744 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



J^ov. 19, 



@SORGS W. YORK, - EdttQF. 



PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY 



GEORGE W. YORK & COMPANY, 

 lis SXicUigan St., - CHICAGO, II.T^. 



tl.OO a Year— Sample Copy Sent Free. 

 [Bntered at ttae PoBt-Offlce at ChicaRo aa Second-Class Mail-Matter. 



yoLinVI. CHICAGO, ILL, NO?. 19, 1896. No, 4], 



EDITORIAL COMMENTS. 



CJuoting tlie Honey Market.— We see that at 

 least one of our apiciiltural exchanges has market quotations 

 from a commission firm that we understand failed four months 

 ago, and also from two other firms whose reputations for 

 honorable dealing are not entirely above question. We think 

 that all bee-papers should unite in refusing to keep in their 

 market columns any firms who are not perfectly square in 

 every way. If any now in the Bee Journal's dealers' list are 

 not all right, we would like to know it. We won't knowingly 

 aid any crooked firm to get business. Down with all honey- 

 dealing frauds, we say. And we are willing to help down 

 them, too. 



Kame and Address IW^anted.— We would like 

 to have the careless subscriber in Texas, who enclosed 60 

 cents in 2-cent stamps, on Nov. 7, kindly send us his or her 

 name and address. All we can make out on the envelop post- 

 mark is "Tex." The letter was not signed— simply the 

 words " Please discontinue " were written with lead-pencil, 

 and the 60 cents enclosed. Now we'd like to know how we 

 can " discontinue " the Bee Journal to that economical writer, 

 when no name or address is given ! 



We often feel like administering a severe rebuke to the 

 careless folks who try to do business, and should do so were 

 it not for the fact that the very ones for whom such a rebuke 

 is intended, would be too careless to see and read it. We can 

 only say, then, please he sure to sign your letters with full 

 name and address every time. 



Also, when asking us to change your address on our mail 

 list, don't fail to give the okJ address as well as the new. 



The Ne^' Constitution, as adopted at the recent 

 Lincoln convention, seems to be a rather verdant and crude 

 affair, as viewed through the spectacles of General Manager 

 Newman, on page 742 of this issue of the Bee Journal. But 

 we think that most of the criticisms offered are mainly the 

 result of a vivid imagination, perhaps traceable, in a measure, 

 to the exhilarating climate in which Southern California is 

 said to superabound. 



To begin, Sec. 2 of Art. III. and Sec. 2 of Art. IV., we 

 think, are perfectly proper in the New Constitution until it is 

 adopted by both organizations, when, at the next annual 

 election, both Sections can be ordered dropped. Certainly 

 they do no harm where they are now, and serve the good pur- 

 pose for which they were intended, until after the amalgama- 

 tion takes place. So the very first criticism is somewhat "out 

 of order " at this juncture of the proceedings. 



Next as to the Executive Committee and Board of Direc- 

 tors : There need be no conflict of authority at all, and, so far 



as the present Executive Committee is concerned, there would 

 be DO trouble whatever. It is pretty clearly indicated that 

 this Committee is to have in charge the annual meetings, and 

 has nothing to do with the work of the Board of Directors — 

 they do not interfere with each other at all. As to the duties 

 of the Board of Directors, see Sec. 7, Art. VI. 



Mr. Newman speaks of incorporation. We believe the old 

 Bee-Keepers' Union is not incorporated, but when the time 

 comes to incorporate the new society, if such action is deemed 

 best, and we find that our Constitution is not quite suitable in 

 some minor detail, we think that can then be easily remedied, 

 or so altered as to conform to the requirements of the incor- 

 poration laws. 



As to Sec. 2, Art. V., which seems so "ridiculous" to Mr. 

 Newman, we may say: First, no one but himself has re- 

 ferred to a " secret ballot" in connection with the New Con- 

 stitution, and, besides, during the recent presidential election, 

 the largest Chicago daily newspaper conducted a "postal card 

 ballot," in which we took a part, and it worked nicely. Again, 

 we think it will not be so very hard to find "two members" 

 whose post-office address is the same. The object of the pos- 

 tal card ballot is to save as much expense as possible, and 

 we have not the slightest doubt that it will be found to be all 

 right when put Into practice. However, if, after trial, the 

 plan is found wanting in any way, some other method can be 

 adopted in its stead. Surely, there is no need for alarm yet. 



Mr. Newman says the ballots would be accompanied by 

 " the dollar for Dues." Whenever he tells us how a dollar 

 bill can be put into a postal card, it will then be time to con- 

 sider this objection. It is of course understood thatthe postal 

 card ballots are to have upon them the printed address of the 

 counting committee ; and on the opposite side the blanks for 

 voting. So yon see not one of them would be returned to the 

 General Manager. The envelops for mailing the Dues would 

 have upon them the printed address of the General Manager, 

 and he would thus get them all right. 



Section 3, Art. VI. seems to be a source of worriment to 

 our usually serene General Manager. While there may be a 

 slight " loop-hole," we do not believe that there is the least 

 danger of the annual meeting falling into it. About the only 

 expense is the §25 for the Secretary of the annual convention. 

 That should not bankrupt the proposed Union — at least here- 

 tofore the North American has been quite able to meet the 

 necessary expense of a Secretary. We don't believe that any 

 one need distrust the careful wisdom of the members attend- 

 ing the annual convention. No expensive annual meetings 

 are contemplated. 



As no intimation is"given in Art. IX., of any mileage or 

 per diem to be paid, we see no need of mentioning it at all. 

 No mileage or per diem has been paid heretofore, and no pre- 

 vious Constitution has contained any reference to it. Why 

 should this one ? Of course, all go to the annual meeting at 

 their own expense, if they go at all. But no one will be com- 

 pelled to go, any more than has been the case in the past with 

 the North American. It is quite likely, however, that the 

 Executive Committee will be present in the future as hereto- 

 fore. 



As to the Board of Directors meeting " at such time and 

 place as it may decide upon," they can likely get together at 

 the annual meetings. And if they " decide " not to meet — not 

 being need for it — we see nothing to compel them to do so. 

 We think no one would hesitate to accept a place on the Board 

 of Directors, fearing that he would be compelled to lose money 

 by it. 



We think it hardly necessary for us to go any further at 

 this time in answering Mr. Newman's criticisms. We do not 

 assert that the New Constitution is infallible, but we do think 

 that no great difSculties would be encountered if an honest 

 effort were made to work under its provisions. While it 

 may contain a few inconsequential "incongruities," we believe 



