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Show SECRETARY IKES HIS 1UFII George S. Walker Reviews the Work of Association During Year Just Closed. MEMBERSHIP HAS GROWN AND CONDITION IS GOOD First Effective Punishment Administered Ad-ministered to Raiders of Sheep Camps. (By a Staff Correspondent.; OGDEN. Jan. 7. Georgo S. "Walker, secretary of the National Woolgrowers' association, read his annual report to the convention today. "Mr. Waiter's report is a review of tho work that lias bcou done by the association during dur-ing tho year. It is a comprehensive statement of conditions that have prevailed, pre-vailed, and conditions thai. arc. Mr. Walker calls attention to the fact that, during tho year, deserved punishment has been visited upon raiders of sheep camps, who committed murder. Mr. Walker recommends the establishment of a publicity bureau, maintaining that a groat deal of good may be accomplished accom-plished by the dissemination of fact's about the sheep industry. Altogether the report of Mr. Walkor is" a clear presentation of the facts concerning con-cerning the -doings of the association during tho last 3'ear. The report fob lows: OGDEN, Utah, Jan. 7, 1910. Members of tho National Woolgrowors' association. In convention assembled, Ogden, Utah. Gentlemen: In compliance with section 4 of the by-laws of this association, I beg to transmit herewith the annual report of your secretary, together with a statement showing the financial condition condi-tion of the organization at the present time; also a review of the work of the association for tho past 3'ear and such recommendations as appear to be necessary neces-sary at this time. Tho financial statement follows: RECEIPTS. Contingent fund: Balance on hand In treasury last report $ 1.1S1.19 Loss to error, January H, 1909.. 1.00 Total $ 1.4S0.19 Dues from members and associations asso-ciations 4,930.00 Subscriptions to tariff fund , Wyoming Woolgrowers' association $1,000.00 Idaho Woolgrowers' association as-sociation 750.00 South Dakota Wool-growers' Wool-growers' association.. 200.00 Eastern Nevada Wool- growers' association.. 200.00 Montana Woolgrowers" association .". .. 520.00 Utah Woolgrowers' association as-sociation ..- 405; 00 - Washington Wqolgrow- e'rs'- association.-. ..i... 150-.00 New Mexico .Woolgrow- ers association 500.00 Ogden Woolgrowers' as- soclatlon 100.00 California Woolgrowers' association .. , 1Q0.00 Arizona' Woolgrowers' association 300;00 Individual members.,.. 233.10 4,458.10 Total $10,SGS.29 DISBURSEMENTS. Contingent fund Tariff expenses, sending committees com-mittees to Washington, gathering gath-ering and presenting statistical statisti-cal matter, printing pamphlets, pam-phlets, circulars, postage, etc..$ 4,022 00 Stenogranmc expenses, qfflce rent, office furniture, supplies, sup-plies, secretary s salary, printing, print-ing, postage, traveling expenses, ex-penses, etc 4,191.72 Total ... .$ S, 213. SO Balance on hand 2,634.40 G,r,?n.d t,ota!. .$10,S6S.29 Publicity fund-Balance fund-Balance on hand in treasury last report $ 5.553. S4 Expenditures Salary of publicity officer of-ficer $2,200.00 Menographic expense... IS. 00 Postage, printing, newspaper news-paper arid magazine articles, etc 1.040.47 Total $3,258.47 Balance on hand 2,295.37 s Total funds available .$ 4.949.86 You will observe that the cash balance on hand Is very small for an organization organiza-tion national In scope and reputation, and which sum Is entirely Inadequate for present needs. During the past year the association has been conducting very Important Im-portant wprk in behalf of its members and the sheep nduslry In general, and while considerable money has been spent yet every ponny has been Judiciously expended, ex-pended, and I think you will agroo with me that the results are splendid as compared com-pared with tho amount of money Invested In-vested In the work, but sevoral plans of vital Importance to the association have not yet been consummated, and If success suc-cess Is to be obtained the work riiust bo continued, and thlp requires money. I think you oil realize the Importance of this situation, and while It is unnecessary unneces-sary perhaps to rofer in detail to what must be accomplished If we are to continue con-tinue our present enviable position in the commercial and political world, suffice it to say that wc are not yet out of the woods In this tariff matter, and as you have been informed by able speakers, and as you will be advised by others, there Is urgent need for continuing our opposition opposi-tion to' any reduction In the tariff