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AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



a few dishonest ones, and we will soon 

 make it Interesting for them. I have 

 known for several years that a large 

 proportion of the extracted honey sold 

 in eastern cities was adulterated. This 

 is why our dark honey sells for nearly 

 as much as white — it will stand more 

 glucose; and this is why the price does 

 not go up in a poor year. 



Personally, the Manager of the Na- 

 tional Bee-Keepers' Union has waged 

 war upon adulterators for many years, 

 as is well-known to readers of bee-litera- 

 ture generally, but the Union was formed 

 for quite another purpose, that of de- 

 fending the rights of bee-keepers, when 

 assailed by jealous or vindictive neigh- 

 bors. 



During the eight years of its existence 

 the Union has gained victories to be 

 proud of. It has compelled both judges 

 and juries to render just and fair de- 

 cisions in cases where bee-keeping was 

 involved, and has won from the highest 

 courts of the country decisions of law 

 which will be pointed to as precedents as 

 long as law and order shall endure. 



Its history and achievements are too 

 glorious to be ignored, even if a score of 

 similar institutions are projected. It is 

 also true that all bee-keepers are not 

 alike personally interested in its objects, 

 as Mr. Mclntyre asserts, and therefore 

 its membership is very limited. Mr Root 

 makes these editorial comments upon 

 the suggestion of Mr. Mclntyre : 



Whether it would be best to organize 

 a new union having new functions we 

 cannot say. It occurs to us that it 

 might be more feasible to modify the 

 constitution of the existing Bee-Keep- 

 ers' Union so as to cover the objects 

 above set forth. We have no doubt that 

 every member of that organization 

 would vote to have this change made, 

 providing that General-Manager New- 

 man should sanction it. It may not be 

 best, however, to interfere with or en- 

 large the scope of an organization that 

 has already done great good by the 

 precedents in law which it has estab- 

 lished in the interest of the bee-keeper. 



Bro. Root is evidently mistaken about 

 every member's vote depending upon 

 my "sanction" of the scheme. It is 



true that my election, year after year, 

 to the very important position of Gen- 

 eral Manager, in such a unanimous 

 fashion, shows that I have the confi- 

 dence of the members of the Union, and 

 they have in this manner stamped with 

 their approval the work I have done for 

 the Union — but when it comes to the 

 consideration of a new policy for the 

 future, the members of the Union are 

 fully competent to determine for them- 

 selves as to the expediency thereof, and 

 I am fully persuaded that they will act 

 for the permanent prosperity of the 

 organization, without deference to my 

 personal views or desires. I would thank 

 Bro. Root for the compliment intended, 

 and shall treat it as such. 



In order to add this new feature to 

 the National Bee-Keepers' Union, the 

 Constitution must be amended ; and, 

 perhaps, the best way will be to have 10 

 members sign a request and send it to 

 me, to have the proposed amendments 

 submitted to vote. Then let the matter 

 be fully discussed in all the bee-periodi- 

 cals, so that the members may vote 

 understanding^, after mature delibera- 

 tion. 



If it is voted to add the new feature, 

 then the Washington convention can 

 formulate plans to make an aggressive 

 war upon adulteration and adulterators. 



The greatest difficulty to be encount- 

 ered will be the diversity in the laws of 

 the several States. A National law 

 should be enacted by Congress against 

 adulteration, applicable alike to every 

 State and Territory. Then something 

 may be accomplished — until then, I fear 

 much of the labor will be in vain. 



Another trouble is that the honey 

 from different localities varies so much 

 in consequence of the diverse soils and 

 atmospheric conditions. On that account 

 even the analyzation of honey by chem- 

 ists of National reputation is totally 

 unreliable. 



Another thing must be provided for — 

 the new departure would require so 

 much time and energy of the General 



