The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1902-04-08
HOLDS THE MOST ENTHUSIASTIC
MEETING SINCE ORGANIZED.
Purcell Captures the Next Meet as-
Old orieers Retsineo-msyer
shsrp's eloquent welcome.

called 10 order by President DR.. T. P.
Howell
The session vas begun with prayer
| by Rev. A. Il. Mstney.
Mayor J. =. sharp. in the following
speech. bade the association welcome
70 the city:
Welcome Address.
/ Mr.. President. Ladies and Gentlemen.
and Members Of the Chickasaw
Stockmen's Association:
As mayor of Purcell II Is my pleas
ant duty 20 extend 10 you in behalf
OF the good citizens Of our little city
most hearty welcome. II Is often
said upon such occasions that the
keys Of the city are. for the time be-
ing. surrendered 10 the visitors. but
fortunately for Purcell. and. We trust.
equally so for our guests. our city
bas no keys to surrender. Our gates
are always open. and the latchstring
az all times on the outside answers
the purpose OF the bar and lock Much
pleasure II gives the citizens OF Pur.
cell 10 entertain you. and If there is
lanything you want and don't see. ask
for H. and we will send 20 Lexington
and see that your every want is sup
lplied. We congratulate you and our
own citizenship that you should have
! selected so admirable location for
this important meeting. Purcell and
the Chickasaw Stockmen's associa-
tiOn never do anything by halves.
While we cannot furnish entertain
ment In so extensive or elaborate a
scale as Fort Worth or Kansas City
We can make your welcome just as
hearty and hope that We can cause
you 20 return TO your respective
homes. when your meeting here has
been concluded, with words OF praise
for the hospitality Of our people.
Then. and not till then. shall we feel
that We have done our mll part in
your entertainment
Our city has long been known as
the home Of push and energy. and as
a very important cattle shipping
point. It Is the home OF many cattle
men Some OF them are men Of wealth
and prominence and in the name of
our cattlemen, whether great or
small, / also bid you a most earnest
welcome. The Cowman." a name
with which you are all familiar. con
stitutes a citizenship OF which any
community may well feel proud.
am not familiar. except in a general
way, with the history of your asso-
citation, but know something Of its
origin and the objects and purposes
ed success with which II has met I'm
two short years. In unity there Is
always strength and legitimate or
ganization is a tower of strength and
protection to those engaged in the
various pursuits and ayocations of
business life. That those engaged in
an industry assuming the proportions
OF the cattle business the Indian Ter
ritory now occupies should maintain
an organization is at once apparent.
Such a combination Of forces is indis-
pensable TO the best interests of those
SO engaged. and who have given their
time and means TO its upbuilding.
Times of great crises have confront
ed the cattlemen in the past. and eX-
perlence teaches that these may occur
again. Then, in particular, may such
organization be of inestimable value.
Again, concert OF action may be of
good seryiyce in bringing about wise
Legislation, and in preventing discrim-
ination against the pursuit in which
you are engaged. But a healthy or
ganizatiCn may at all times be OF
great value when under prudent man
tagement. whether storm threatens og
peace reigns,
To those acquainted with the con.
ditions existing a. present in the Ter
rltory IL rs unnecessary FOR me to say
that an imminent and far-reaching
change is at hand for all. particularly
the cattlemen. Free range and grass
have already passed into history, and
the present witnesses the passing Of
the big pastures and their entire dis
continuance is the almost certain re-
suit OF allotment This means small
er farms aud a doing away with the
oldtime ranch and it's practically un-
limited area. Opposition to the pass.
age or enforcement Of legislation
such as mentioned would be futile
and unwise. The change must be met
in a different manner. But some ask,
How" The answer that at once
presents itself to the mind is that
1.-THE cattlemen must raise fewer heads