on wool and woolens, for the free trade interests in-terests are organized and have already launched their campaign for free wool, or at least for material reductions In the present schedules. Organization Successful. Of course, you all know that the organization or-ganization has been successful to date, aided as It was by our friends In congress con-gress and by the wool manufacturers who have stood manfully by ub. and whole shoulders were ever at the wheel during the trying struggle through which we have Just passed. But we must continue con-tinue our support of tho men on the firing fir-ing line. There is only one way for us to do It. and that Is to not only maintain our present splpndld membership, but to Increase the strength of the organization In every manner possible, and immediately. immediate-ly. An organization without funds, no matter how powerful It may appear on the surface. Is a weakling Indeed. And while discussing this tariff situation, situa-tion, I wish to susgest that your officers not only be provided with a sum of money adequate to continue tho opposition to any reduction In the tariff on wool and woolens, but T respectfully recommend that provision bo made, or your officers authorized, to arrange for the establishment establish-ment of a wool tariff publicity bureau. Tho matter has been discussed at considerable con-siderable length by your officers, and I am confident that if you wll provide a fund for this work and bureau, manned by writers- "Who are not only export in tariff matters, but who aro thoroughly fiosted In the iptricaclcs of wool-grow-ng. selling, spinning, weaving and final manufacture of the product Into cloth. These writers would have access to eastern east-ern magozlnes and metropolitan newspapers, newspa-pers, and I am confident that they could Continued on Pago Seven. SECRETARY MAKES HIS ANNUAL REPORT ' onfinucd from Pace Two. on ih,u .at rM6onable figures to cam-JVil'i0 cam-JVil'i0 wok'' "nrIer 'be direction of vo-ir Summon f 'Sht-nlnp tho wool-con! gumming nubile regarding the growln- and woolen schedule. rnB'Arancn W001 Publicity Bureau. vftMi?'Jlln "ntly recommend that tbU in Wf ,',T '"r-owered to establish niniL Kff ni,b,1,ol;j' bureau aud arrajigc no , t . M!UlQ for Prrylnar on tno expense ex-pense of the pame. tov Jl)6l ,s riVCC(,l"' ln hi invention hall, the VJnVL wooi and. wolris will bo agahi fh,C,iw1, K.nd ""I"-" "'c congress and rm?mTi "JT1 nuhllc rrt thorouphlv In-1 In-1 .mc may "ol hn so ?urces5fnl next ivmt'Vu rh " Press have teemed .,..Vlp.nr5Uinp",s of the rdd-woolen manufaetureifl and others who sek frc. .oTP01' anrt 1 rcsrrei to say that they nave the sympathy of a large percentage fi tiii public, among the congressman, vnn our chief cwoutlve has been mprcMPcd with the hue and cry that In fcoing up on all sides for Tree wool. And whllo the carrying out of the r n '"""'''ndailonF will necessitate proUding additional funds. I wish to offer flu.cil'ori as to how to better Our Jliianehil rendition at this time. Soiiv time ako the annual dues of individual members of Ibis association wero 510 Ti!:r. v.ftr' h!11 .rour .vf-arfl thinking tnat it would Increase our membership, tne annual dues were reduced to per year. W0 hove found, however, that In inOKl ItlMt a n.int? ,-...n,K..r. 1 1 i.. lvo the former annual due-i of S10, and in provide the npt-oelatlon with more iunds. and bellevlne that there )& not a member of our organization who would not willingly contribute an additional $5 per year. I respectfully recommend that section o of article i of the constitution be amended to read as follows: "Section o. Any individual, companv, or corporation, engaged in wool growing, sheep or goat raising or feeding, shall pay an annual due of ten dollars." Other plans have been suggested, but I bolieve the increase, of the annual due is the nio;t teaslble. and J trust that you will give the matter careful consideration at this time. Aside from the tariff, there are other matters of vital importance to he considered consid-ered by Lhe, association at this time, and If you will bear with me I will refer briefly to each. Leasing Question. It lias been announced bv other- livestock live-stock organizations that congress will be asked at the present, session to reconsider the leasing question a-s outlined In tho Rurkelte and Scolt bills, which were introduced in-troduced in congress several veirs ago. but which, through the opposition of this organization, were .'aid to one side. In brief these hills provide for tho leasing of all unoccupied gra.Ing lands in the. western states, and