174 



because it is a journal containing sup- 

 ply advertisements, instead of being a 

 supply circular (for sale) containing 

 editorial gush, and some articles copied 

 from other papers ; because it is pub- 

 lished with ability, making it readable 

 and valuable ; because it is run and 

 rilled by honey producers, and does not 

 try to run them ! ! 



Its quotations on honey I know by 

 experience are what I can sell for in 

 Chicago. In some other papers the 

 quotations are above the amount of 

 cash the dealers there will pay me for it. 

 There is where you get your gush. 



The American Bee Journal, has 

 never done ought to make the price of 

 my products less, except in the indirect 

 way of procuring its new subscribers. 

 We all know that wherever it makes 

 its visits, there, sooner or later, the 

 greatest possible amount of honey will 

 be produced. This is all right. I never 

 for one moment expected that honey 

 would long be allowed to bring a price 

 disproportionately above its cost of 

 production. The inquisitive Yankee 

 will settle that. But I desired to be let 

 down easily and not forced to realize a 

 sorrowful reaction, as has been the case 

 with almost every product that for a 

 time was commanding a price above 

 normal profits, as we all know honey 

 did. 



If it is desired to make a grand move 

 in favor of actual producers, this is my 

 plan : Stop making your conventions 

 public ; admit all, but invite honey pro- 

 ducers only; publish reports in honey 

 producer's papers only ; when you meet 

 talk up your failures more, and your 

 successes less; leave that" hive for sale" 

 at home, and then you will not be so 

 anxious to report the large yield of sur- 

 plus you obtained from its top and 

 sides, counting in wood, glass and 

 everything as the result of bee labor in 

 the magic concern ! 



Is it not just as manly to secrete and 

 enjoy a grand discovery as to get from 

 the government a document by which 

 you can openly keep it all, or make 

 others pay all the profits to be derived 

 from it V What is there unselfish about 

 gathering up a few facts gleaned by 

 practical men, getting it copyrighted 

 and then charging these same men one 

 dollar for these facts, varnished up, with 

 the glare of bright hopes and shining 

 anticipations ? 



While I have never refused to answer 

 all questions to the best of my ability, 

 politely and truthfully, I have never 

 shouldered any bee paper, going about 

 seeking subscriptions. No, not even 

 this one, in which my advertisement of 

 implements for sale appears. My 



interest in honey sales and prices of the 

 same, is more than equal to my interest 

 in supplies, and I hope it always will 

 be. More than that, as a supply dealer. 

 I consider it my duty to respect the old 

 producer who gave me his confidence 

 and patronage (sent his money with his 

 order) last season, more than to try to 

 make another customer for me, and a 

 new opposition under his nose, or in nis 

 field ! Should I like to be served so ¥ 

 I tell you it is a fearful condition of 

 things when one wakes up in the night 

 and thinks "there is nobody in this bed," 

 or at best, a dead-beat or hypocrite ! 



Instead of starting more journals and 

 organizing new factions, let us take the 

 best one we have now, sustain it, starv- 

 ing out all publications and supply 

 dealers that gush, or in any way seek to 

 create more producers; make them 

 look to the producers that are, for their 

 support. It' such costs $5.00 for a year's 

 subscription, it will be money in our 

 pockets. The moment vou commence 

 dealing in supplies, in an honest way, 

 and upon reasonable margins, you will 

 see the effects of these gushers. Com- 

 mon commercial principles will not do 

 at all for their creations. One of their 

 pupils will ask if one of your colonies 

 would average one year with another, 

 $25.00 worth of honey ? If not, it is not 

 worth the $8.00 you ask for it. Such 

 will ask if you pay express and freight 

 charges on goods? If you do not warrant 

 safe arrival ? So that if any goods are 

 damaged by the carriers they will not 

 have to be bothered by receiving pay- 

 ment from the company, not knowing 

 that the responsibility of the company 

 to the shipper ends when he takes his 

 receipt. I speak of this to show what 

 an eagerness for patronage there must 

 have been with this class of supply 

 dealers. I can think of no cause for 

 the same, except poor goods or large 

 prices — in either case, fat profits. 



I must say that I never have been 

 able to discover any of the faults at- 

 tributed to the American Bee Jour- 

 nal in the above quotations. I sold 

 one year's crop to Thos. G. Newman & 

 Son and I received more than I could 

 get of any one else, and received my 

 pay promptly. # I have always paid for 

 the Journal, and if it wants goods of 

 me, it must pay me. I suppose neither 

 of us are working for love, except the 

 love of home and family. 



I am confident that Mr. Newman has 

 the interest of honey producers at 

 heart, and is always willing to make 

 any arrangements consistent with the 

 best interests of ourselves and himself. 

 I do not imagine the proposed new 

 paper can run by wind (even if it is 



