260 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



April 6, 1905. 



Jlinutes of First Meeting 



A temporary organization was efEected and the foregoing Consti- 

 tution adopted, when, upon motion of Ralph W. Boyden, the follow- 

 ing members were elected as an Executive Board : Dr. C. C. Miller, 

 W. Z. Hutchinson, Arthur L. Boyden, George W. York, C. P. Dadant, 

 N. E. France and George C. Lewis. 



A permanent organization was then formed, and the following 

 officers elected: President, Dr. C. C. Miller; Vice-President, George 

 C.Lewis; Secretary, W. Z. Hutchinson; Treasurer, Arthur L. Boy- 

 den ; Manager, George W. Yorlr. 



Before adjourning it was resolved to do no general advertising until 

 there is at least S5000 in the hands of the Treasurer; the Manager was 

 instructed to take the necessary steps for securing the incorporation 

 of the League ; and the Secretary and Manager were appointed a com- 

 mittee to prepare the necessary literature for use In soliciting mem- 

 bership. „ . . J 

 Some Questions Answered 



While the Constitution quite clearly outlines the aims and objects 

 of the League, a few questions will naturally spring to the lips of one 

 who contemplates joining its ranks, hence it may be well to answer 

 in advance as many as possible of them. 



Naturally, the first question asked will be: " Why form a new 

 organization when the Constitution of the National allows the use of 

 its funds for such work?" Principally because the National has not 

 enough money at its command to do the work effectively, and it could 

 not raise enough without a change in its Constitution, as, at present, 

 only one extra assessment of .51.00 per member can be made each year, 

 while the work of advertising, to be effective, requires thounands of 

 dollars at once. 



Perhaps some will ask why the matter was not discussed in ad- 

 vance in the bee-papers, and a public meeting called? Why was the 

 mattter kept quiet, and the work done with apparent secrecy? It was 

 done so quickly simply to save time. When the true situation had 

 fairly dawned upon the three or four who were first discussing the 

 matter, it became equally apparent that only by the most prompt and 

 active work could anything be done that would help the sale of the 

 last year's honey crop before the coming of this year's crop. 



Some may wonder why the members of the Executive Board were 

 all chosen so near Chicago. They were thus chosen that they might 

 quickly and cheaply attend Board meetings. Should an important 

 question requiring immediate action come up, telegrams sent every 

 member in the afternoon would enable them to be in Chicago the next 

 morning. It any mistake has been made in the choice of officers, it 

 can be corrected at the next election. As it is, however, it is doubtful 

 it a set of officers can be chosen who would have more completely at 

 heart the success of the undertaking. Besides this, they are all 

 friendly to one another, and will work harmoniously as a unit. 



It may be asked why no salaries are paid the officers. If these 

 men are willing to give so freely of their money, they should be 

 equally willing to give their time ; besides, if they were paid salaries, 

 many might be inclined to look upon the whole thing as a scheme on 

 the part of the officers to put tuoney into their own pockets. As it is, 

 these men are really putting in their time, money, and energies, ex- 

 pecting no reward except such as will come to them from the improved 

 conditions of bee-culture. Only as honey-producers are benefited will 

 any benefit come to manufacturers, dealers and publishers, yet a 

 heavier burden is placed upon them than upon the actual honey-pro- 

 ducer. The contributions of the Board members alone will reach 

 nearly $1000. 



Every one will, of course, be interested in knowing what forms of 

 advertising will be adopted. Mainly that of advertising in the daily 

 papers and maguzines. (No advertising will be done in the bee-jour- 

 nals, as that would be simply a waste of money.) Probably the first 

 feature will be that of killing, or removing, the false beliefs regarding 

 the manufacture of artificial comb honey. Large space, perhaps one- 

 fourth or one-eighth page, will be used in leading dailies, a large head- 

 ing reading something as follows : 



810,000 rOBFEITED! 