the nuesMon at this time is: Do Wc want a lnw of this kind placed in the federal statutes.? This association has repeatedly placed 1 1 self on record as being against such proposed legislation, but as conditions are rapidly changing throughout the western range states, and as certain Interests are preparing pre-paring to press congress for the enactment enact-ment of this pr a similar law. T respectfully respect-fully suggest that the matter be discusser carefully at this time and the association's associa-tion's policy announced in the resolutions. Another important subject is that of the administration of the forest reserves. Ton are all familiar with tho opera I Ions of the forest bureau, and the question is: Are you satisfied with the policy are you satisfied with the charge for grazing sheep fn t he reserve, or do you still hold to the opinion thai the charge of 7 and S cents for sheep, as compared with 20 to 2." cents per bead for other kinds of livestock. live-stock. Is fair? This association is on record at the present time, as favoring the movement for the conservation of our natural l-e-sources, and especially favors the protection pro-tection of our forests, bu; there are somo features of the conservation movement move-ment and some features of the administration adminis-tration of the forest re6cr.es that have not met with the approval of the majority ma-jority of the members of this association, associa-tion, and I would respectfully rucoimncnd that these questions b givtn careful consideration, and the future policy of this association be announced at this time. Tt is my personal opinion (hat (he charge for grazing sheep in the national forests Is unfair, when .:ompay;id with tho harge.s for oilier classes of livestock, live-stock, and 1 a msatisfled that If wc confer con-fer with Hon James "Wilson, secretary of agriculture, and lion. Gifford Pinchot. chief of the bureau of 'oiov, that w j will be able, to secure redress. "Railroad Serviro Tmnnrtatif Another Important matter is thai of railroad service, rates and weight. The association has repeatedly gone on record as favoring a federal law compelling tho railroads to move trains in wl)ih there are ton or more cars of llve-noex. at an aerage minimum speed of sixteen miles per hour. The National Woolgrowe-.-o association, as-sociation, the American Humane association, asso-ciation, and tho American Xatiftinl Livestock Live-stock association, have agreed upon a bill which is lo be introduced at the present congress covering ihia matter, and providing that on all ":cupt a few minor roads, where conditions rend)' It Impossible lo maintain ibe speed, that livestock trains shall bo run at an average aver-age medium speed of sixteen miles per hour, and I have found l!nt n number of the leading railroad companies; favor the enactment of such :i law. When compared with the rates charg-d for transporting fruit and other perishable perish-able merchandise, tho rates on wool to Hie .eastern markets are cxe-issive. and in all instances extremely burdensome. 1 cannot see the justice lo charging lhc woolgrowers as much, and i,i some 'instances 'in-stances more, for transporting a carload of wool from Utah Idaho ami .Montana common points to the Atlantic suabourd. as is charged for hauling a car of-lrult. from the Pacific coast, to' ?,Tvw Yor- and Boston. A cm of fruit, when transported transport-ed In the winter, -must be run Into tlfe roundhouses at division i?rmlnas and handled on passenger-train lime, bin a arlo.nl of wool Is throtui in with coal, ore. :tnd other "dead freight " and hauled along leisurely, and requiring months in some Instances to reach its destination on ih Atlantic seaboard. And yet our railroad friends charge us as much ,and in many cases more for tho service. Confidence in Railroads. I lme great confidence in the fairness of the railroads, and J believe If we "take tills matter up with them in lhe proper ;-pirlt we will be able to secure a readjustment read-justment of the rates on wool, and in tills i onneellon I i-peclfully recommend that a committee, of three be appointed at. this time to be known as the committee on freight rates and transportation fa-lllties. fa-lllties. and that the said committee be instructed to co-operate- with your officials offi-cials Jn an effort to secure a readjustment readjust-ment of rates and such improvement s are necessary in the transportation sr-ice. sr-ice. .nd this committee could also vn-fer vn-fer whli the. carriers relative tn minimum mini-mum weights, which wo all know are ex-ccsrdvely ex-ccsrdvely