The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1883-04-10
Held Their Annual State Con-
ventiOn at Sicher'S Park,
Yesterday.
The Chairman, Mr.. Leonard,
Delivered an Interesting
Address.
Election of Officers for Ensuing
Year, and Sedalia Fixed as
Place of Meeting.

The State Association of short horI
breeder met in the dancing hall of Sicher'
Park hotel yesterday evening at 2 O'Clock
the president, Mr.. c. E. Leonard, of Coope
!. county, i'm the chair.
\ 1t appearing that Phil. Chew, the secre
tary of the association, was not present
the chairman suggested that temporary
secretary be chosen.
On motion, DIR. Henry Evans was chosen
as temporary secretary.
On motion, a call of the roll of me nber!
of the association was made, Judge VIM
Gentry furnishing the list, as follows:
Theodore Bates. VIM. Mclean, c. H
HAYNES, M. o. Green, L Palmer, Leo Rob
erts. w. H. Evans. W. r. King, j. G. Carr
& Son, j. g. Leonard & Son. e. f. Leon.
Bennett, NJ joplin, B. F. Hedges, o. T.
Ralph. II. ID. Ayres, N. Spahr, Il J. Nor
row James Martin. III. T. Ramsey J. X.
King, J. w. Sparks and w L. Hearne.
There were but two or three absentees,
and as will be seen by the list the associ-
alton embraces nearly all of the prominent
SNORT nOTu UTccUtTo vi Tic Stdtc.
a. After the calling of the roll, an invita-
tion was extended To all present who
were not members and desired to Join the
association to step forward and give their
names to the secretary. Messrs. III. b.
Scott, of Pettis; W. III. CundifiI, of Cass, and
A. ]. Powell, of Jackson, availed them
selves of the opportunity of becoming
members by simply paying an initiation
fee of 81.
The chairman, Mr. Leonard, said that
Capt Jno. NJ. Sneed, of Pet'is county, had
been selected to deliver the address of well
come, but had shirked his duty nv dodg-
ing, and that part of the proceedings
would have to be omitted. He would like
to have seen q larger attendance, bu. it was
really better than could be expected when
all of the circumstances were considered,
for the executive committee, whose duty it
was to prepare a programme and fix the
dav and place of meeting. had not been
called together for that purpose by the
I ecretary, and those present had met mere
|1y by common understanding. He would
now proceed to read an essay he had pre-
pared for the occasion.
PAPER READ BY C. e. LEONARD.
It is gratifying to see so many short
horn breeders present, far more than could
be expected, as there was scarcely any no.
tice given If the time and place of meet.
ing, sickness preventing me from doing my
duty. 1t is a disappointment that the ex
ecutive committee did not get together and
arrange q programme of exercises, that
gentlemen might have been here better pre-
pared to give their views in the important
business we are engaged in. We hope,
however, that every short horn breeder
present will freely express his opinions on
this important subject. The rearing of
cattle has come to be in the last four years
one Of the important industries of the
hountry. Millions are daily being invested
In the great cattle ranches of the west, and
the important question with these gentle
men is which of the improved breeds will
make the best cross on their native cows
We make no war on any improved breed
I of cattle There is room for ali, and all
have some points of excellence, but we are
of the opinion that a good short-horn will
improve any beef breed. The time has
been, up till very recently, when there was
|no question az to which were the best cat
tie for the general farmer to raise. If he
wished to improve his native cattle. of
course he bought short-horn bull, and if
he desired to have the best, he bred to short
horns.
We think the same course should be
pursued to-day, and:in fact, it is SO plain to
Jus We wonder any should 60 aslray Yet
I'VE know there are many who differ with us.
|Rnd am glad of this difference of opin-
pn, and feel that it will work great good
TO the short-horn interest. We are being
taught that if the shor.-horns are to MAIN |
tain the high and exalted standard of ex.
|cellence they have so successfully held for |
tie last century, with only an occasional |
defeat, We are to look we'll to their beef
tops. The all important question that is |
before us to-day Is how are we TO breed |
and manage our cattle that we may keep |
FIN the front rank? Success for the time |
being will satisfy many. So long as they |
can sell what they raise at extravagant
prices, they care but little what becomes of /
he breed IN the future; but we, as an |
association, should do all ne can, not only |
10 maintain the high excellence of our
cattle, but to improve them from year
10 year, thus continually making the
foundation more secure, to accomplish |
which we cannot longer afford to ignore
fedividual merit, for pedigree alone. The
Dad TO successful bres ding is plain and
may be defined in the following few words:
Use no bull, whatever his pedigree or
folor, unless he is good Individually.
Neither use a good animal without the
pedigree is also good. By good pedigree,
mean one of long line OF individually
kood ancestors, whose blood is substantiated
BY pedigree, not false, doubtful or un.
known. / am confident if this course of
breeding were pursued the other breeds
would never come nearer TO the front than
they did at the last fat stock show at Chi
fago. The general farmer and ranchmen.
Fho are the producers of the beef to feed
bur Increasing millions and the millions
Pf Europe, are not to be humbugged with
pedigree alone. The time has come when
hey must have the animal as we'll as the
eood, and here let me state, when in Texas,
Il the Austin convention of stock men, /