THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW 193 



At present 1 ha\'e been retained as A,lanaLiins4' JCditor. I hope 

 to fill that position so satisfactorily to you, that it will be a long- 

 time before you will want to change. 1 have ultimate faith in the 

 possibilities of building up your organization to a point where it 

 is a power for you. 1 hope to be retained long enough in my pres- 

 ent position to ])ro\e to you that it can be done. And at the 

 same time I realize that should this mo^'e be a failure, the heaviest 

 loss and censure will fall on my shoulders. LUit I am not looking 

 for failure. In fact, if you could look over the mail on my desk 

 today ; if you could read the letters that lay there from Bee-Keepers' 

 Associations that want to become branches of the National (and one 

 of them from California) ; if you could look over the orders for cans, 

 some as far away as Idaho and California; 1 say if you could read 

 with me these thmgs you would share my enthusiasm, and feel as 

 1 do that there is no possible chance of failure. 



And now I want to say a word to you regarding our directors. 

 Up to the time of the directors" meeting in Detroit last January, 

 1 had met (but one of the four directors who were present ; Director 

 \\'ilcox, who was absent, 1 met at Minneapolis. 1 didn't know how 

 they would back me up in my work, but 1 am frank to say that 

 you could not have selected a more loyal lot of fellows. In spite 

 of the fact that we started the new term with but $'28.09 in the 

 general fund, those directors have not hesitated to undertake bis: 

 things for you, and have proven themsehes progressives in every 

 sense of the word. 1 cannot help but feel grateful to them for 

 the backing they are giving me in my work, and the way they 

 handle impartially every question which confronts them. Personal 

 interests are thrown to the wind, and every question is considered 

 from the standpoint of "what benefit will this be to the National 

 Association." 



In mentioning the small balance on hand at the l^eginning of 

 this year, I wish it distinctly understood that I cast no reflections 

 on the former work of our general manager and treasurer, Mr. 

 France, for I am certain you could not have found a person more" 

 economical and conscientious in his work than Mr. France was. 



In conclusion, let me say that no hasty decision has been 

 arrived at in the purchase of the Revif.w. The matter has been 

 carefully considered from every standpoint, and the move was made 

 with a full appreciation of the responsibilities resting on the 

 shoulders of those who took the action. In tliis issue you have 

 Chairman of Directors Townsend's statement, and in the next issue 

 I hope to pu]:)lish a report from each of the other four directors. 

 Readers, the action was taken in your behalf. Let us know that 

 we have your support by the personal work that you can do in 

 building the strongest organization of bee-keepers the world ever saw. 



