418 THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW 



center each firm must keep a distributing house. A co-operative 

 ownership of the bee supply business would eliminate this useless 

 duplication of shipping, distributing and advertising — a greater ex- 

 pense than the actual cost of the goods. // the supply makers and 

 supply users would get together all concerned would be benefited. If 

 the supply makers get together the users will be exploited. One or 

 more factories could be merged and stock issued and turned over to 

 the present owners until it could be sold to the members of a co- 

 operative association of bee-keepers. The plants of the present dis- 

 tributers of honey could be acquired in the same way. 



In 1844, eighteen English workmen saved up to get enough 

 money to buy a barrel of flour to make their bread co-operatively. 

 They were idealists. They charged themselves prevailing prices 

 and used a percentage of the profits to extend the business. Today, 

 the Rochdale Co-operative Association of England, which these im- 

 poverished workers started, is the largest mercantile association in 

 England. They own factories and carry foreign made goods in their 

 own ships. 



In Belgium, a small group of socialists started a co-operative 

 association. They charged themselves prevailing rates and added a 

 percentage of the profits to the business. With these profits and the 

 capital furnished by new members, together with their loyalty, the 

 workmen own and control their own business. 



If the bee-keepers should take over the bee supply business the 

 lumber trust could put them out of business if they should decide. 

 If the honey business should interfere with the machine-made glu- 

 cose we would find our horns locked with the glucose trust. The 

 only way is to organize the bee supply business and honey distri- 

 bution for the benefit of the producers and consumers, and then 

 never stop as long as there is a single industry which is publicly 

 used that is not publicly owned. We must not depend on leaders. 

 If the rank and file are not posted and know what they want, there 

 will be, sooner or later, some Napoleon to seize their rights. If we 

 should use our selfishness collectively instead of individually, our 

 Napoleons would be much more useful to society. Let our motto 

 be "Labor creates all wealth ; wealth belongs to the creator 

 thereof." 

 Holly, Colo. 



CHAS. ISRAEL & BROS. visaiia, Caiif 



\our plan of selling honey will catch 

 more new members than anything I can 



488-490 Canal St,. New York 



Wholesale Dealers and Commission Merchants think of. If carried through properly, I 



in believe that it will have a far reaching 



Honey, neeswax. Maple Sugar ami effect in creating a better and more even 



Syrup, Etc. price for honey in the whole countr3^ 

 Consignments solicited. Established 1875. OttO LuHDORFF. 



