744 



THE AlVIERICAl? BEE JOURNAL. 



spoken." I, too, have believed in 

 the exalted possibilities of the North 

 American Bee-Keepers' Society, and 

 have for nearly a dozen years labored 

 zealously for the realization of the 

 fond hopes so long entertained. 



The pursuit of modem and progres- 

 sive apiculture is yet in its infancy. 

 It has grown rapidly, and its develop- 

 ment has been accompanied by 

 science, art, and invention at every 

 step ; so that to-day (even in its in- 

 fancy) it is really a giant ! standing 

 almost without a parallel in the his- 

 tory of industrial pursuits— its dev- 

 otees in North America to-day num- 

 bering 300,000 persons ; and its annual 

 product of honey amounting to 100,- 

 000,000 of pounds, and its value being 

 about fifteen millions of dollars. 



Is it not true that our National 

 government is founded upon the prin- 

 ciple that " in Union there is 

 strength V And after passing the 

 ordeal of the greatest " civil war " of 

 modern times, is to-day the strongest 

 and best in the vcorld ? Its constitu- 

 tion and laws are " the bulwark " of 

 all our privileges and liberties ! It 

 guarantees to us also the full benefit 

 and peaceable enjoyment of our or- 

 ganized labors! 



What we need is organized efforts, 

 unity of labor, and concert of action, 

 upon all matters where " our interests 

 are in common !" To accomplish 

 this, we ought to patriotically sink all 

 our minor differences, and organize 

 to defend our pursuit, watch our in- 

 terests, and defend our rights. A 

 thorough organization is our only 

 " stong tower of defense," and will 

 command lawful attention and com- 

 mercial respect. 



But some may ask, " What do we 

 desire to accomplish ?" To answer 

 this, let us enumerate some of the 

 suggestions during the intervening 

 year, since last we met : 



Has not a " Honey-producers' asso- 

 ciation " been proposed, to control the 

 selling prices of the honey product V 

 A strong but conservative society 

 would best serve that purpose. 



Have we not heard about the neces- 

 sity for obtaining reliable apicultural 

 statistics? What could be better 

 adapted to this purpose than an Inter- 

 National Society ? 



Has not a proposition been made to 

 ask for legislation in favor of grant- 

 ing protection to bee-keepers within 

 a certain territory ? What could au- 

 thoritatively decide whether such 

 legislation is desirable or not, but 

 such an apicultural organization V 



Some of our principal wants are, a 

 systematic encouragement of Bee and 

 Honey Shows at Fairs; providing 

 bee-tents for such bee-exhibitions ; 

 inaugurating a system of education of 

 bee-keepers, and by certificate or 

 otherwise, guaranteeing to those who 

 wish to hire assistants, that they 



Eossess a practical knowledge of the 

 usiness for which they are wanted. 

 These "wants" could all be pro- 

 vided for, and satisfied in a better 

 manner, by a well-organized society, 

 than in any other way. 



Then again, it has often been ad- 

 vised that the Constitution of this 

 Society should be amended so as to 



make it a Representative Society. In 

 the minutes of a former meeting we 

 find the following : 



The committee on rerlslon of the Consti- 

 tution, find that the North American Bee- 

 KPepers' Society Bhould be composed of 

 delegates from all the local societies 

 throughout North America. They would, 

 therefore, recommend and urge that the 

 local societies carry out this feature, and 

 send delegates to the next meeting of this 

 Society. 



At another very important meeting 

 of this Society, the chairman of " the 

 committee on the best means of pro- 

 moting and advancing the interests 

 of the National Society, and to in- 

 crease its usefulness," reported, mak- 

 ing the following recommendations : 



1. That the Society be made a representa- 

 tive body, and that delegates from local 

 societies be sent to the National Society 

 with instructions as to the needs of apicul- 

 ture at large. 



2. That it should encourage a local State 

 exhibition once a year, having public ma- 

 nipulations with bees. 



3. That the National Society award suit- 

 able medals for the best exhibit of honey in 

 the most marketable shape, and a diploma 

 for the most expert public handling of bees. 



The Convention also recommended 

 that a Vice-President be elected in 

 every State and Territory, to co- 

 operate with the Society in awarding 

 prizes at these Bee and Honey Shows. 

 It also recommended that a represen- 

 tative of this Society attend these 

 Bee and Honey Shows, and that his 

 traveling expenses be borne by this 

 Society, and that a committee be ap- 

 pointed to procure medals and 

 diplomas. 