Then will follow an explanation and refutation of the matter, and 

 the offer of $10,000 as a forfeit to any one who can show a sample of 

 comb honey that has been produced artificially. Of course, cure will 

 be taken to word the offer properly, so that no technical advantage 

 may be taken. The best talent of the country will be employed in pre- 

 paring and placing the advertising. Many papers that publish these 

 advertisements will probably be willing also to publish articles on bee- 

 keeping written with a view to increasing the demand for honey. Pos- 



sibly firms that print " patent insides " for other newspapers may be 

 induced to use such articles. 



At fairs and exhibitions it may be advisable to have educational 

 honey exhibits, together with the distribution of suitable literature. 

 Possibly it may be well to put stereopticon lectures in the field ; but, as 

 has already been stated, newspaper advertising will be the main feature. 



AN ENCOUKAGING INCIDENT. 



Let me tell just one little incident: On the train, while going 

 home from the meeting, I fell to talking with a young man who occu- 

 pied the seat with me. As we became somewhat acquainted I told 

 him of the object of my trip to Chicago, going somewhat into detail. 

 In reply, he said in substance : • 



" At our home we are fond of biscuit and pancakes, with honey or 

 maple syrup. We send down to Vermont, to an acquaintance, to get 

 the maple syrup, as that is the only way that we can feel certain we 

 are getting the pure article. We don't buy honey very often because, 

 while I had never heard how the story started as you explain it, I had 

 been led to believe that a good share, even of comb honey, was manu- 

 factured stuff (mostly paraffin, and glucose) , and I didn't care to eat 

 it. I am very glad to have met you, and to have it proved to me so 

 conclusively that I can eat comb honey, and feel that it is the genuine 

 article." 



Friends, there are millions of men and women just exactly like 

 my chance acquaintance, and, in the language of the street, it is " up 

 to us " to convince them of the error of their belief. If we could in- 

 duce one million of them to step into the groceries to-morrow and 

 each buy a pound of honey, what do you suppose would happen? 



This is the work for us to do, and it is the most important work 

 that has been taken up in our line in many a long year. Every other 

 industry is puRhing its products upon the markets by every means 

 imaginable ; are we to sit supinely down and let ignorance, misrepre- 

 sentation, and business enterprise push our product off the earth? See 

 how new and unknown things are pushed to the front by the force of 

 advertising; let us not lag behind, but use this new force in modern 

 business — advertising — to push our delicious product into the position 

 it so richly deserves. 



Just a parting word; Don't wait to " see how it is going to turn 

 out." If others are putting in their time and money for the good of 

 the cause — to accomplish something that will help you — meet them 

 half way, join hands with them, do it promptly, and success is assured. 



Flint, Mich. W. Z. Hdtchinson, Secretary. 



^M° Address all business correspondence, memtiership dues, etc. 

 to the Manager, George W. York, 334 Dearborn St., Chicago, 111. 



If you have read all the foregoing- carefully we believe 

 you will agree that it is the right kind of a move to make 

 on the part of bee-keepers. Surely, something ought to be 

 done to place honey on a more-certain-demand basis. And 

 we don't know of anything else that should be as effective 

 as the kind of work that is proposed to be done by The 

 Honey-Producers' League. 



But it will require money to do the work. And yet, in 

 the manner proposed, it will not be heavy on any one per- 

 son. The plan is to divide it around among the thousands 

 of those interested in bee-keeping or honey-production so 

 that it shall be no burden on any one. 



Already the following are entered on the Manager's 

 Membership Book as having paid their first year's dues : 



Dr. C. C. Miller $ 10 



George W. York 25 



Geo. C. Lewis (for G. B. Lewis Co. ) 210 



H. M. Arnd (for York Honey and liee-Sapply Co.) 15 



E. Whitcomb 1 



Arthur L. Boyden (for A. I. Root Co ) 610 



E. Kretchmer (for Kretchmer Mtg. Co.) 50 



W. Z. Hutchinson 13 



C. P. Dadant (tor Dadant cS Sons 70 



Griggs Bros 11 



F. A. Salisbury 30 



Total ¥1045 



We trust that as rapidly as possible our readers will be- 

 come members of The Honey-Producers' League, and thus 

 aid in furthering their own interests as well as the interests 

 of all who are connected in any way with honey or its pro- 

 duction. 



