man 

 reads several of them the teachings of one 

 will balance, or correct those of another. 



Then again, the selling of supplies allows 

 the dealer to publish a journal at a lower 

 price. I believe that most of our bee-keep- 

 ing editors, if not all of them, are pretty 

 fair in allowing competing goods to be de- 

 scribed in their journals. There are no bee 

 journals that can be called "house organs, " 

 published simply to boom the goods of the 

 publisher. The worst features is that 

 the editor is seldom able, evefn if he tries to 

 be perfectly fair, to entirely free himself 

 from the " unconscious bias. " I do not 

 suppose that I shall ever " deal in supplies, " 

 as that term is understood, but I must ad- 

 mit that my views regarding a publisher 

 also being a dealer have been somewhat 

 modified since I have been able to look at 

 the subject from a publisher's standpoint. 

 / don't want the supply trade, I prefer pub- 



lishing pure and simple, but there is no use 

 disputing the fact that there are advantages 

 (not quite all of them) in the combination. 



KEPOET OF THE COMMITTEE ON AMALGAMA- 

 TION. 



To one who has labored faithfully to bring 

 about the union of these two associations, 

 the progress that can now be reported is 

 certainly encouraging. At the last meeting 

 of the North American a committee was 

 appointed to see what could be done in the 

 matter. This committee was to report as 

 soon as possible and then the report was to 

 be printed in the journals for the purpose of 

 allowing criticism. The committee is now 

 able to make the following report. 



We, the Committee apointed at the 

 North American Bee-Keepers' Association 

 held at Toronto, Ont., on September 6th 

 1895, on the proposed consolidation of the 

 North American Bee-Keeper's Association 

 and the National Bee-Keepers' Union, repoit 

 as follows: 



The duties and powers of the Committee 

 are clearly defined in the Resolution which 

 authorized the appointment of the Com- 

 mittee, which after prolonged discussion, 

 was unanimously adopted. This resolution 

 was as follows : 



Resolved, That a Committee of seven be ap- 

 pointed to take into consideration the proposed 

 amalgamation of the National Bee-Keepers' 

 Union and the North American Bee-Keepers' 

 Association, and to arrange terms therefor, 

 with full power to perfect the same so far as 

 this Association is concerned ; and to report 

 through the bee periodicals as soon as possible. 

 The present President of this Association to be 

 one of tlie members of that ('ommittee. 



The Committee met and organized, and 

 have unanimously adopted the following 

 address ; 



To Officers and Members of the National 

 Bee-Keepers^ Union, geeeting: 



Being co-workers in one common cause — 

 the welfare of the bee-keeping fraternity, 

 and the advancment and defense of the 

 pursuit of apiculture in America — we are 

 authorized by the North American Bee- 

 Keepers' Association to offer you the " hand 

 of fellowship, " congratulating you on your 

 efficient organization and successful work 

 during the 10 years of your existence. 



As there is no necessity for the existence 

 of two organizations to accomplish the work 

 which can easily be done by one, we propose 

 a consolidation of our two Societies, for the 

 purpose of creating a closer " bond of union ' ' 

 between apiarists, and saving them the 

 extra expense of membership in two bodies 

 in order to gain the benefits and advantages 

 which one can bestow, when united for 

 that purpose. 



Ever realizing that " in union there is 

 strength, " we offer you any portion of our 

 name you may desire to appropriate. 