To make this a Representative 

 body is not a diflScult task. The Con- 

 stitution can be revised and amended, 

 and when this meeting adjourns, it 

 can direct that at the next annual 

 meeting, representatives from aux- 

 iliary societies, and members of the 

 parent society only will be allowed to 

 vote, hold oflSce, etc. Of course all 

 apiarists will be admitted, as hereto- 

 fore, and be entitled to take part in 

 the deliberations by purchasing an 

 annual ticket of the Secretary, the 

 proceeds to be used in defraying the 

 necessary expenses of holding the 

 annual convention. 



It is a self-evident proposition that 

 apiarists, like every other profes- 

 sional or industrial class, have the 

 right to organize for their own inter- 

 ests and advantage, and to select such 

 forms of organization as may best 

 suit their purposes. And it is like- 

 wise tlie duty of every apiarist in 

 North America to sustain that or- 

 ganization by every means in their 

 power, and to " stand shoulder to 

 shoulder " in creating and upholding 

 it, as well as in making it one of 

 permanent interests. That organiza- 

 tion must enlist the highest intelli- 

 gence, as well as possess the strictest 

 integrity in order to make it of per- 

 manent value to the industry. 



It is generally known that the 

 " Bee-Keepers' Union " has been 

 formed, and for three years has made 

 its power felt in defending the rights 

 of its members. It is now a power in 

 the land, and asks no assistance from 

 any other organization ; but is it not 

 worthy of consideration, however, to 



ascertain if it would not be advisable 

 to have it as an "auxiliary" under 

 the protection and patronage of this 

 Society V" If desired it might be in- 

 duced to become an integral part of 

 an organized body. 



In London, England, they have a 

 " Honey Company " which receives 

 and sells at the highest market prices 

 the honey belonging to its members, 

 either by sample or in bulk, and,(such 

 a company may also be deemed de- 

 sirable in America, and some arrange- 

 ments may be made, perhaps, whereby 

 the company could make advances on 

 consignments, and thus help pro- 

 ducers in more ways than one. This 

 might also be made a feature of the 

 proposed organization, if deemed de- 

 sirable by the members of this con- 

 vention of American apiarists. 



To accomplish the latter it would be 

 necessary to incorporate the society 

 and sell suflBcient capital stock to give 

 ready funds to make advances and 

 control the honey product. This sug- 

 gestion I leave for the consideration 

 of the Convention, or a committee of 

 its creation. But to facilitate mat- 

 ters, I will here submit for your ap- 

 proval or rejection the draft of a new 

 Constitution and By-Laws to include 

 all of the suggestions made ; your 

 committee can easily exclude, revise 

 or make new provisions to suit their 

 own views. 



CONSTITUTION. 



ARTICLE I— JfA>nS. 



This organization shall be known as 

 " The Inter-National American Bee-Asso- 

 ciation," and shall include in its territory 

 all of the United States and Canada. 



AKTICLE II.— OBJECT. 



Its object shall be to promote the gen- 

 eral interests o( the pursuit of bee-culture 

 throughout the North American conti- 

 nent ; to form a fraternal bond of Union 

 for the instruction and protection of its 

 members ; to diffuse a general knowledge 

 of the value and uses of honey both for 

 food and medicine ; to create a market for 

 this God-given sweet, and to assist in its 

 distribution evenly over the American 

 continent— thereby enhancing its commer- 

 cial value. 



ARTICLE III.— SIEMBERSHir. 



1. This Association shall consist of its 

 officers, life members, annual members, 

 honorary members.delegates from affiliated 

 local associations, and ex-presidents. 



3. Any person interested in apiculture 

 may become a life member, upon the pay- 

 ment to the Secretary of the sum of ten 

 dollars, and receiving a majority vote at 

 any annual meeting of this Association. 



3. Any person interested in apiculture 

 may become an annual member upon the 

 payment to the Secretary of one dollar, 

 and receiving a majority vote, at any an- 

 nual meeting. Ladies interested in api- 

 culture may be admitted free upon a 

 majority vote. 



i. Annual members shall be entitled to 

 vote, hold office, and discuss any question 

 before the Association, subject to the By- 

 Laws of the Association. 



5. Any persons interested in bee-culture 

 may become honorary members by a 

 majority vote at any regular meeting. 



6. Delegates from affiliated local Associa- 

 tions shall be admitted free, and have all 

 the rights of annual members. 



ARTICLE IV.— OFFICERS. 



1. The officers of this Association shall 

 consist of a President, First Vice-Presi- 



