Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1902-04-18
MEETING
At Rapid City last Week Discusses and
Acts Upon Important Questions.
Largo Attendance


Acts Upon Important Question:.
Large Attendance.
The meeting Of the Western South
Dakota Stock Growers Association at
Rapid City last week was largely at
tended. Rapid City had very inter-
esting program which pleased the large
throng Of people who were there for
pleasure-while the working members
of the association attended to business
Jas. E. Pool, representative of the Chi
cago Live Stock World, wrote an ex-
ceedingly spicy account of the meeting
to his paper, from which we make the
following excerpts: ~
"Not a mere assemblage of cowboys
to whoop-'er-up and make plains hol-
day was the 11th annual session of the
Western South Dakota Stock Growers
Association. The event is now mat.
ter of history but it is written in indel-
ible characters. Popular supposition
is that a cattlemen's meeting merely
arranges roundup program, partici-
pates in cowboys carnival, renews
old acquaintances until hilarious con-
ditions prevail and then fades away.
No impression could be more errone..
Gus. A gathering of steel barons or
railroad magnates could not have dis
cussed questions vital to the welfare of
their interests more gravely or intelli-
gently than did the Western South
Dakota cattlemen the wide range of
topics broached That they we're
thoroughly posted on these questions
was very evident to its auditors.
NATURALLY, resolution, introduced
by BARTLETT Richards, of Ellsworth,
Neb., approving the lease law precipi-
tated hot discussion and necessitated
an evening session lasting until mid
night. Richards carried his point and
leasing was approved but only by
narrow majority, the result demon
strating the diversity of sentiment in
the matter in South Dakota.
"The erstwhile ssockless" Simpson
was the stellar attraction of the meet
ing. The eX.conrressman, of Medicine
Lodge and hero of uncased pedal ex-
tremity, not fame, came with the inde-
fatigable and ubiquitous "Charlie" Mart
in who hustles for cattle interests even
while asleep. Mr.. Simpson, who was
by President g. X. Howard
as an ex.congressman who ..has re-
formed and become COW man, as
sured the audience that owing to pre-
vailing prosperity conditions, he was
now the possessor of an ample supply
of socks and was wearing them. Usu-
ally, he said, congressman landed in
the United States senate or the peni.
tentiary, but he had evaded both desti-
and returned to cattledom.
sphere he had occupied for 40 years.
Then he logically declaimed on the ne.
cessity of cooperation by stock associ-
ations to conserve common interests
and told what the National association
has done and expects to do. South
Dakota indorsed the work of the
National association with enthusiasm.
adopting resolutions denouncing the
senators who voted against the oleo
industry, demanding an annual fed
eral census of live stock, the vitalizing
of the Interstate Commerce commits.
sion and asserting the necessity of leg
islation protecting purchasers of cloth
ing against shoddy. Mr.. Martin re.
quested the last as quid pro quo to
the sheepmen who fought valiantly for
oleo.
"An incident of the meeting was the
of Miss Jewell in the inter-
ests of an orphans home at Sioux Falls.
She made an appeal for financial as
sistance and was supplemented by
President G. K. Howard. An exhibi-
tion of cattlemen's generosity followed.
After one of Miss Jewell's charges, a
sweet little mite of humanity, had
sung pathetic addition to the appeal
cowboys hat was put in circulation;
returning to secretary Stewart, filled
to the brim with currency.
"Miss Jewell carried back to Sioux
Falls over $500 to aid the work.
"Cattlemen who have followed the
practice Of securing the benefit of the
associations inspection and protection
and then refusing to pay dues and as
sessments, received drubbing, and
decision was made not to continue the
custom.
thereafter all dues must be paid by
July LIST, and suit will be brought
against those neglecting to step up to
the treasurer's desk and settle before
that time.
"President @. X. Howard and Sec'y.
F. M. Stewart were both reelected.
"You're stuck, ," was Stewards announce.
ment Of the presidents reelection.
Howard responding with, "They've got
you again" when Stewart was tabled
for another year. Warm encomiums
on Stewards work were uttered. Pres