high. Then Is iirobably not a sheepman among us who has not at som lime or another had a real or fancied claim against the railroads, crowinc out of delays de-lays in 1 lie transportq I Ion of sheep, nome-titnes nome-titnes the delays being avoidable, and at others unavoidable. At any rale, the fhlppers have at times suffered coiuild-orahlo coiuild-orahlo loss and. believing lhat they ihonld be reimbursed, have presented claims to the railroad? In many ln-r.raticii ln-r.raticii these claiuiu have been settled Immediately, and In others they have met with an unsatisfactory reception. For years the cOmnii?s)lou firms at the market centers have been kind enough to handle many of these claims for their pa Irons. The commission men have been wonderfully sinWfisful in this work and are deserving of our hearty thanks. Mnt. would It not be much more satisfactory to all concerned If our association could establish a claims department or freight tiaflic bureau to handle these malterj for its members'.' 1 have Investigated rlie subject somewhat some-what and I am of the opinion thai while the establishment of a claims or freight tiaflle bureau would entail the expenditure expendi-ture of considerable money at the outset, out-set, I am satisfied that the department could be made self-sustaining, in addition addi-tion to performing a splendid service for our members, and. once establiphed, it would serve as an Inducement to flock-masters flock-masters not now affiliated with us to Join tho rank. Plan Will Be Submitted. A plan Is lo be submitted to the resolutions reso-lutions commute and doubtless will be i:feired to the convention, and If il 1j I sincerely trust that you will give the subject caraful consideration. And doubtless doubt-less tho freight trafric bureau could.be manned by mn perfectly familiar with the trannportntlon, rate and weight questions, ques-tions, and. If so. the department could handle all of th,ac matters for us. During the. past year this asfociatlon aided the Wyoming Woolgrowers association asso-ciation and tho authorities of that state in running down sheep camp raiders, our combined efforts landing In tho Wyoming penitentiary five cowmen, who murdered three fioekmasters. two of whom wcro members of this nsFoclation. Shortly after the crime was committed, your offlcero offered a reward of $100t) for the, apprehension appre-hension and conviction of the murderers, tho W yomlng association offering J200O The offer 0f thePe large rewards had the desired effect and was of. material assistance as-sistance in obtaining results. The Wyoming association, at Its mcet-ng mcet-ng Tuesday, paid over to tho detectives Its reward of $200n, and I sincerely trust that this association will approve of tho action of your officers In offering tho reward re-ward and instruct them to pay same, for while the murders were committed and u successful prosecution conducted in another an-other state, the results are far-reaching, and fioekmasters in all of the rouge states will be greatly benefited. Our association Is aiding in the' efforts ef-forts of affiliated state, counlv and district dis-trict organisations, and the "officers of the. law. In running down these sheep-camp sheep-camp raiders. We regard thl6 work as helng of the greatest Importance, and while your officers were not Instructed at previous conventions to do work of this kind tho emergency was presented when this awful crime was committed In Big Horn county. Wyoming, and. believing be-lieving that our 'acts would he. sustained, and there not being time to Submit the matter lo the executive committee, we proceeded at once and did what we. thought was best for all concerned. And I might jay with reference to this 'matter 'mat-ter that this is the first time, that I know of. In the history of the rango sheep business that sheep-camp raider have' been successfully prosecuted and are receiving re-ceiving the punishment thev so rlc-hlv deserve, and I know of nothing that will be more, beneficial to the sheep Industry and to society In aenoral than a continuance con-tinuance of this work of running down shecp-camp rAldcrs. Disease Is Discussed. The subject of "lip and leg ulceration" has occupied the Individual attention of our western sheepmen for several months, and there la general dissatisfaction as a result of the attitude of the federal bureau bu-reau of animal Industry In handling shipments of sheep arriving at the eastern east-ern market. While the disease known as "Hp and leg ulceration" prevails in several western states, unfortunatelv the officers of the federal