130 FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT 



comb-honey story. When I travel I come across business 

 men and we get into conversation. The first thing we ask 

 one another is, "What is your business?" I say, "I have a 

 little factory out here in the country." "What do you make?" 

 "I make comb foundation." "What is that?" "Did you ever 

 hear about comb honey being manufactured?" "Oh yes." 

 "Well, there isn't any such thing. I make the nearest to 

 comb that can be done." "Is that so?" Then comes the 

 explanation. If I have a sample I show him and he is 

 absolutely convinced there is no comb honey manufactured. 

 But when I first meet him, if knows anything about it he 

 knows comb honey is manufactured and sold ! I find very 

 few people that do not believe it until it is explained to them. 

 When I tell them, I know they believe me because there is 

 no reason for me to tell them a story and they understand 

 how the story was gotten up. But this extends to you ; it 

 is absolutely necessary to make this matter known widely 

 because there are millions of people who have read that story 

 and believe it simply because they have never been told 

 better. 



Mr. Smith — I want to say I have convinced some parties 

 by exhibiting some of the thin foundation and explaining 

 why it was used and how it was used, and that was all 

 there was to it. It dawned on their minds finally that I 

 was right. I think the more we do that, and the more we 

 can explain this thing and talk it the better, because it is 

 the fact, and it is easily demonstrated when we have the 

 evidence, that is, the foundation, and show the people that 

 that is all there is to it. I am like Mr. Becker, I believe 

 in every bee-keeper standing by his honey. 



Pres. York — Before Mr. Smith spoke I was wondering 

 whether it would. not be a good idea for every bee-keeper 

 to carry a little piece of comb foundation; and I am going to 

 suggest to the comb manufacturers that they get up a little 

 pocket-holder with a piece of comb in it, and give it to 

 all the bee-keepers. I think it would be a good advertise- 

 ment for them. 



Mr. Abbott — If these comb-foundatioti men would find 

 out when the Traveling Men's Association meets, and send 

 some of this comb foundation there they would do more 

 towards counteracting this than anything I know of. The 

 traveling men who travel for wholesale houses do more to 

 keep this story alive than any class of men in existence. I 

 never met a traveling man' in my life, who was not a bee- 

 keeper, that did not think that comb honey could be manu- 

 factured. He wouldn't believe it at all when I came to talk 

 to him. Every once in a while I meet one who wants to 

 bet money on it. I met one in the streets of St. Louis one 

 day, and he said when I told him it was not manufactured, 

 "You are crazy. I know right where the man is ; he is down 

 the street here not more than four blocks away, and he was 

 talking to a man that knew well." I put my hand on the 

 man's shoulder, and said, "Am I responsible for $500?" He 

 said, "I think you are." I said, "My dear sir, come on down 



