Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-08-02

ton, and their purpose to cooperate
with the executive committee in every
thing undertaken. A large number of
northern Montana stockmen, not mem
bers of the executive committee, were
also present to confer upon the import
cussion.
Among those in attendance were Con
Kohrs of Deer Lodge, Robt. Coburn of
Malta, S. S. Hobson of Utica, j. r..
Phelps of Helena, A. W. Kingsbury of
Great Falls, S. Pepin of Havre, NJ
Furnell of Sun River, r. M. Majors of
Big Sandy, Paul Brewster and L. E.
Kaufman of Helena, and Messrs. Sic
ben, Brewster, Patterson and Miner.
Captains Plunkett, Anderson, Mccoy
and Williams of the several roundups
were also present.
The meeting was called to order at IL
a. IN. by its chairman, M. E. Miner. who
addressed the members as follows
"The object of this meeting is to more
fully perfect the organization which was
effected at Chinook in April last, and to
set it in operation so that it's purposes
may be carried out for the benefit of the
stock industry. At that time it was
thought best rot to comment in open
meeting upon one of the chief purposes
that the originators bad in view, which,
now you are all aware, is to put d stop to
cattle stealing Montana seems to be
becoming, at rapidly increasing rate,
the refuge for an undesirable class of
persons from regions further south
where rustlng has long been so general
that 1t is regarded rather as an act OF
cleverDess than crime. Such
a perverted sentiment we cannot
permit to obtain in this commu-
nifty, for, added to the other drawbacks
to our industry, it would lead to our
financial ruin, and there is also a par
ticular sense Of personal humiliation in
letting property pass out of hand in that
manner. This oticnse against the law
and our property is increasing so rapidly
that ere long it will ncutraliZe all the
benefit that is likely to be derived from
the operations of the wolf bounty law.
1.-The time has passed when picking
up mavericks off the range will satisfy
the rustler. He now takes calves from
the cows, alters brands on young stock.
and slauGhtcrs matured becves and
openly dlsposes OF the meat by the wagon
load in towns and settlements and mining
camps. The law does not seem adequate
for our protection through the opera,
tions of the county officers, some OF
whom ara not fully competent. Fur
thermore, the laws are not favorable to
our industry because they apparently
require larger amount of proof in cat
tie cases which does not seem to be nee
essary to secure convictions for criminal
acts committed against other kinds OF
property. This may in part be due to
debased public sentiment in some of the
counties, which seems to be one Of en-
vi0us aulmosity against Ii eeemiugiy
large and prosperous Industry, but whicn
rs a matter Of fuct ia ~ all times i d
precarioua condition because Of the
many elemental risks against which it
cannot be protected
sour only resources would seem to be
to enter into a united voluntary agree
ment to help ourselves directly and ag.
gressively but according 10 a form Of
law. To enable us TO conduct operations
in systematic and legalized manner be
committee appointed for the purpose has
drawn ii set of bylaws which will be
submitted for your adoption, under
which the affairs of this association
through its executive committee. will be
conducted until the next annual meet
ing"
The bylaws were presented by the
committee which had drafted them and
were unanimously adopted. The most
important is Art. H., which defines the
objects OF the association to be "for the
enforcement Of the present stock laws
and the passage of necessary amend
ments for better protection against
thieves; for the execution OF plane to
protect ranges against fire; for uniform
ity in just claims and demands against
railways and other corporations; to pro-
mote harmony between round ups, and
to work for the advancement of the cat
| tie industry
After adopting the bylaws the meet
ing adjourned until 2 p. m.
The afternoon session was mainly eX-
ecutive. Judge j. w. Tattan of Fort
! Benton was chosen to be the associa-
TONS attorney, but it is impossible to
| learn what methods of detecting and
capturing rustlers were adopted or what
officers were chosen to assist in running
| the thieves down. In view of the diff
ficulty of proving the guilt of rustlers,
the association decided that if it is
found that the criminals cannot be con
victed, they shall be driven from the
country or be forced to cease preying
upon the property Of others.