The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-05-01
Hostile to Cattle.

Hostile to Cattle.
Senator Coke certainly deserves |
well of the state for the very manly
and intelligent course he has persued
with reference to the pending legisla-
ton on the subject, but more especi-
ally the bill known as the pleuro-pneu-
monia bill. The objects sought are
too patent, and the whole thing is a
drive at the cattle interests of the
state; direct, dangerous and unwar-
ranted raid on one of the most impor-
tant sources of prosperity we have.
There is no other interest except cot
ton which bears comparison with our
cattle interest. But the passage of
this act would at once double it back
on us and so cripple and hamper it
that it would be practically des-
troyed. The very season of the year
in which we are prohibited from
moving cattle north is the only season
in which we can so move them. Evil
IDENTIFY the bill was framed by an eX-
pert enemy and rival of the Texas
cattlemen, because no other could
possibly have carried to successful
grouping all the points, having mis-
chief for us, in them. 1t is skilfully
designed and executed piece of hostil-
ity, and that it is strongly backed, is
indicated by its presence in the United
States senate, and in such forward
state of progress. The men who are
engineering it indicate the source of
the hostility. Senator Plumb of
Kansas would not be at
the front but for the fact
that the superior grazing facilities
OF Texas places our cattle on the mar
ket in better shapelat less cost, by, say,
fifty per cent. than Kansas can posi-
bly, do. But should this iniQuitcus
pleuro-pneumonia bill pass, and Texas
be thereby shut off from competition
with Kansas, the graziers and stock
feeders of that state would be kings
Of the situation. Such policy pre-
vailing would not only murder Texas,
but beef eaters all over the world
would feel its wretched effects very
promptly, and twenty-five per cent.
advance in prices would be scored at
Chicago, New York, Boston, Philadel-
phia and Baltimore.
This bill comes from the same sort
of policy which operated to induce
the German government to exclude
American competition in pork in the
Interests of German, Hungarian and
other European competitors. The
cloudy charge of trichin9 grew
under Bismarck's selfish policy to
be great and overshadowing evil. In
this case pleuro- pneumonia is to be ac-
cepted as raving schorching cpl
demic which is not only to destroy the
cattle of Kansas and the west, but it is
to supply unwholesome meat to the
world to the plain hazard of the
worlds good health. We always
become very sensitive to the in
roads of disease, and very ner-
vousIy apprehensive when our
interests are threatened. The late
law passed by the territorial legislat-
ure of New Mexico has the same de-
sign, and it is only part of the great
bottling up policy so lately adopted by
all grazing fields in competition with
whom, Texas possesses so many and
such vast advantages. 1t would be a
singular thing if the senate or the gov
eminent Of the United States were to
lend itself to such a scheme. 1t would
prove to be the colossal outrage of the
age. Acutually diseased cattle ought
to be excluded from unaffected fields,
but provision of law which eX-
cludes all Texas cattle for so
many months of the actual business
operations in stock, is not only I'M
wise and unjust, but it is actual cru
city, and amounts in effect to national
legislation between the business in
terests of Texas and Kansas-partisan
for Kansas, and excessively hostile to
Texas.
Texas is a big country, and her cat
tie interests are vast, rather too much
so to be bottled up in this sort
Of way. The pleuro-pneumonia
tilted at In the senate by Senator
Plumb, of Kansas, is a myth, an
ignus fatuus, and has no real exist
ence only when the Tad weather
of winter prevails. Yet the vast herds
of Texas are repressed by the pro-
posed bill and doubled back upon our
grazing grounds to die of old age, be-
cause they can not be marketed from
November to March, and We dare not
move them from March to November.
This is beautiful state of affairs and
it reveals condition in the long riv-
airy between Kansas and Texas which
indicates that the former has aband-
oned all hopes of success with legiti-
mate means, and now proposes
to fight US with the weapons
of prejudice and unfairness. The
thing is hardly worthy of the advo-
cacy of such men as Plumb, it does no
credit to United States senator that
such service can be had from him.
No interest could have caused Coke
to take such position against Kan
sas.
Texas will not forget the gallant
struggle Coke has made in this in
stance. His nerve, great ability and
his true-hearted devotion to the state
will always be held in grateful remen-
brance by not only the cattle interest
but by all others which are affected
by it.
At the Root of the Evil.
We have a free trade movement