The Minneapolis journal., 1903-01-13
THE LIVE STOCK men.
The Sixth Annual Convention Of the
People Who Raise the Coun-
try's Meat.
The Packers Combine Threatened
Changes in Tariff Demanded
An Anti-shoddy Bill Urged.

Kansas City, Mo-, Jan. 13.-The sixth
annual convention Of the National Live
Stock association began a four, days ses-
sion at the Century theater to-day. Every
seat in the auditorium was filled and many
stood about the walls. '... TX -
Mayor James A. Reed, in an eloquent
address,, welcomed the delegates, speak
Ing for the city and state. .#-s
The response on behalf Of the associa-
ton was made by Peter Jansen Of Ne
nraska,r who spoke in glowing terms OF
the work before the convention and the
future Importance Of the National Live
Stock association. ,s..- :. .
John w. Springer Of Denver. president
of the association, delivered his annual
address. 1t was forceful paper and dealt
with directness upon the legislation, pend
ing and future necessary for the protec-
tion Of the live stock industry. He said
In part: t. ,"~ ~ 80 49, ,.szH ,
Changes In the Tariff. '',e s. . /
Let it be understood here and now
that the American stockman proposes to
take care of himself, and that he Is not
q. supplicant at the doors of the federal
congress for any subsidy, for any bonus
or for any policy which seeks forty acres
and mule But we do serve notice on
the notwithstanding politician that the
live stock interests must receive protec-
tion from the congress Of the United
States just as long as the finished prod
ucts made from our raw materials are
heavily protected. Our allied interests
stand with American labor, and together
we hold the balance of power In this
union. None of our great interests are
hysterical or unreasonable or cranky on
the subject Of tariff or tariff legisa
tion.' We know it has largely aided in
making our nation great, and 1t has as
sisted the American workingman to a
higher level than that occupied by. any
worker on this round earth. But the tar
if Is not perfect and the stockmen OF the
United States believe there are many
points where the tariff could be reduced
and even abrogated entirely, for the best
interests Of the people as conditions now
exist. We believe further. that a tariff
must be retained on hides, wool, meat
and animals in order that the American
stock raiser may not be Disseminated
against. We must again, at this and the
next session of the federal congress-
thwart the highly protected manufacturers
from down east in their selfish demand fo1
free hides and free wool.
I'VE are strongly urging upon the pres
ent ways and means committee 10 report
favorably the Grosvenor anti-shoddy bill
and to force the manufacturers to plain
ly mark each piece of cloth as to just what
proportion is wool, shoddy, cotton, ETC.
in order that the man buying clothing will
know what he receives. We cannot be toe
persistent in our demand for this bill.
Reciprocity.
"Our interests firmly and fully believe
in reciprocity which reciprocates. We
advocate a give-and- take policy such as
ths great Mckinley outlined. Not only
this, but we advocate that the congress
- Of the United States pass bill directing
the president, whenever in his Judsmen
it may be necessary to retalllnte agalns
any foreign government arbitrarily anc
untustly discriminating against American
when
wholly unjustifable as the proposed Ger
man tariff bill now under consideration
in Germany, which, If passed, will exclude
from that country rs per cent of all ou1
meat exports: Is The alleged: excuse IS ina
our canned meats etc, are diseased anc
dangerous to the health, OF the people o.
the Fatnerland,: which we all know II
false in every particular. n.
"Our American tariff has been grea
lever In the upbuilding OF American IN
dustries, but it needs revising ana prunlh
to meet changed conditions OF the TWEEN
tieth century.
The |. c. Commission.
I'VE are also strenuously in favor Of tn
proDOsod bill to amend the interstate com
merce law, in order that this commissio
may have authority Of its own orders an
DEGREES. The confessed ldiocy Of keepin
up a high priced list of five interstat
commerce commissioners who hear cases
ing with justice Of the peace in Mis-
souri, declaring federal statute unconst
tutional and calling on a Missouri cor
stable to arrest the government. Whs
we want. is an effective tribunal whe1
we can lay our complaints against over
charges at stock yards, or termin,
charges on excessive railway shippin
rates, or unjust discrimination for
against a live stock market. and otht
equally serious to our interest, an
that when we prove the charges to ha,
an interstate commerce commission
which can enter up decree and execu
an order, to discontinue the same or ser