Nov. 2, 1899. 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL, 



691 



Dear Dr. Mason: — I have prepared the enclosed article 

 on honey-eschanges, but after it was prepared the thought 

 occurred to me that it seemed rather terse and dogmatic in 

 stj'le, as if coming from one having- " authority to speak." 

 . and as most of those who hear the paper will probably be 

 entire strangers to me, perhaps a little explanation or show- 

 ing of my right to speak would not be amiss, but to em- 

 body it in the article itself seemed to me rather on the line 

 of boasting, and I thought it would be better to write you 

 individually, and then let you offer any prefatoi-y or esplan- 

 atorj- remarks ^-ou see fit. 



My experience with exchanges has been quite extended 

 and varied for one person, having been a member of the 

 Maricopa Co., Ariz., exchange, where I put a crop of 70,000 

 pounds into the exchange : also a member of . the California 

 exchange, with a crop of 28,000 pounds ; also the Colorado 

 exchange, of Denver, with a crop of 8,000 pounds, mostly 

 comb ; also a local fruit association here in Wisconsin. 



So you see I have had opporturities not falling to the 

 lot of many to know something of the good and bad points 

 of exchanges. I believe in them thoroly, and these criti- 

 cisms are not made to destroy confidence, but to help build 

 on a surer foundation. C. A. H.\TCH. 



The following is Mr. Hatch's paper, on 



Why Bee-Keepers* Exchanges Fail. 



Trying to cover too much territory is one of the mis- 

 takes most common in organizing bee-keepers" exchanges ; 

 trying to do too much business, as, for instance, buying, 

 selling, and manufacturing, when, perhaps, the whole mem- 

 bership are entirely without experience in any of these 

 lines. 



It would be much like a young man grown up and edu- 

 cated in the city, assuming to run a large farm ; or a farm- 

 er's son with no experience trying to run a large commer- 

 cial establishment. Practical knowledge comes by practi- 

 cal. experience, and by practical experience only. There- 

 fore, let us walk before we run, and learn to manage small 

 affairs before we assume control of larg-e concerns. 



Making too many rules and restrictions is another hin- 

 drance to success. These may be well enough to catch 

 rogues, but if your members are not honorable enough to 

 act in a straightforward, honest business manner, restric- 

 tions, penalties, fines, etc., are poor substitutes for business 

 integrity. 



The most successful association I ever was a member of 

 had not even a constitution nor by-laws ; no officers were 

 ever formally elected, no salaries paid, and vet it workt well 

 for years, and is yet working. True, we "had only five or 

 six members, and therefore it was more easilv managed 

 than a larger number would have been. When supplies 

 ■were to be bought a consultation was held, and each agreed 

 to take a given amount, and one acted as purchasing agent, 

 and actual cost and expenses were promptly paid by the 

 members. 



When a shipment of honey was to be made, one, not 

 always the same person, acted as shipping agent. Each 

 man's consignment was markt with his name, and the com- 

 mission house, if sold on commission, or purchaser, if sold 

 outright, was sent a list of the shipment, giving owners' 

 names and amount sent by each, and the pay was sent 

 direct to each shipper. This plan had two adva"ntages— no 

 taeasurer was needed, for there was no funds held in com- 

 mon ; and it made each shipper responsible for his ship- 

 ment, and his only. Perhaps this plan is not applicable to 

 a large number of shippers and great extent of territory. 



One of the elements of success was the fact of our being 

 near neighbors, so that a consultation of all the members 

 could be had in a short time, which would be entirely 

 lacking in a large membership. 



Large membership dues are a hindrance rather than a 

 help, by debarring some that would be desirable members, 

 but who think they cannot afford the expense. A member- 

 ship fee large enough to cover cost of preliminary work, 

 such as necessary printing, etc., and not with an idea of 

 creating a fund, is all-sufficient, say $1.00. 



Having dues like secret societies is much worse. One 

 society of which I was a member had nearly f300 standing 

 against its members for unpaid dues. This amount will be 

 lookt upon by those owing it as so much money wasted, if 

 called upon to paj- up. And are they not right, for they 

 have not received an)^ use from the exchange, and there- 

 fore why pay any tax for its support ? 



