Show I OUR CATTLE GROWERS First Session of Their National Convention i i vent at Denver I I OBJECT OF ORGANIZATION i j COUPBEHENSIVE ADDRESS BY J 1 M VAN BOSTTTRK I Welcome by Governor Adams Utah and Wyoming Well Represented I On Committees Beminiscences of Rustler War Necessity for Pre I sure On Transportation Companies Denver Colo Jan 25The first session ses-sion of the National Stock Growers convention was called to order in Coliseum oclock There were seum hall at 1030 ocloct present about 1000 delegates representing senting 21 states and territories of the sentng west northwest and southwest In a few words the chairman stated the object ob-ject of the meeting He said that the which the cattle years of depression to catte industry had been subjected caused a loss in that qne branch of business of hundreds of millions but there now appeared ap-peared brighter prospects for stock glowing in Its various branches and this convention was called to consider the new conditions GOVERNORS WELCOME Governor Alva Adams welcomed the delegates in the name of the state He dwelt upon the difference between the present conditions and those of ten conditons of Colo years ago when as governor rado he welcpmed a similar body of t delegates to the state His speech was very optimistic for the stockgrowing industry He urged the cattlemen and the sheepmen to get together and adjust ad-just their differences of Denver delivered Mayor T S McMurray I livered a welcome on behalf of the city lvered W Springer president of the I I Continental Cattle company of Texas I was elected temporary chairman of the convention He was escorted to the I chair by Governor Richards of Wyoming Wyo-ming and Lieutenant Governor Brush I of Colorado In thanking the convention for the I honor conferred Chairman Springer said the delegates assembled as representatives repre-sentatives of the stockgrowing industry sentatves indus-try United States represented a thousand million dollars of capital He said the old cowboy days had passed away and the stockgrowing industry had entered upon a new era Charles H Gould of Nebraska was chosen temporary secretary R E Mc Ginnis of St Paul reading clerk and W H OBrien of Denver sergeantat arms COMMITTEES i nrmnlntpel the follOWlncr j ne cn uriiittii u iiuii v u uw D I alluun ut committees Credentials Lieutenant Governor J I L Brush Colorado chairman W L Pickard Salt Lake Utah Henry G I Hays Wyoming J C Kenyon Omaha i William Irvine Cheyenne Paul McCormack I Mc-Cormack Montana Resolutions Governor Richards of Wyoming J R Van Boskirk Nebraska I Ne-braska J H Neff Kansas City T F Sothan Chilicothe Mo General Flower St Paul Morey K Parsons Utah Charles Owen Byers Colo H A Jastro California Mr Tisdale New Mexico Mat Driscoll Dakota R M Allen Ames Nebraska A P Brush Texas Dr Victor Naugard Washington Washing-ton D C Henry Wallace Des Moines la F J Berry Chicago Taylor Riddle Rid-dle Kansas Permanent Organization George L Goulding chairman Colorado Ora Haley Wyoming W E Skinner I Texas O M Hadley New Mexico W P Anderson Chicago A B Smith Omaha Alfred S Donan Arizona Colonel J McCoy of Kansas responded I respond-ed on behalf of Kansas to the addresses of welcome The convention then took a recess until un-til 2 p m VAN BOSKIRKS ADDRESS At the afternoon session Mr J Van Boskirk read a paper on the advantages advant-ages of organization He said agES Chairman I shall attempt to interest in-terest you by calling your attention to the Jou benefits to be derived from state and county organization of stock growers with reference to the stock Industry as carried on west of the Missouri river In a semiagricultural community I think I can best show the benefits by portraying the necessities of such an organization and what has been done in that direction Alone of all the great modern business activities the stockmen are unorganized actvites In all other industries except that of the agriculturist and stock grower there is combination and compact organization Indeed i would seem that success in this age of intense competition and clashing of different interests comes only from association of those having common interests In-terests followed by cooperation organization organi-zation tail leadership and attention to de VALUE OF ORGANIZATION I is by association that man gathers knowieOge and learns how to use the best means to reach desired ends I Is by association as-sociation that the best minds of the men engaged In the same occupation can be brought together and by contact with each other develop a solidarity of interest inter-est a sense of the dignity of their calling in life and a desire to better their material ma-terial interests by mutual assistance or cooperation me association of individuals indi-viduals in a common cause develops leadership and sharpens and brightens the Intellect of all Not the least of the benefits of association to ranchers and meetIngs stockmen would be their frequent meet inps for discussion and debate of their affairs Discussion is education and en UBhtenmem The oftener people who areas are-as isolated from social and intellectual affairs as are most farmers and ranchers can get together for friendly discussion concerning their business Interests and ways to advance them the better Discussion Dis-cussion and debate lead to deliberation and careful action With leadership and attention to detail the rest is easy OBJECTS OF STOCK GROWERS I I The primary objects of stock growers in this western country In organizing areas