THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW 231 



I am satisfied that the Northern California Association would 

 have withdrawn had the matter been put to a vote, and certainly 

 the delegates from the State Association were given to understand 

 that if it withdrew it would be no bar to our becoming a part of it. 

 As it was, the matter was laid over until our next meeting. 



Personally I would like to see the National x\ssociation develop 

 into something useful to the producer, and would like to be a part 

 of it if it were, which is a feeling that is probably held by most of 

 the progressive bee-keepers of the state. It seems to me that as 

 the interests of the producers and buyers are always opposed, that 

 it would be better to limit the meml^ership of the buyers somewhat. 



Yours truly, 

 ■■ HARRY K.HILL. 



Here we have it in a nut shell. The California bee-keepers be- 

 lieve that the National is dominated and controlled by supply men 

 and honey buyers. Right here let me say as secretary, that this 

 same opinion holds in some other quarters. Don't blame you one 

 bit for being opposed to it, if you entertain that belief. For how 

 could a bee-keepers' association be successful if it was not run by 

 the bee-keepers themselves? 



But I want to say to you that the supply men and honey buy- 

 ers do not control or run the National. Not if 1 know anything 

 about it. ]More than that, they have not attempted to, since I have 

 been secretary, at least. If there ever was a time when the National 

 was run by bee-keepers, now is that time. 



Quoting from the above letter we read : "Certain men very 

 prominent in our National Association, it appears, are also large 

 buyers, and use the power of the National Association to advance 

 their own interests at the expense of the producers." Name them. 

 Friend Hill. I want to know who they are. Not an officer or 

 director buys honey to any extent, unless it is Director Crane, who 

 buys to care for his personal trade. But he is a producer, every 

 inch of him. and is standing up for the producers' interests. If 

 there are any men guilty of the charges you mention, and you will 

 help me locate them, I will give their names to the bee-keeping" 

 world. 



"Personally, I have never come in contact with the eastern mar- 

 kets, selling to local leeches instead of National ones." AMiat do 

 you mean by that? Aren't your California Co-operative Associa- 

 tions, especially the one you mention, reliable? Are they leeches? 

 Are you one of the co-operators who doesn't co-operate? Surely not. 



Now then, boys, if the National is not right, get in and help us 

 make it right. You can't remedy it from the outside. The more 

 of vou fellows who are out. the more chance for those things being 



