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38 ■ First Annual Report 



either free or at special rates, and in Canada, if I am not mistaken, each 

 member gets annually a book or something else that makes his membership 

 fee practically cost him little or no'hing. Can we not do something a little in 

 that line ? Can it not be so arranged that every bee-keeper in the State, and 

 perhaps a good many out of it, shall become members and stay members 

 year after year, even if they can attend only a few or none of the meetings ? 

 Receiving the annual reports ought to be quite an induct ment, but the bee 

 journals give such lull reports of all important meetings that the induce- 

 ment is on that account less. 



"It just occurs to me that it might be a good plan to include in this 

 year's report the report of the meeting of the Northwestern at Chicago, Nov. 

 19. That society comes nearer being a State organization than any other 

 except this. I can offer a precedent for such action in the case of the State 

 Horticultural Society. This society had an appropriation from the State and 

 the Northern Illinois Society had none, but the State society included in its 

 report the report of the Northern society. If there should, however, be any 

 danger of ill feeling engendered by such action among the local societies of 

 the State, I should bitterly oppose it. Let us be strongly united in whatever 

 we do, and avoid the least tendency toward anything like jealousies or 

 breaking up into cliques. Let our motto be: 'The Greatest Good to the 

 Greatest Number.' 



"I am glad to say that the Northwestern Society at its late meeting took 

 action in the matter, and expressed its willingness to step out of the way if 

 the State society would take its place. There are good reasons why this . 

 would be advisable. As a State society there is a propriety in meeting at 

 the capital, and yet there are prosperous State societies, as that of Michigan, 

 which rarely meet in the capital. Receiving patronage from the State may, 

 however, make a little difference. But if Springfield is the capital, Chicago 

 is the metropolis, and with its many railroads centering from all directions 

 invites attendance. But there need be no conflict. If it is best, let meet- 

 ings be held in Springfield and also in Chicago. Surely it would give us an 

 increased membership. 



"What objections can there be to such a course ? It may be objected 

 that there would not be the same members at each place, and there would 

 be practically two societies. The same thing might be urged against the 

 National society, which at two consecutive meetings may have an almost 

 entirely different membership. If it should be urged that two meetings in a 

 year would divide the interest and not be so successful as a single meeting, 

 the reply comes that there is no weight in that objection, for if the State 

 society does not hold a meeting in Chicago the Northwestern probably will, 

 thus dividing the interest even more. 



"I have faith in the future of the Illinois State Society, because I have 

 faith in Illinois bee-keepers." 



