The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-15
WANTS A LOBBY.
President Springer Addresses
the Live Stock Association
On the Aims and Needs Of the
Organization.

Salt Lake, Jan. 15.-Assembly hall was
crowded to it's fullest capacity this
morning at the opening Of the fourth
annual convention Of the National Live
Stock association During the assem-
bling of the delegates music was fur
nished by the Colorado cowboy band.
The convention was called to order by
President Springer at 1880. Governor
Heber NJ. Wells was introduced and de-
livered an address Of welcome. An adj
dress Of welcome was then delivered by
Acting Mayor Buckle. and a response
by R NJ. Allen. of Nebraska
A telegram was read from vice Pres
ident-elect Roosevelt. sending "con-
gratulations and wen wishes to the
boys"
The roll-caI was deferred until the
afternoon session. President Springer
then delivered his address. which was in
part as follows
'Delegates to the Fourth Annual con-
ventior Of the National Live Stock
association.
The stoclxmen of the United States
now clearly recognize that they must
maintain an energetic national organ
fzation If they would have their inter
ests looked after, knowing fun well that
this century will present new questions
for solution with broader opportunities
for commercial success. In our own
leaks; too heavy taxation; too many
thieves and stock rustlers abroad; too
many state inspection fees The whole
interstate inspection business should be
controlled by the federal government,
without a dollars expense to the
shipper
There is now pending before the sem
ate what is known as the Grout plli
which passed the house by large ma
jority and which seeks to impose 10
cents a pound tax on oleOmargarine IN
the sole interest Of the dairymen Of the
United States. The direct object to be
attained by this bill is to 50 tax olep-
margarine that it viii no longer be able
to compete with butter in the market
and thus leave our home market 20
the butter trust No more rank piece or
federal legislation was ever proposed,
and which If passed takes the butter
from the table Of the poor throughout
this land. The time has fully come when
the great stock interests must be repre-
sented in Washington by as able men
as we have in the business. and by the
very best legal talent We can no longer
afford for a few thousand dollars per
annum to leave our needs to unadvised
and selfish legislators. We should nave
such an organization that when assaults
are made in Washington upon the live
stock industry (as is now the case with
the Grout bilD that we could employ
our ablest men to go there and defeat
all such special legislation, and we
should give our senators and congress
men to understand that while we have
a man resist both men and measures
which have for their object the working
Of hardships upon the live stock pro-
ducers of this country. If we can not
present a solid front TO the enemy. il we
are all to go before legislative commit
tees beseechingly as cattlemen as horse
men. as sheepmen and as h0gmeu-if
our influence is divided into various ma
tional stock interests instead Of as a
whole consolidated power, we may as
well pack our grips and go back 70 our
farms and ranches. and let the 1--we stock
industry lapse into innocuous desuetude.
as 1t was before the National Live
Stock association was organized. and
began its crusade for just laws and fair
treatment for every branch Of the indus
sHrhe great question Of irrigation Is
now before the whole people. and there
is no class that a system OF storage
reservoirs for the waters Of the meltiuE
mountain SHOWS would benefit more
than the stock growers Of these noun
1afns and plains. Our interests with
those Of the agriculturists are recipro-
cal and more water means more grass
and the greater the abundance Of forage
the more stock can be supported. 1T IS
idle to talk Of state work along irriga-
tive lines. They lack the money, and
have too much politics. so we must look
to congress to provide q way Of making
valuable the waste places all over the
western prairies. the land being the
heritage Of the people Of the United
Statezt