Omaha daily bee., 1896-10-14
MUST MAKE THE BEST MEATS
President Thompsons Address to National
Live Stock Exchange.
HOW AMERICA SHOULD TRY TO COMPETE
HenIthincss and soundness Can Be
shown by Inspection, but the Quail
ity, Especially of Muttons, is
Open to Improvement.

morning session OF inc National Live StOCh
exchange President Thompson delivered his
annual address, saying in part;
up to a few years ago the producer of
this country was successful and prosperous
he entertained no fear Of competition from
foreign lands; he practically had the markets
of the world open to him for the disposition
Of his vast surplus and at satisfactory prices.
These conditions becoming apparent 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 undeveoped
countries began raising wheat and other
grains. the producers of New Zealand,
Australia, South America and other
countries were soon induced to venture in
the to them, undetermined and questionable
experience OF finding a market for their
surplus beef and mutton, and to such an
extent were their enterprises carried tina,
the receipts of those exports at the different
markets in connection with those sent by
us, became so great as to cause the prices
for the same to decline to point where the
European producers began to appeal for
from ruin. In many sections such
prohibtiye legislation was secured, and our
country. being the largest producing country
was the greatest sufferer in consequence.
ut occurs to me that the question as to
whether this legislation is just is not for
US TO especially consider, but 1t behoovos us
to satisfy. nay, convince our European pro-
ducers and consumers, that our live stock
and meat food products are the healthicSt
nd in world and that when
distinction is made 1t should be in favor OF
our products The unsoundness of our meat
and food products has been the alleged
cause for some of the inimical legislation
enacted. We know the reason to be without
foundation In fact, and would heartily well
come representatives of any and all foreign
countries to our ranches, our feed lots, our
stock yards and our abbators, where our
meat food products are prepared for com
sumption, and after being prepared and
critically inspected, examined and found
healthy to be scaled and so certified by
such representatives. We court the most
careful scrutiny and critical scientific cX
animation of the health of our live stock
and meat food products.
WHAT MAY BE DONE.
"Can we do more in this line? This is
question that merits your serious con-
sideration These measures, together with
much needed legislation by our congress
looking to a reciprocal exchange OF our
commodities, should be one of the great
aims of this convention. Reciprocity would
open for our surplus the foreign gates OF
commerce, that are now closed to us, and
then the resultant beneficial effect would
soon be felt in every channel of commerce
throughout the length and breadth OF this
great land"
"Since its inception this organization has
in all its proceedings acted as a strictly
nonpartisan legislative body, welding its
influence without the hope of fee or reward
in the interests of its constituents, the pro-
ducer and the consumer. Let us not lose
sight of this object and in our delibera-
tions at this convention bring to bear our
best efforts with this end ever in view.
Let all our acts be such as are best cal
culated TO encourage. foster and protect our
home industries, thereby maintaining our
supremacy as the greatest producing nation
Of the world, and at the same time let us
discharge a duty incumbent upon us by
bending all our thoughts, acts and energies
to the opering OF the markets of the world
to our constituency
ITO these of our friends interested in the
sheep industry. / would with your approval
recommend In order TO successfully compete
in foreign markets with the sheep rasers
OF other countries, that less attention be
paid to wool raising and more to food quail
tiles. 1t Is not particularly a question OF
fat and weight, but of weight and flesh,
which latter l believe can in a great meas
ure be accomplished by breeding We have
initiate, that of the English sheep raiser,
who, through proper breeding and care In
feeding, produces mutton superior to ours
In selling and edible qualities. An inves-
tigation and careful study of this question
by those Immediately interested will, I
verify believe yield results that will be sur
prising and very satisfactory to the success
full breeder, and of great benefit to our
industry.
I'm a measure these suggestions apply
with punal force TO the cattle and hppf
industry. A more thorough study to i'm
prove the beef-producing animal in such a
manner as to yield less amount OF fat
and greater amount of meat will 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 necessary to bring about
such results 1t is these minor details,
in the aggregate so essential that the
producer must look to successfully compete
with his foreign competitor"
WORK OF THE COMMITTEE.
The executive committee, which met last
night presented a lengthy report today
dealing, as President Thompson's address
did, largely with the question in relation
to foreign governments discriminating
against the American live stock product
and the expectation of Canadian cattle
through the United States ports. Quaran-
tine lines, as construed by Secretary Nor
ton, were also discussed, and as a result
Il stringent appear W CoHslSSs LOT Tellel VIII
be proposed.
Reports OF committees showed a sentiment
in various cities against dispensing with
travelling solicitors. One committee reported
recommending the continuation of the fight
for reciprocity, which was adopted rec
ommendation for the restoration of the Texas
quarantine lines was adopted Tariff on inn
ports OF hides and wool was advocated.
Pittsburg was admitted to membership in
the exchange The broken rib cattle COM
mittee recommended that inspection and
disposition should be uniform and this was
also adopted.
The committee on the expectation of Cana
dian cattle recommended the stoppage OF
expectation until the question was equitably
adjusted by reciprocity
The following officers were elected for the
ensuing term: President w. II. Thompson;
secretary, C. w, Baker; treasurer, Doud;
vice presidents /. Ingerson, Sioux City; Z.
Mccall, Pittsburg; Joseph Adams. Chicago;
A. ID. Evans, East st. Louis w. Il. skinner,
Fort Worth; j. r. Slater, Kansas City, T.
ID. Perrine, Omaha
Sioux City was chosen as the next place
OF meeting
Democratic Rally Mt Norfolk.