Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-07-19
LIVE STOCK MEN MEET
National Exchange Association in
Session in Kansas City.
FIFTEEN MARKETS REPRESENTED
Body is Clearing House for Local Live
Stock Exchanges.
ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT SWIFT
Caustic Criticism of Independent Co.
operative Concerns.
REFERS TO P0sT-MORTEM FIGHT
Charge Made that Independents sided
with the Packers in the
Controversy Just
Closed.
Caustic Criticism of Independent Co.
operative Concerns.
REFERS TO posT-MoRTEM FIGHT

KANSAS CITY, July 1S.-Live stock COM
mission firms in the fifteen principal mar
kets Of the country that do an annual busi-
ness estimated at SSOOOOO,OOO were rep
resented here today at the opening Of the
nineteenth annual meeting OF the National
Live Stock Exchange association. The live
stock centers represented included 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 meetings are
practically for the exchange of business
ideas. James c. Swift of Kansas City, the
president, said this morning 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 dis
cussed, President Swift mentioning this
topic IN his annual address, the reading Of
which was the principal work today.
High Business Standards.
while we regret" said Mr. Swift, "the
passing OF the 7-cCnt hog, we rejoice that
his memory bears no taint of post-mortem
and that he left with us the ever welcome
7-cent steers and the lowly sheep, with his
high-priced fleece and strong-selling NUT
ton"
Mr. Swift said that live stock exchanges
for years had been the butt for shafts Of
cheap ridicule or the basis for criticism,
born either of malice or ignorance. But
now he said there was n better under
standing of the proposition. that these or
ganizatlons are formed primarily to pre-
serve and maintain the absolute integrity
of contract, and to guarantee to every
man who patronizes our markets an abso-
Lutte, open and unquestonable 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 that
the cooperation. II any, was limited in ex-
tent and confined largely to the individual
promoters" and added:
Public CIamOr Played Part.
This movement at its inception sought to
take advantage of the public clamor
aroused in other countries and cleyerly
and unscrupulously tried to engulf us in
time ride the crest to a port of financial
blessings for itself. But the attempt failed
primarily nS, tgt 8rgan5Sd 3 to oppose The So
the people we are suddenly advised that
the country needs saving from the graspns
commission men.
And then followed what might be termed
'the seven weeks war" a spirited contest
between the people and the commission
men on one side and the large packers and
one commission firm on the other. And
where did We find our competitors-thC
sef-appointed direct tory chosen agents
response to the country's call? Did they
heed the tens OF thousands of protests
against a new and unfair manner Of doinl
business or did they obey the dictate O
the packer? We all know the answer anC
we all know how different the result hac
there been no exchanges, or had there beer
more disloyal organizations.
II Is long cry from organizing to breal
the so-called tyranny Of the buying firms
10 enllsting the aid of all questionable
agents and combining with tSe packers t.
fasten pOst-Dnnrtem collar upon the pro
ducing live stock public; TO drive from ou
criminate against the little man in favo
OF the big, and TO sell the live stock (an
! mean all the live stocl) on the hoof I'm
stead of on the hoof.
Believes I'm CO-UperatIOn.
We believe in cooperation; we believe 4
the brand that works with you and no
against you; that is looking after your wei
fare and not your ruin, and that stand
ready at ali times to give it's time, energ
and money in your interests and the princi
miserable mess of pottage.
We wish to be understood as fully ar
preciating the great savings and benefit
Rccruing from modern packing method,
1t has been ouu province and our pleasur
IN the past to do all we could for thi
great industry and at the same time -erv
Loyalty those to whom we are always az
countable. II is only, in the recent ir
stance when the rights of our customer
are In danger and the foundations of bus
ness are threatened that feel oblige
TO fight; and IL is only when our cause
just and we fight together that we can G
deserve TO win.
Great good will come out of this contest,
not only better feeling between customf
and commission man, not only a bett,
feeling between market and market bt
eventually a better feeling between buye
and seler-a new respect born of undel
standing. Each side has its rights and 4
privileges and we should be Just as zealou
TO guard the one we are careful not
invade the province OF the other; alway
firm but fair, and IN so doing we will bel
promote the interests Of all concerned