The Advocate and news., 1899-01-25
SHOULD PUBLIC SALES BE g
ABANDONED? Q
A Paper by w. p. GOOde, OF LenexS, 3
Kans., Read Before the Kansas Inn q
proved stock Breeders AssOcl-
alton, January II, 1899,
by o. p. UpdegraR.

against, that 1t certainly behooves every
breeder to stop and study the problem
thoroughly in all its bearings to be sure
no mistake Is made in the final verdict
or answer. For, answered 1t will be,
either In the common course of business
events as the year passes, or by the ac-
tlOn Of the majority in convention as
sembled, and afterward executed as per
agreement.
It has been said that, with all the work
done by the breeders of pure-bred stock,
together with fair charge for expenses
in raising and fitting, and all advertis-
Ing bills fully, paid, the stock thus Sold
and every dollar collected, would not pay
the expenses. II this be fact in the
business of the breeders in the past, is
1t not folly to persist in such policy
of business? It will only be matter Of
time when all so engaged will have seen
the end, even though 1t comes to us
like death and taXes-one at a time.
"The mills of the gods grind slowly"
but, nevertheless, they are sure to grind,
So take the stand that the breeders
Of pure-bred stock are the prime factors
and greatest benefactors to the great
commercial wealth Of the world To
some this may seem overdrawn on first
thought, yet It can not be gainsaid To
realize at a glance its truth and great
Importance, let us suppose that every
pure-bred animal in the world, by edict
of the law, be slaughtered in one years
time; 1t is impossible to realize the
wreck to the worlds wealth and com
Tnerce. Hundreds Of years would not find
the loss repaired, and the same business
tact and sagacity evlnced as at this day.
The same comparison and edict applied
to all the cereals, horticultural and floral
specimens Of the earth, what o sad spec
taCle this world would then present So,
in a small degree, we can see the great
Importance Of our industry, as breeders
OF pure-bred animals, to sustain the
greatest constituent of the commerce Of
the world. The greatest, because all
scientific research finds that vegetarian
people are an effeminate people, and, on
the other hand those that combine
meats with vegetables and fruits are
the foremost and most vigorous people
Of the world, from every standpoint.
But have digressed from the question,
some may say. Let us see: In order to
realize how much Is being lost in an
enterprise, we must know its real worth
from business standpoint, and from
the above view we see the great worth
In 1t to the world at large, and IL should
be remunerative to those who carry It
on. II the breeders fail to make It So,
where is the fault, and on whom does the
blame rest? 1t rests on ourselves, and
the question, shall public sales be
abandoned?" applies to all breeds 1f
stock, I think, and 1t is not for me, in
dividually, to answer in the affirmative
or negative.
In years gone by, when the Shorthorn
breeders were in the zenith OF good
prices and the industry was flourlshing,
the public sales of cattle grew more and
more numerous, until the collapse finally
came to them. It Is the prediction of
some, who ought 20 know, that 1t will be
just so In the end with two other breeds
of stock. Hear what a prominent Mis-
souri, breeder Of POland-Chinas says OF
the future Of the breed: 1T has been
doomed and Gilletted until there is little
left but history, which l wish could be
hung on the foreheads Of about ten
score of scoundrels, 10 remain there dur
ing the remainder of their natural lives
thus branding them with shame and dis
honor that Is naturally theirs" Now
these dishonest practices by such men
and the attendant extravagances in all
details to carry out such sales. sets in
motion custom that will not survive the
scrutinizing appreciation of a general
public on whom We have to depend for
the success Of our industry as breeders.
The number Of pure-bred swine can be
increased to such proportions in so much
shorter time than cattle and horses, that
we who are handling the hog are sure to
come to the landing-place soonest. So
think 1t behooves all breeders OF pure
bred stock to determine in the near fu-
ture what is the very best business Gus