are-as follows about In the order of their Importance L The protection of stock from theft stIIh and the arrest and punishment of I thieves I 2 The maintenance of a brand book and the registration of brands and marks denoting ownership and to prevent pre-vent conflicting and spurious brands 3 To maintain inspectors at the great markets and attend to the details of marketing and a proper disposition of proceeds Pro-ceeds of estrays S 4 To maintain an arbitration committee com-mittee prevent costly disputes promote good feelng and good faith without recourse re-course to the courts or to a gun play I rtho lai I < rio a the Interests of stock growers This I may and should include I I at least protection from destruction by wild animals as far as possible proper precautions against contagious disease the securing of necessary legislation as to transportation and other charges as to brand laws as to inspection of carcases car-cases and hides as to disposition of arid or wasfe lands as to taxation of herds in transit while grazing trespass laws and many other items SOME CONDITIONS I think perhaps I can best Indicate some of the benefits of stock growsrs organizing by describing the conditions which confronted cattle growers In western west-ern Nebraska previous to the organization I organiza-tion of the association to which I belong The lands supposed to be arable were thickly settled with homesteaders Being I Be-ing close to the boundaries of Colorado there j Wyoming and South Dakota where t were many range cattis which would drift down that way these settlers more I or less would help themselves to a beef when they needed i The country being I be-ing so new the rancher were unable to prevent this at the start and finally the village markets were mon or less kept I supplied by some of these men bringing In beeves by the quarter After a while when the railroad came in thsse men I grew bolder in their operations and frequent complaints were made by the smaller ranchers who ware now settling in the nearby sand hills Cattle occasion ally disappeared by the car load but no one loser seemed able to Interest enough neighbors to secura evidence necessary nec-essary to cause the arrest and conviction of the thieves RUSTLERS Finally there came to be several organized organ-ized bands of rustlers and any man complaining t of losses and trying to hays them arrested was threatened and terrorized ter-rorized Np man felt able to bear the great expense of obtaining witnesses and employing competent lawyers to assist the county officers in a successful prosecution prose-cution The rustlers were able to em cuton rusters ploy abler counsel to terrorize and drive off witnesses and the result was continual delay and final failure About this time an organization of leading men was attempted at-tempted they being incited thereto by the success of our neighbors In South Dakota who had successfully battled against a similar condition of affairs and brought order out of chaos A very large reward was offered for haen apprehension i r 1 and conviction of thieves I an attempt was made to arouse public opinion and the result was that a sufficient number of men Joined the association to make i financially strong enough to undertake the burden of prosecuting thieves What was too much for one man was easy for an association of men each contributing his mite of money his Influence for good and his ability in organizing and uniting his neighbors After this association succeeded In its I first prosecution it grew rapidly In Influence Influ-ence and power for good and live stock on the range in that country Is now about safe as property as cash under a time lock while the illicit trade In dressed beeves and hides has totally ceased PUBLIC OPINION In these days public opinion has much to do with enforcing the laws The way to secure vigilant prosecuting officers to create a strong sentiment for the punishment punish-ment of petty thieving and a respect for property rights is to cultivate and organize organ-ize this public opinion into an aggressive force In every community Ina gazing country where stock runs at large the year round the next thing to do after teaching the rights of property prop-erty Is to regulate and publish brands and marks of ownership This can only he done by a strong association as the expense Is considerable Every rancher should have a brand book in order to keep nosted as to estrnys and to restore them to owners A further use of brand books is to keep tab on cattle being driven oft by strangers I am not familiar with brand laws in I other states but In Nebraska we will have to have a state registration of I brands similar to one Just going Into effect in South Dakota The registration in counties permits of too much confusion only one man In a state should use the same brand PRESSING NEED The most pressing need for a strong association at this time however is to bring pressure on lawmaking bodies and transportation companies There is a necessity for some new laws and changes in existing laws No one individual no one town no one county can secure legislation leg-islation except they have a pull In some way In all this country of ours everything in the way of business and l prouueuou Is orgmazea more or less compactly com-pactly excjpt tho live stock and agricultural agricul-tural Interests With the immense financial finan-cial backing which would b behind an I organization of allied stock growing interests j in-terests it would seem no