The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-10-14
GERMAN DISCRIMINATION
Against American Beef Discussed
by Live Stock Exchange.

FORT WORTH, Texas, Oct. 13-The
National Live Stock Exchange began
its annual session today. President
Thompson delivered an address,. The
executive committee which met last
night presented a lengthy report to-
day, dealing, as President Thompsons
address did, largely with the question
relating to foreign governments dis
eliminating against the American live
stock product and the expectation of
Canadian cattle through the United
| States ports. Quarantine lines as con-
strued by Secretary Morton, were also
discussed, and as a result, stringent
appeal to congress for relief will be
| proposed. Amusement and social feat
ures will be prepared and the festivi-
ties will close this evening with a great
trades display. Every member Of the
executive committee is present and
every live stock center of the United
States has representatives here.
| President Thompson delivered his annual
address, saying in part:
Up to few years ago, the producer of
this country was successful and prosperous:
he practically had the markets of the world
! open to him for the disposition of his vast
surplus and at satisfactory prices. These con-
| d1t1ons becoming apparent to foreign con-
sumers they set about to discover if possible
! some country whose products and surplus
| could be in competition with ours Canada
opened new fields for the production of wheat
and other cereals. South Africa and other
heretofore undeveloped countries began rails
Ing wheat and other grains the producers
OF New Zealand, Australia and South Amer
lea and other countries were soon induced to
venture into the, to them undetermined and
questionable experience of finding a market
for their surplus beef and to such an extent
were their enterprises carried that the re-
ceipts of these imports at the different foreign
markets in connection with those sent by US
became SO great to cause the prices for
lne same TO decline to point where the
european producers began to appeal for legis-
Iatlon TO protect their home industry from
ruin. In many sections such prohibitive leg
1slation was secured and our country being
the largest producing country was the great
est SUFFERER in consequence.
1t occurs to me that the question as To
whether this legislation is just is not for us
to especially consider, but it behooves us to
satisfy, nay convince, our European pro-
| ducers and consumers that our live stock and
j meat food products are the healthiest and
| best in the world, and that when any distinc-
| ton is made, 1T 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 legislation enacted
| We know the reason to be without foundation
in fact and would heartily welcome renre-
sentatives of any and all foreign countries to
our ranches. our feed lots, stock yards,
and our abattoirs, where our meat food prod
ucts are prepared for consumption, and after
! being prepared and critically inspected ex-
amined and found healthy to be sealed and
| so certified by such representatives. We
! court the most careful scrutiny and critical
| scientific examination of the health of our
| live stock and meat food products. Can we
do more in this line? This is a question that
| merits your serious consideration. These
measures, together with much needed legisla-
ton by our congress, looking to reciprocal
exchange of our commodities, should be one
| Of the great aims of this convention Re-
| ciprocty would open for our surplus the for
| eign gates to commerce that are now closed to
us, and then the resultant, beneficial effect
would soon be felt in every channel of COM
merce throughout the length and breadth of
this great land.
| Since its conception this organization has
| In all proceedings acted as a strictly nom
partisan legislative body welding its in
| fuence without the hope of fee or reward
in the interest of its constituents, the produeer
! and the consumer. Let us not lose sight of
! this object and in our deliberations at this
| convention bring to bear our best efforts
with this end ever in view. Let all our acts
| be such as are best calculated to
| encourage, foster and protect our home in
dustries, thereby maintaining our supremacy
as the greatest producing nation of the
! world, and at the same time let us dis
charge duty incumbent upon us by bending
! all our thoughts, acts and energies 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
IN foreign markets with the sheep raisers of
other countries, that less attention be paid
to wool raising and more to food qualities.
1t is not particularly question of fat and
mSi6nl out VI weight ana HeSn, winch latter,
L believe, can in great measure be accom-
pilshed by breeding. We have a good exam
pie set US which we may well initiate, that
of the English sheep raiser Who through
proper breeding and care in feeding, produces
mutton superior to ours in selling and edible
quality. Investigation and careful study of
this question by those Immediately interested
WILL l verify believe, yield results that will
be surprising and very satisfactory to the
successful breeder, and of great benefit to
our industry. In measure these suggestions
apply with equal force to the cattle and beef
the beef producing animal in such a manner
to yield a less amount of fat and greater
| amount of meat will result in the producer
obtaining an increase in the present market
able 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 essen
tial, that the producer must look to success
fully compete with his foreign competitor.