The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-26
TAKE ACCOUNT OF STOCK
One Thousand Cattlemen Meet in
Denver for Mutual Edification.
THEY'RE LOOKING AHEAD
Twenty-One States and Territories
Represented at National Conven-
ton of More Than Ordinary
Interest and Importance.

Denver, Col. Jan. 25.--The first ses-
sion of the National Stockgrowers' con-
yention was called to order in Coliseum
hall at 1890 this morning. About 1000
4 delegates, representing II states and
Z territories OF the West. Northwest and
Southwest, were present In a few
words the chairman stated the object
Il of the meeting. He said years of de-
: preston to which the cattle Industry
had been subjected caused a loss in
IN that one branch of business OF hun
dreds of millions, but there now APP
4 peared brighter prospects for stock
growing in its various branches, and
this convention was called to consider
new. conditions. Governor Adams well
coined the delegates in the name OF the
!. state. Mayor McMurray OF Denver de-
livered welcome on benalf of the city.
John W. Springer, president of the
Continental Cattle company of Texas
was elected temporary chairman of the
convention. CharleA Il. Gould OF Ne
braska was chosen temporary secretary
and II. Z. McGinnis of st. Paul read
!, ing clerk. Colonel j. Mccoy of kansas
responded on behalf of Kansas TO the
address of welcome. The convention
! then took a recess until p. m.
The chairman appointed the follow
ing committees:
Credentials-Lieut. Gov j. L. Brush
of Colorado. chairman; w. L. Pickard,
Salt Lake. Utah; Henry G. Hays, wy
oming: j. c. Kenyon, Omaha, William
Irvine, Cheyenne; Paul Mccormack,
Montana.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Richards, Wy
oming: j. r. Van BoskirS, Nebraska;
j. III. Neff. Kansas City; T. F. Sotham,
Cniiicothe, Mo-; General Flower, st.
Paul; Morey X. Parsons, Utah;
Charles Owen. Byers, Colorado: IL. A.
Jastrc. California; Mr. Tisdale, New
T1riG IN NJ
Allen, Ames, Nebraska; A. p. Brush.
Texas; Dr. Victor Naugard. Washing
ton. ID. c.; Henry Wallace. Des Moines.
Iowa; f. J. Berry, Chicago; Taylor
Riddle. Kansas.
Permanent organization-George L.
Goulding. chairman, Colorado; Ora
Haley, Wyoming; w. f. Skinner, Tex
as, o. NJ. Hadley, New Mexico: w. p.
Anderson, Chicago. A. b. Smith,
Omaha, Alfred s. Donan. Arizona.
At the afternoon session j. an Bos-
kirk read paper on the advantages of
organization. He said in part:
THE primary objects of stock grow
ers in this Western country in organic
ing are as follows. about in the order
of their Importance:
Il. The protection of stock from theft
and the arrest and punishment of
thieves.
80 The maintenance of a brand book
and the registration of brands and
marks denoting ownership. and to pre-
vent conflicting and spurious brands.
%. To maintain inspectors at the
. great markets and attend to the de-
tails OF marketing and a proper dis
position of proceeds or estrays.
a. To maintain an arbitration COM
mittee, prevent costly disputes, pro-
mote good feeling and good faith, with
out recourse to the courts or TO gun
play"
IS. To advance the interests of stock
growers. This may and should include
at least protection from destruction by
wild animals as far as possible; proper
precautions against contagious disease;
the securing of necessary legislation as
to transportation and other charges; as
to brand laws; as to inspection of car
casses and hides: as to disposition of
arid or waste land't as to taxation of
herds i'm transit while grazing. trespass
laws and many other items.
I think perhaps | can best indicate
some of the benefits of stock growers
organizing. by describing the conditions
which confronted cattle-growers in
Western Nebraska previous to the or
ganization of the association to which
i belong. The lands supposed to be
arible were thickly settled with home
steaders. Being close to the boundar-
les of Colorado, Wyoming and South
Dakota where there We're many range
cattle, which would drift down that
way, these settlers, more or less would
help themselves to "A beef when they
needed 1t. The country being so new
the ranchers were unable to prevent
this al the start. and finally the village
markets were more or less kept sup
piled by some of these men bringing in
beeves by the quarter. After a while
when the railroad came in, these men
grew holder in their operations, and
frequent complaints were made by the
smaller ranchers who were now settling
N hy nd
sionally disappeared by the carload
but no one loser seemed able to interest
enough neighbors to secure evidence
enough to cause the arrest and convic-
ton of the thieves. Finally there came
TO be several organized bands or rust
lers," and any man complaining of
losses and trying to have them arrested
was threatened and terroriZed No
man felt able TO bear the great expense
of obtaining witnesses and employing
competent lawyers to assist the county
officers in successful prosecution. The
rustlers" were able to employ ADLER
counsel, to terroriZe and drive off wit
nesses, and the result was continual de-
lay and final failure About this time
an organization of leading men was at
tempted, they being melted thereto by
the success of our neighbors in South
Dakota, who had successfully battled
against a similar condition of affairs
and brought order out of chaos A very
large reward was offered for the APP
prehension and conviction of thieves
an attempt was made to arouse public
opinion. and the result was that a suf-
hcient number of men Joined the assoc
citation to make it financially strong
enough TO undertake the burden of
prosecuting thieves. What was too
much for one man was easy for an as
ISOLATION OF men, each contributing his
mite OF money, his influence for good
and his ability in organizing and unit
ing his neighbors.
After this association succeeded IN
it's first prosecution IL grew rapidly in
influence and power for good. and live
stock on the range in that country is
now about as safe property as cash
THE CHOICEST ARRAY Or