STATE bee-keepers' ASSOCIATION. 61 



Mr. Black — It is ag&inst our interest to do what most 

 people admit is doubtful, and as I think a wrong move. 



* Mr. Becker — We want the organization to proceed with 

 other business; our membership is small, and this would give 

 us a larger body in our organization, and when we come 

 before the Legislature what can we tell them? I would like 

 to see every county in the State organized, and find how 

 many bee-keeoers there are in each county, how much honey 

 is produced, in order that we can come before the Legisla- 

 ture and show them the interest there is in the State of 

 Illinois for bee-keepers. If we don't vote this motion down 

 we will be losers. We can write to these parties to help us. 

 Now we have nothing but the Illinois State Association. I 

 think they are worth more than $1.00. 



Mr. Bowen — Could we not have the constitution so ar- 

 ranged that we can take members as honorary in order 

 to raise the membership. I move to strike out the 25 cents, 

 and that members of the Association shall be accepted as 

 honorary members. 



Mr. Smith — There is a motion now before the house, 

 and that motion is seconded. Mr. Black moved to lay the 

 motion on the table, your motion is now out of order unless 

 you move to reconsider it. 



Mr. Bowen — This motion is subject to amendment. I 

 move now to amend it. 



Mr. Smith — I misunderstood you. 



Dr. Miller — I am an honorary member, but I don't think 

 it would be fair to take in members for nothing. Our mem- 

 bers pay their $1.00. Now you are going to say, "Come on 

 for nothing." While a person may come in at a less amount, 

 I don't think we are conflicting with the constitution, it is 

 a question whether the National has done anything wrong. 

 Don't shut ourselves out from the advantage it will give us. 

 It looks as if the adoption of this report will more than 

 double the membership of this society, and the doubling of 

 that memerbship means a great deal to us. There is noth- 

 "ing in the constitution that is disturbed by this motion. 

 You will get into trouble by admitting as honorary members. 

 It is not fair to the members present. We ought to be will- 

 ing to strain to increase our membership for the great ad- 

 vantage it will bring to us. 



Mr. Black — They will not become members until we have 

 notified the body that they have accepted that, or they be- 

 come honorary members on their acceptance or notice, or they 

 become members on the payment of 25 cents. 



Mr. Bowen — Becoming honorary members doesn't mean 

 active members, but honorary members to act in harmony 

 with the State Association. Their interests and ours are 

 one, and they want to sign their names as members of the 

 Association and they ought to do so. I would rather see a 

 good organization with barely an existence in financial mat- 

 ters than to have a large fee and only a small organization. 

 If it is right to have a few honorary members, why not 

 many? 