arguments were i needed to show the desirability of such I I j an organization in ever county and In I every state i we would succeed Railroad 1 road companies stock yards corporations I banks Insurance companies boards of I trade Iron and steel manufacturers all 1 sorts of trusts and combines tales a j i i hand In legislation by maintaining com I mittees and attorneys and lobbies to look after legislation affecting their several sev-eral Interests I maintain that stockmen stock-men have the right to do the same and not only have the right but it Is their duty There should be county and local organizations to look after local affairs and as far as possible to see that only men familiar with our affairs should go S to the legislatures From these local S bodies should be formed stats organizations I organiza-tions of all ned stock Interests whose S duty It should be to maintain a closeS close-S watch on all legislation I 1 > not necessary neces-sary for me tfh try to specify laws but as I have said there Is need for many new S ones to correspond with the Immense Increase in live stock industries in all ways HAVE THE POWER I has recently been shown in at least I two western states that even small organ izations have sufficient power to control transportation rates when they choose I j to exercise it I I I ic proper leadership and thorough S organization stock growing interests can be as well protected from extortion and unfair and unjust treatment as can another i I an-other interest I Do Tocquevllle in his famous book 8m i Democracy in America says In a I Democratic communities Individuals are I very powerless This I Is the point I I wish fO impress upon IIS stock growers and their friends As individuals we can do nothing combined for lawful purposes pur-poses we can accomplish laws secure just legislation secure equitable transportation trans-portation and stock yards or other charges educate public opinion or maln tain upright dealings among our members All that Is needed Is cooperation organization organ-ization leadership and attention to details de-tails and th3 world Is ours PATRICKS ADDRESS An address by G F Patrick of Pueblo Pu-eblo Colo on The Benefits to be Derived De-rived From an Interstate Organization Organiza-tion recited that organizations of packers and carriers had forced the stock growers to organize He pointed out many abuses suffered by shippers from railroad companies stock yards companies and packers Local organ i izations he said could not properly meet these abuses He declared that Individual In-dividual shippers were at the mercy of the Immense organizations and could not expect prosperity until they were prepared to meet combination with combination He declared that merchants mer-chants had been a slow to recognize I the necessity of combined action as the I and t where indi stock shippers that wher individuals I viduals had made movements in the i right direction by vigorous agitation I I they had been silenced with annual I passes and freight rebates Cities and I markets he said had suffered as well i as Individual shippers from railroad I discrimination and It should be the t I I work of organized shippers to see that j t fair play is given to all i i TALBOTS PAPER j The next number on the programme prgmme was to have been a paper by Ralph I Talbot attorney for the Colorado Cattle Cat-tle Growers association on The Conservation Con-servation of the Ranges Mr Talbot was unable to be present and his paper i was read by his law partner Mr Wad I ley The paper was confined t the consideratiOn ot laws for the preservation preserva-tion of live stock on the ranges Nothing short of interstate organ organJ a l J I I ization will suffice to protect the stock 1 Interests of America was his conclusion conclu-sion abaHe i He urged the necessity of better and I more Uniform laws regarding brands l so that less obstacles should be placed in the way of identification of stolen I cattle The laws governing the killing 1 of stock by railways needed revising i he said so that the cattle owner may I find justice In the courts Often he declared county I prosecutors prosecut-ors though willing are not well enough versed in the complicated statutes stat-utes against cattle stealing to obtain convictions where the clearest evidence evi-dence Is to be had To remedy this he suggested special prosecutors to be employed em-ployed by state or interstate organizations organiza-tions The chairman announced that Wolfe I Londoner of Denver had been appointed i appoint-ed chairman of the committee on irri gtonPOLITICAL j POLITICAL ACTION G J McCoy of Kansas then addressed address-ed the convention on the contest between be-tween the stock shippers of Kansas andS and-S the stock yards company of Kansas City Mr McCoy asserted that organization f onl 1 di ization was only one step in the scourIng 1 i scour-ing of justice to the shippers He said r i poltcl action was necessary to carry I out the aims of the organization The committee on permanent organization organi-zation reported in favor of making the I temporary organization permanent and j named the following gentlemen as the vice presidents Theodore P Schur meier St Paul J A Brown Laramie Wyo D C W att Colorado S K Foss Nebraska George W D Leduc commissioner of agriculture A P Busch Jr Texas Jesse Smith Layton Utah J D Wood Spencer Ida F J Berry Chicago The committee recommended that Murdo McKenzie and A B Peterson of Texas be added to its number The report port was adopted |