Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-03-09
down TO BUSINESS.
The Cattlemen Laying Them
selves Out to Work.
DOING THINGS WITH A RUSH.
Scoring the Big Four and the
Railroads FOR
DOING THINGS WITH A RUSH.
OPPRESSION AND UNFAIRNESS.
The Largest Cattlemen's Convention Ever
Gathered in Texas Now in Session
Report OF the Executive Conn
Inittee-Sales and Items.


stock in trade. Kindness towards man
and beast is a pronounced characteristic OF
this hardy race, whose natures are
broadened through the healthful out
door existence which is part or
their lives. Away from home they are
quick to understand and reciprocate the
many amenities of life, and towards the
people OF Fort Worth they entertain none
but the kindliest of feelings and recoLect-
tons. All this is pleasant TO know and
TO contemplate, first because 1t Is well
for brothers to dwell together in unity,
and second, in the result of the present cat
tlemens' convention, are hourly witnessed
evidences of the esteem entertained by the
citizens of Fort Worth for the organization
which reflects such great credit upon them
selves in particular, the city which IS
striving to properly entertain them.
THE BUSINESS BEGINS.
When the sun arose yesterday morning it
found nearly three thousand representative
cattle owners in the city. II was the open
ing day OF the sixteenth annual convention
of the Northwest Texas cattle raiserS'
association, an event annually looked
forward to with absorbing IN
herds wander over the boundless plains
and prairies of the Lone Star state.
Charming weather prevailed, Old Sol shin
ing with a warmth and radiance which re-
minded the visitors of the glorious spring
weather of their far-away homes. The
early morning trans brought in many
large additional delegations, and the
several hotel proprietors were called
upon to exert themselves to the very ut
most Ia order to care for the guests of the
city.
Early in the morning the blare of the
brass band betokened day of events, and
the center of interest. The pro-
prietors had decorated the interior
of the auditorium and stage with a
liberal display of the national colors taste
fully arranged about the balcony rail and
boxes, the house was as neat as a pin,
place well worthy to temporarily shelter
the ranchmen and cattle owners OF the
state.
OPENING THE CONVENTION.
At II O'Clock President A. P. Bush, Jr.,
standing beneath festoon of flags, pendant
from which were the words, welcome,
Stockmen," raped for order, and after
J. quiet had been secured, introduced his
honor, Mayor J. P. Smith. The mayor
showed an intimate acquaintance with the
needs of the cattlemen, that portion of his
speech in reference to existing evils of the
traiiic, and his suggestions as TO how they
might be remedied being especially inter-
esting. He acknowledged the pleasure it
gave him to welcome the delegates 10 Fort
Worth, a city whose people realized how
much they were indebted for their past
prosperity and future hopes of com
mercial greatness to the men who
had honored them with their presence.
he drew some interesting comparisons
regarding the two staple productions of the
state, claiming that statistics and close OBJ
servation had conclusively shown that the
exclusive production of raw material guar
anteed but limited prosperity to the pro-
Queer This fact was apparent when 1t
could be demonstrated that but small
portion of the Sl00,00O000 annually
paid for cotton remained in the
hands Of the hard working farmers
who placed it upon the market. In draw
ing attention TO the recently organized
packing interests of Fort Worth he
launched some figures which astonished
his hearers, claiming that the S,O00,0O0
cattle roaming over the broad pralrles OF
as a matter of fact these same
cattle put in prime condition
could and had beer sold in Chicago at an
average OF sol. so each. His idea was that
the cattlemen could rectify this absolutely
unnecessary condition by patronizing home
packeries, and encouraging the estaolisn-
ment of yards within their own territory,
not only for home consumption,
but for foreign expectation, drawing
attention to the excellent harborS
and shipping facilities now lying dormant
for the want of local or state enterprise.
He predicted that the day was close at
hand when the greater portion of the meat
produced in Texas would find a market
within her own confines. He deprecated
the shipment of ill-fed cattle, and presented
figures to prove that the stockmen and
farmers of the state were being imposed
upon by unprincipled middlemen. Texas
should not only raise her own hogs, but
should fatten and cut them up, and all Of
this could be done If packerieS like
those now established at Fort Worth
were encouraged and patronized.
The remedy was in the hands OF the men to
whom the remarks were addressed. On
the subject of railroad charges the mayor
made some suggestions from the standpoint
OF a lawyer and closed his remarks by again
bidding the delegates to pull the latch
strings of Fort Worth to their hearts con-
tent, extending to them the entire freedom
of the city in the broadcast and fullest sense
of the word.
At the conclusion of his address the
mayor gave way to
PRESIDENT BUSH,
who could scarcely find language in which
TO express the thanks of tine association for
the unremittiug kindness and continued
courtesies of the citizens OF Fort Worth.
Referring to the many claims OF Fort
Worth to commercial and social promi-
nepce and the many occasions which the
association had been royalty entertained
here he said that all her greatness might
best lie illustrated by the story of
the man who was positive that
his home was the very center OF the
earth, because at nigh noon the sun was
exactly over his house, and as further
evidence of the fact he had for years
watched the sun, and had invariably seen
il rise and set in the same place, to-Tgit:
east and west of where he resided He be-
Neved Fort Worth could justly claim supe-
riority in every way, and sincerely hoped
her advances IN all that makes up a great
powerful and prosperous community
would increase as time progressed.
Concluding his address, President Bush
announced the first order of business. and
Assistant Secretary Sherwood read the
minutes Of the last annual meeting at Dali
las. At the conclusion of the reading he
presented and read the report of the ex-
ecutive committee for the past year. The
following is the full text of the interesting
document
10 me Members Of the Cattle Raisers' Asso-
citation Of Northwestern Texas:
We. your executive committee for the
year now ending, would most respectfully
ask to submit the following report, cover
ing the business done by this association
since our last annual meeting:
we fiud from the report OF the manager
OF the protective and detective department