The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-14
RECIPROCITY FAVORED
PRESIDENT THOMPSON'S ADDRESS
TO THE LIVE STOCK EXCHANGE.
Cause of the Restrictive Laws En-
forced by Foreigners Against
American Meat Products.

FORI WORTH, Tex, Oct. l3.-At the
morning session of the National Live Stock
Exchange to-day President Thompson de-
livered his annual address, saying in part:
up to a few years the producer of this
country was successful and prosperous; he
entertained no fear of competition from
kets of the world open to him for DISPOSE
ton of his vast surplus and AT satisfac-
tory prices. These conditions becoming ap-
parent to foreign consumers, they set about
to discover if possible some country
whose products and surplus could be used
in competition with ours. Canada opened
new fields for the. production of wheat and
other cereals. South Africa and other
heretofore undeveloped countries began the
raising of wheat and other grains the pro-
ducers of New Zealand. Australia, South
America and other countries were soon in
duced to venture in the, to them, unde-
term1ned and questionable experience of
finding a. market for their surplus beef and
mutton and to such extent were their
enterprises carried that the receipts of
these imports at the different foreign mar
kets in connection with those sent by us
became 50 great as to cause the prices of
the same to decline to a point where the
European producers began to appeal for
legislation to protect their home industry
from rum In many sections such pro-
hibitive legislation secured and our
country. being the largest producing coun-
try. was the greatest sufferer in conse-
quence
1T occurs TO me that the question as to
whether this legislation is just is not for
us to especially consider, but it behooves
producers and consumers that our live
stock and meat products are the heaIthiest
ana and best IN the world and that when any
distinction is made it should be in favor
of our products. The unSoundness of our
meat and meat food products has been
the alleged cause for some of the inimical
TO be without foundation in fact and would
heartily welcome representatives of any
and all foreign countries to our ranches.
Our feed lots. our stock yards and our
abattolrs. where our meat food products
being prepared and critically in
spected, examined and found healthy.
to be sealed and certified by
such representatives. We court the most
careful scrutiny and critical scientific ex-
animation of the health of our live stock
and meat food products. Can we do more
III this line? This is question that merits
your serious consideration. These measures
together with much-needed legislation by
change OF our commodities should be one
of the great aims of this convention Rec
iprocity would open for our surplus the
foreign gates of commerce thar are now
closed to us and then the resultant ben
eticial effect would soon be felt in every
channel of commerce throughout the length
and breadth of this great land
Since its inception this organza ton has
in all its proceedings acted as a strictly
influence without the hope of fee or reward !.
in the interests of it's constituents, the pro-
Queer and the consumer. Let not lose
sight of this object. and in our deIibera-
tions at this convention bring to bear our
best efforts with this endeavor in view Let
all acts be such as are best calculated
TO encourage, foster and protect our home
industries thereby maintaining our SUI
premacy as the greatest producing nation
of the world. and at the same time let us
discharge duty incumbent upon us by
bending all our thoughts acts and ener-
gies to the opening of the markets of the
world to our constituency. To those of our
friends interested in the sheep industry
would. with your approval. recommend. in
order to successfully compete with the
sheen ra4SPrS of other countries hat less
attention be paid to wcol>raising and more
to food qualities It is not particularly
and flesh. which latter. / believe can in
q great measure be accomplished by breed
ing. We have q good example set us which
we may well initiate; that Of the English
sheep raiser, who through proper breed
ing. care in feeding. produces mutton SUI
perior to ours in selling and edible quail
tiles. An investigation and careful study
of this question by those Immediately in
terested will. ] believe yield results that
will be surprising and very satisfactory TO
the successful breeder and of great benefit
to our industry. In a measure these sug-
gestions apply with equal force to the
cattle and beef industry 4 more thorough
study to improve the beef producing ami
nal, in such a manner as to yield less
amount of fat and greater amount of meat
viii result in the producer obtaining an
increase in the present marketable value of
his animal sufficient to amply repay him
for the outlay of time and money neceS-
sary to bring out such results. 1T is these
minor details in the aggregate. so essen
tial. that the producer must look to sue
cessfully competing with his foreign com
Detitor.
The executive committee which met last
night presented q lengthy report to-day
dealing largely with the question in re-
la ton to foreign governments discrimi-
mating against the American live stock
product and the expectation of Canadian
cattle through the United States Dorts.
Quarantine lines as constructed by Score
tary Morton were also discussed. and as
a result a stringent appeal to Congress for
relief will be proposed.