government have seen fit to treat sorc-month Jambs in the snine manner as animals affected with this lip and leg ulceration, with the result re-sult that our shippers have sustained heavy losses. And I respectfulv recommend recom-mend thai wc confer at length with the federal officials in an effort to secure modifications In the prooent rulings of the oeparlment. to the end that sore-mouth lambs be passed without restrictions, for wc have evidence oh all sides to show that these sore-month, lamlic In -ilmngt 1 every case, have been cured with our treatment. I believo that the, federal officials arc acting honestly and conscientiously con-scientiously in this matter, but as a result re-sult of too much enthusiasm and a dc-tlre dc-tlre to quickly eradicate this new infection infec-tion have hven a. little too harsh, and I believe if the fioekmasters will give them tho henefit of their experience and will co-operate, ihey will find the federal officials of-ficials not only willing, but vera' glad to . assist us. With tho convening of each annual convention of our association, new topics come up for discussion, but we arc confronted con-fronted at this time with an old encmv, and one who is growing stronger arid stronger with each passing year, and unless we do something, and at one, the very life of the livestock Industry will be threatened, if it is not already seriously seri-ously menaced. I refer to the predatory wild animal pest: but doubtless you are all perfectly familiar with the ravages of the wolf, coyote and the mountain lion, lou know of your own 10603 through the work of these prairie pests. And as I have conferred with many sufferers. I have been able to estimate, ln a wav. the aggregate losses from this source, and I think I am conservative when I sav that the loss sustained at tho hands o& predatory wild animals annually Is In excess ex-cess of all other losses leakages ajid misfortunes mis-fortunes Incident lo the business. Take the livestock- Industry of the United States as n whole, and were the aggregate losses from predatory pests secured, the figures would astound the world. Losses Growing Yearly. These lostea have been growing fi-orn year to year, and the "surprising part of it all Is that the wolf and eovote have steadily Increased in numbers, 'li in true that livestock associations and individuals have waged war on the pests, and state legislatures have appropriated large sums as bounty, but 'the ravages upon our flocks continue. And 1 respectfully recommend rec-ommend that some decisive action be taken at this time. The most off cell ve method of waging war upon the predatory pests, in my opinion. opin-ion. Is the securing of uniform bounty laws Jn the several states, and with a federal law providing for the extermination extermina-tion of wolves, coyotes and mountain lions, and with a united effort all along the line. I believe wc would he able to eradicate the animals. And in this connection! con-nection! respectfully recommend that a committee of three be nppolnled to take this matter up with the livestock Interests Inter-ests In the several stales In a systems lie way for tho purpose, of securing, if possible possi-ble uniform bounty laws. During the past year the national wool warehouses and storage movement, inaugurated in-augurated by this association, has proved a pronounced success, and unless all signs fall, it will continue to grow and will in a few years completely revolutionize the old method of handling wool. Wo have with us tho lion. James SC. Cosgrlff. president of the Wool Warehouse and Storage company, who will gle yon full Information regarding the work of the past season and plans for the future. Suffice it to s.jy the movement was born of the efforts of the organization and is deserving of the support, not only of our members, but of all others engaged in wool growing. During the past year the association continued the satlsfaetoi growth lhat njark'-d its progress during tho rrcccd-Ing rrcccd-Ing year: and while, at Denver four years ago this month the association numbered but thirty-six members. T take plcarnre ln advising you that at this lime we have more than SOftO members. In conclusion. T wish to thank you one and all for the hearty support you have given your officers and especially the help and encouragement you have given your secretary, and by continuing to support sup-port your officers in tho future, there is no ouestlnn but that tlm National Wool-gi"uvers: Wool-gi"uvers: association will grow and prove an important factor in the progress of the sheep and wool industry. |