The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-12
TEXAS COWBOYS GET A JOLT
PURE rood Law GETS IN ITS
YORK on THE RANCH.

Tiicy supposed They Smoked Tobacco In
Their Cigarettes, but It Turns Out 20
Have Been Largely AlfaIfa-At Least
That's What the Government Says.
UvALpR, Tex, May 11.-Dr. Wiley and
the United States pure food law have
played havoc with tobacco smoking in
this part Of Texas. The habits OF the cow
BOYS have beer revolutionized by an i'm
nocent looking little pamphlet issued re-
Gently by the Government. 1t contains
the analysis OF various products in general
use, and among them q popular brand Of
smoking tobacco which is much used
throughout the Southwest.
When Jim Bedford came in from his ranch
to get his mail the other day he found a
copy OF the pamphlet in his box. 1t had
been sent to him by his old friend, Major
Nose Harris Of San Antonio. Deputy United
states Internal Revenue Collector for this
district. Major Harris had written upon
the front leaf Of the pamphlet:
This will tell you what kind Of stuff we
ave been smoking.
Mr.. Bedford took the pamphlet over to
the store and glanced through 1t while
his order for ranch supplies was being
HlI00. 1H0 COAhBOnAtlOh VI NHV ShAA@ ~
tobacco smoked by almost every mar In
this region was given as follows Tobacco
- per cent; alfalfa, oS per cent; arsenic,
0 per cent; opium, ! per cent; MUD. ) per
cent.
Gould It be true that he had been smoking
nlfalfaf And to think that what he sup
posed was pure tobacco also contained
arsenic and opiuml He read the analysis
over a second time. Then he arose and
walked over to the counte where the store
keeper wal fixing up the goods he had
bought.
sBil, put me up about three pounds Of
alfalfa, mixed with arsenic and opium
and a little tobacco thrown in,' he said.
Bill Jennings stared at Belford in amaze
ment.
sWbat's the matter Of you, Jimi You
know I don't keep sny c. them things on
sale except tobacco he said. Il did have
afew bales of alfalfa hay last summer, but
il didn't pay to carry 1t. 80 ] quit
ooh. yes you do sell all Of them. and you
have not them In stock right now Belford
replied. Il want you TO read this docu-
nent.'
JenninRs read the tobacco analysis and
announced forthwith that he did not believe
a word OF il. II took Belford some little
time to convince him that the analysis
had been officially made and must be cor
rect. ..
l have on handp' Jennings inquired:
IL II otght to make good cattle feed. Bel
ford suggested. you'll be in luck H. you
aint mobbed by some Of the cowboys
when they heal, hat you've been selling
them alfalfa and arsenic and other things
n the guise of Tobacco
The first thing that attracted Belford's
attention hat evening when he RODE up 10
his ranch corral was q bunch OF MS cow
boys sitting upon the board gate. eaoh
with a rolled cigarette In his mouth and the
strings OF a tobacco sack hanging out OF
his hip pocket. They were the very picture
Of oontentment as they poured wreaths OF
smoke from their mouths.
Bedford rode up in front OF them n
silently looked them over for q minute.
should he break the news TO them?. Would
h not be best TO let them continue In
ignorance Of the kind Of stun they were
smokingf Then he thought'o OF thea arsenic
and opium and ecide 10 tell them about
sYou are a nice set Of hay burners he
said by way Of q beginning.
The cowboys looked at him IN surprise.
sits a wonder every M Of you. and me
along with you, have not BEEN loooed
from using arsenic and opium. he 0on-
tinued.
The cowboys were aroused by this time.
They demanded 10 know what he meant by
his insults.
FL mean that that tobacco which we've
ali been smoking Is mostly alfalfa. arsenic
and opium, and I've got the docume |
here 70 prove it,
Mr.. Belford then read the analysis OF
the tobacco from his seat In the saddle.
Th0n he had finished the oowboyn nolemniy
thrr-R away their ciRarette9 and emptied
their sacks of tobacco upon the ground.
II guess the cattle viii eat the stun. one
Of them said.
Il have always heard that alfalfa il M
Of the most fattening things there Is
said another. 1t rs no wonder that Tim
Hall Is 30 hefty: he has been almost Twin
on this tobacco Il
There was q big laugh at the expense Of
Hall.
Il think III start me an alfalfa farm
over here on the Nueces River bottoms.
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