Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-04-07
A Letter from Sam Farmer.

II
Arkansas City, Kan, Feb. 10, 1908
| Mr.. EditOr:-We have just enjoyed a
two days Farmers Institute in Grange
Hall, this city. A very interesting and
instructive meeting. Prof j. D. Waters
from Kansas State Agricultural College
at Mannatin, Kan, was present and
made several very instructive addresses,
also Miss Elizabeth Agnew from same
college, who enlightened the ladies of
the Grange on the scientific and economic
subjects of cooking, all of which were
very entertaining TO large congregation
in attendance. A large number of
Grangers and farmers were present from
nearly all the townships in Cowley
county, notwithstanding the most terrific
blizzard for several years had been in
progress, followed by several days of the
most severe cold weather known in this
country for long time; temperature a
| few degrees below zero. The Institute
was a complete success, owing no doubt.
TO the inhabitants, the most of whom
are immigrants from the far East and
North, who were the cream of the in
habitants of their native home for cour-
age, pluck and general intelligence, and
when they start in worthy cause they
push it through with energy to COM
plete finish. The ladies of the institute
did quite as much or more toward max
ing the institute entertaining as did the
gentlemen although all believing in CO.
operation instead of competition; hence
are believers in socialism.
Cattle have fallen off in price here 2 | .
cents pound live weight, since one year
ago, which seems strange; while meats
are costing the consumers very nearly
the same old price, and the expense OF
feeding the last year, has been extremely
high and now the farmers who were for
tunate in raising a good crop of corn,
last year, and fed 1t to their stock, are
compelled now to sell for l-2 cents a
pound less than they paid for their stock,
last year, which absorbs their corn crop
and leaves them the pleasure of doing
all that hard work for nothing. Fine,
isn't it? We are told by reliable men
who are in the cattle business that
ring ssO'' is found in all the cattle yards
where cattle are bought and sold in the
West, where the buyers of stock all meet
every morning on market days and all
agree on the highest price TO pay for
that day and all bind themselves under
heavy penalties not to go above the price
agreed upon for that day. In that way
they put the price up or down as 1t
seems for their interest to do; so when
the supply is light up goes the price,
which induces the drovers the next week
TO make rush and over supply when
down goes the price and big haul is
made, while the manufactured meats
are selling at the same price right along.
1t is plain TO see how the people are be-
ingrobbed right along by a few individ-
uals. The same thing is being done
right here in this city though perhaps in
a little different way. Beef cattle are
bought on the foot from 1-2 cents to
cents a pound and the manufactured
meats are sold, the poorest pieces for
cents up TO - cents per pound for porter
house steaks, with bone and TANKS at
tached though part of very big bone
is whacked off by the cleaver occasional
ly.
One of the greatest sins our govern
ment is guilty of is the allowing of our
domestic animals to be treated the way
they are on the ranches in the West and
North Western states where cattle and
horses are kept in vast numbers with no
provision for food or shelter and often
water during the winter months; true
there are some years when stock Will go
through the winter all right, but not in
frequently there are times when SHOWS
and blizzards abound, and nearly all the
watering places are frozen solid, the
grass all covered with deep SHOWS, and
with no shelter from the winds and
storms on a bleak prairie the poor DUMB
animals are left to freeze and starve to
death. People in the East have their
organizations to prohibit cruelty to AMI
mails with no comparison TO the suffering
out on the Western ranches. Has the
time not come when this great and pros
porous nation should look after these IN
human practices and pass laws to compel
all persons to provide proper food ana
shelter for every dumb animal III their
possession? III it was known throughout
this nation how our dumb animals are
being abused there would be millions
sign petitions to have it stopped. Even
in Kansas and other Western states ana
territories. there are thousands OF farm
ers who have no shelter for large por-
ton of their stock and many who are
quite wealthy but have little humanity
in their hearts.
The people here in the West have be-
come accustomed to this Way OF treat
ing their dumb beasts and are mighty
slow to see the Importance OF caring Tor
the comfort and welfare of their stock.
The cattle business is acknowledged TO
be the most profitable business IN the
West and large sums OF money nave
been used in it and many miilionaires
have bloomed out which has led to the
idea of single individuals owning, thou
sands of head of cattle and take chances
of losing large number by starvation
and freezing. 1t is reported large
quantity of cattle have died this winter
in the Northwest and killed and been
skinned for the hides, there being no
chance to send them alive. 1t is not time
for our government to own the trusts ana
all public utilities, and put stop to so
many evils now so rampant throughout
the land? SAM FARMER