Individual responsibility is the main thing in exchanges 

 —the keystone that holds the whole arch in place— and the 

 sooner the membership realize the facts that it is an or- 



ganization " of the members, for the members," and that 

 they are married to it for better or worse, the greater will 

 be the success. 



Members are too apt to put themselves in a hypercriti- 

 cal position, and criticise any and all acts of the executive 

 board, as if it was their ordained mission to discover some- 

 thing wrong. This of itself creates an atmosphere of sus- 

 picion and mistrust, which is anything but helpful to the 

 objects of the society. The probabilities are that the offi- 

 cers are having a hard enough time of it between the effort 

 to get fair prices and the exactions of would-be buyers, 

 without having those who should be their best supporters 

 turn on them. 



Let us be consistent. It is taken for granted that we have 

 elected our best men for the responsible places, and after 

 having elected them let us give them our unqiialified sup- 

 port, for even a poor stick well supported may do better 

 than a fine piece of timber with no support. 



Stick together, whatever happens, and success is sure 

 to be yours in the end. If a mistake has been made, make 

 the best of it and try again. Condemn no man except for 

 dishonesty or criminal neg-lect, and for such the sooner 

 they are on the outside the better it will be for those left. 



Have confidence in your particular exchange. Talk 

 confidence to others, and see how soon it will be worthy of 

 your confidence ; and above all, show that your confidence 

 is real, by putting all your crop into their hands, and not 

 create suspicion by holding back part just to see how the 

 thing works. It is sure to work well if 3'ou support it, and 

 sure not to if you do not. 



Do not be selfish, and want to run everything your way, 

 but remember others want their way part of the time. Then 

 after doing all this, do not expect every one you meet to re- 

 move his hat and bow down to a member of the Universal 

 Honey Exchange ; there are other enterprises in this world, 

 and perhaps as huge undertakings as yours. And do not 

 expect to control the universe — if you have your say in your 

 little corner you will do well. 



Railroads may be anxious to get your freight to carry 

 over their road, but will hardly be willing to listen to your 

 dictation. Rather learn a lesson from them, that a plausi- 

 ble, conciliator}' manner is better than arbitrary measures. 



To sum up : In starting, do not attempt too much — at- 

 tempt only what you can carry thru. Do not have too many 

 rules and regulations. Make the fee nominal, or nearly so. 

 Do not work for profit, but to save expenses only. Be hon- 

 est, be courteous, be careful, be confident, and, above all, 

 be faithful to your society. C. A. Hatch. 



Dr. Mason — There are two other papers in the same 

 line that might be read and all discust together — " How to 

 Conduct Successfully a Bee-Keepers' Exchange," by J. 

 Webster Johnson, of Arizona, and one by Thomas G. New- 

 man, on "Organization Among Bee-Keepers ; If Desirable- 

 Why and How Best Accomplisht ?" 



Mr. Johnson's paper was then read by Mrs. Miller, as 

 follows : 



How to Conduct Successfully a Bee-Keepers' Exchange. 



A bee-keepers" exchange is simply another name for 

 co-operation among bee-keepers. Bee-keepers are producers, 

 and the history of business as it is, and has been, shows 

 that successful co-operative business ventures are not very 

 numerous, but there are some that are entirely successfui, 

 showing that when conditions are right, and good business, 

 judgment is used in conducting the enterprise, co-operation 

 can be made a success and be very beneficial to those who 

 are connected with it. Then let us see first what are the 

 conditions necessary to success. 



1st. Co-operative action must be necessarj' in order that 

 the producers who propose to work together shall be able ta 

 make their industry pay its best. For instance, a dozen 

 bee-keepers living near a large town or city where all of 

 their product can find ready sale at prices as good as could 

 be obtained in any other market, will find little incentive to 

 join forces, because each can readily dispose of his crop to 

 as good an advantage as he could thru a co-operative con- 

 cern. On the other hand, a number of producers with no 

 home market of any size, and living so far from other mar- 

 kets that shipments must be made in 'carload lots if the 

 freight is not to consume the bulk of the proceeds, cannot 

 only co-operate to their mutual advantage, but really must 

 do so if they are to obtain the best results, or, in some cases, 

 any results at all. 



2nd. Don't attempt to cover too much ground ; in other 

 words, co-operation should be undertaken only along those 

 lines where it is absolutely necessary. When a number of 



