Los Angeles herald., 1907-07-19
LIVE STOCK DEALERS
IN ANNUAL MEETING
PRESIDENT SWIFT ADDRESSES
NATIONAL EXCHANGE
Declares Former RidicuIe Is Changing
to Better Understanding of
Nature and Purpose of
Organization
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo-. July 1S.-Live
stock commission firms in the fifteen prin-
cipal markets of the country that do an
annual business estimated at eight hun
dred millions of dollars were represented
here today at the opening of the nine
teenth annual meeting of the Live Stock
Exchange association.
| The live stock centers represented in
cluded nearly every city of Importance
from Buffalo to Denver and from St
! Paul to Fort Worth. Twenty delegates
came from Chicago
The national exchange is practically the
clearing house for the various local eX-
changes on all matters relating to the
live stock trade. and the annual meet
ings are principally for the exchange of
business ideas.
James c. Swift of Kansas City the
president, said that as far as he knew
no pressing matter was to be taken up
at this meeting.
The post mortem question among other
things will be discussed, President Swift
mentioning this topic in his annual adj
dress, the reading of which was the prin-
cipal work today.
regret 0eNcnaSCHl ivy
'"While we regret" said Mr.. Swift 'the
passing of the 7-cent hog, we rejoice that
his memory bears no faint or post NOR
tenn. and that he left with us the ever
welcome 7-cent steer and the lowly sheep
with his high priced fleece and strong
selling mutton"
Mr.. Swift said that live stock exchanges
for years had been the butt for shafts
of cheap ridicule or the basis for criti-
cism born either of malice or ignorance.
But now, he said, there was a better
understanding of the proposition that
these organizations are formed primarily
to preserve and maintain the absolute
integrity of contract and to guarantee to
every man who patroniZes our markets an
absolute, open and unquesuonable square
deal.
| He spoke of competitive organizations,
which he said though self-styled as CO.
operative, in the light of development
would lead to the absolute conviction
with the cooperation II any was limited
in extent and confined largely to the in
dividual promoters" and that this
movement at its inception sought to take
advantage of the public clamor aroused
in other quarters and cleverly and scru-
pulously tried to engulf us in the same
frenzied wave and at the same time ride
the crest to a port of financial blessings
for itself. But the attempt failed.
Opposed Beef Trust
primarily organized to oppose the So
called beef trust and fight the battles of
the people. we are suddenly advised that
the country needs saving from the grasp
ing commission men,"
He continued
| "And then followed what might be
termed the seven weeks war spirited
contest between the people and the COM
mission men on one side and the large
packers and one commission firm on the
other.
"And where did we find our competi-
tors-the self-appointed directory-chosen
agents of public protection? Did they
heed the thousands of protests against
new and unfair manner of doing business,
or did they obey the dictate of the
packer?
1--WE all know the answer and we all
know how different the result had there
been no exchanges or had there been
more disloyal organizations.
at is a long cry from organization
to break the so-called tyranny of the
buying firms to enlisting the aid of all
questionable agents and combining with
| the packers to fasten post mortem col
lar upon the producing live stock public;
to drive from our markets the principle
of cash sale; to discriminate against the
little men in favor of the big, and to sell
the live stock q mean all the live stock
on the hook instead of on the hoof
Believe in, Cooperation
1--WE believe in cooperation; we be-
leve in the brand that works with you
and not against you; that is looking after
your welfare and not your ruin, and that
i stands ready at all times to give its time,
in interests and
the principles of right, rather than sur
render for miserable mess of pottage.
1--WE wish to be understood as fully APP
nreciating the great savings and benefits
accruing from modern packing methods.
at has been our province and our
pleasure in the past to do all we could
for this great Industry and at the same
time serve Loyalty those to whom we are
always accountable.
at is only as in the recent instance,
when the rights of our customers are in
danger and the foundations Of business
are threatened, that we feel obliged to
fight, and it is only when our cause is
lust and we fight together than we can
or deserve to win.
Great good will come out of this con-
test-not only a better feeling, but bet
ter customer and commission man; not
only better feeling between market and
market, but eventually a better feeling
between buyer and seller, a new respect
born of better understanding. Each side
has it's rights and it's privileges and we
should be just as Jealous to guard the
one as we are careful not to- invade the
proVince of the other; always firm but
fair and in so doing we will best promote
the interests. of all concerned"
S$A
SECRETARY WILSON ON