The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-08-21
PICNIC At K|nGAAN
CattIemen's Convention Is
Pronounced a Great Success.
WILLIAM BOLTON SPEAKS
Gives Short Pointed Talk That
Catches the Crowd.

mas Deeu IdIStlE attS1-eSA ~-'-~ - -
nounced by all present as a very success
full event. Both days have been filed
with interesting amusements as wen as
instructive hours. Addresses have COM
posed the latter feature of the celebra-
ton and wichita men are prominent
among the speakers.
An address, short and to the point, and
yet ornamented with humor and short
story, was delivered by W. E. Bolton,
secretary of the Oklahoma Livestock
association Mr. Bolton, who is of Wood
ward, 0. T.. said:
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Stockmen:
When your committee wrote request
ing me to SAY a few words" on this plat
form, I imbibed the idea-nothihg else
I assure you-that Of several others who
would talk to you, I was simply TO fill
in a little vacant space on your program.
AS filler" lay some claim to success,
either by measurement or down weight,
but as a speaker" l am not in it in any
sense of the word. feel deeply indebt-
ed to your committee for the honor given
me; and I believe this is given more in
recognition Of the great Livestock Asso-
citation Of Oklahoma and Kansas, which
L serve as secretary, rather than to any
personal merit possess, and 1 am proud
to acknowledge the honor conferred upon
the organization named. But 1 see by the
printed program that I am billed to
address you in this matter. I cannot
help being reminded of the widow of the
section foreman who was doing the
honors at her husbands funeral The
dead man had been very popular and
many beautiful floral tributes were sent
to the house. To a friend the widow
was showing these and said: This cross
was stint by the superintendent; this
wreath was sint by the b'yes in his gang;
this star was stint by the road-master,
and this" picking up an anchor of roses
and throwing it out of the window, now
who the divil had the dom bad taste to
sind US this pick?"
Now I hope the taste Of the com
mittee viii be approved if I say only
few words on the subject in which all Of
us are the most interested, and then
stop. It is useless to repeat that live
stock is the actual foundation OF all
wealth. The vital spark which gives life
to every animate creature proclaims this
as the basis Of existence itself. The best
methods, the care and culture. the mar
keting. the packing and even the cooking
OF the meats of livestock grown on the
farms and ranches Of Oklahoma and Kan
sas provides employment and profit for
more people. and constitutes larger per-
centage of the real wealth than all other
vocations combined and the total valu-
alton exceeds forty per cent OF the
assessed values of all personal property
il the two commonwealths. This includes
all other products of the farm, the min
erals, the manufactured products, every
thing in fact, which builds and develops
these grand stars in the empire of this
Union.
Not strange then. that we are here
today enjoying a "Cattlemens picnic" il
the heart of the best agricultural section
Of the Sunhower state
But there are some few thorns in the
trail of happiness followed by the stock
farmer and ranchman. The legislatures.
composed principally of men other than
farmers and stock-growers,, list to the
subtle influence Of political pull" and too
often the real interests he is supposed to
serve are forgotten by the legislator in
the scramble of the political pap-suekers
for high places and paying jobs, such as
United States senator and other positions
Of wealth and honor. The real factor is
forgotten because the organization of the
wire puller is more perfect than the
organization Of the cattle-raiser. The
laws intended for the development and
protection of this giant industry are sell
dom enacted. and cow-thief and the pesky
Boophilus Annulatus join in robbing
profits, while the big packers join in
merger to control prices at the market
and again rob the man who spends his
life in raising stock.
These and many other matters. the
quarantine measures for instance, de-
mand the presence and persistent pushing
Of an organization Of all who are engaged
i'm growing livestock Too little atten-
ton has been paid to this kind of orgaui-
cation; while on the other hand. too much
attention is paid 10 the other kind-the
political kind. How many have heard the
expression. rocked in Republican or
Democratic cradles bat how many Of
you can show that you have been wise
enough TO protect your homes by main
tanning an organization devoted to live
stock for anywhere near such length Of
time? And yet the home Is the power
behind and which really constitutes all
good government. Don't you think you
are unjust To yourself in this matter?
Here is something about WHICH you may
think with profit
Now / have only a few more words
to add am uot here TO solicit your
membership in the organization which
have The honor 10 serve as secretary. but
i do believe chat the more powerful an
IMITATION is. the more il can accom-
riish. Politicians fear party hy reason
of It's voting strength. An organized ef-
Tort Of an siocSmen would coutain the
same element OF strength II broaaened
ara extended There Is h.ur in this
matter The Oklahoma and Kansas Live
stock association is already organized and
has membership in both states ard in
Texas and Colorado. Ii is progressive
and has accomplished much for the stock
owners IL protection against thieves and
II enforcing quarantine regulations. II
invites your membership as co-workers