Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-05-28
SHOCK FOR ! COWBOYS,
Pure Food Laws Revolutionary
Work on Texas Ranches.
EYES OF SMOKERS OPENED.

EYES OF SMOKERS OPENED.
Cattle Ropers Supposed They Smoked
Tobacco In Their Cigarettes, but II
Turned Out TO BE Largely Alfalfa, So
the Government says-some Trying
to Stop Smoking.
DR.. Harvey w. Wiley and the United
States pure food law have played hay.
oc with tobacco smoking in this part of
Texas, writes the Uvalde correspond,
ent of the New York Sun. The habits
Of the cowboys have been revolution
lied by an innocent looking little pam
phlet issued recently BY the govern
ment. It contains the analysis OF varl-
Gus products In general use and among
them a popular brand of smoking to
bacco which is much used throughout
the southwest. a
When Jim Belford came In from his
ranch to get his mail the, other day he
found copy Of the pamphlet in his
box. It had been sent to him by his
old friend Major Nose Harris Of San
Antonio, deputy United States internal
revenue collector for the Uvalde dis
trict. Major Harris had written upon
the front leaf Of the pamphlet:
This will tell you what kind Of stuff
we have been smoking.
Mr.. Belford took the pamphlet over
to the store and glanced through 1t
while his order for ranch supplies was
being filed. The composition of the
brand Of tobacco smoked by almost
every man In Texas was given as fol,
lows: Tobacco. u per cent; alfalfa, 63
per cent; arsenic; 6 per cent; opium, /
per cent; fluid, per cent. nv.
Could 1t be true that he had been
smoking alfalfa And to think that
what he supposed was pure tobacco
also contained arsenic and opium! He
read the analysis over a second time.
Then he arose and walked over to the
counter where the storekeeper was Ak.
ing up the goods he had bought.
sBll, put me up about three pounds
Va 0440lAC1 Al4dCO WILL oASCAlC duu
opium and a little tobacco thrown in,''
he said. E .
Bill Jennings stared at Bedford in
amazement.
whats the matter Of you, Jim2 You
know don't keep any Of them things
on sale except tobacco he said. II
did have a few bales of alfalfa hay
last summer, but it didn't pay to carry
It, SO I quit. z
"Oh, yes, you do sell all OF them, and
you have got them In stock right now
Bedford replied. IT want you to read
this document
Jennings read the tobacco analysis
and announced forthwith that he did
not believe a word Of 1t. It took Bel
iiford some little time to convince him
that the analysis had been officially
made and must be correct.
What am going to do with all the
stun ! have on hand?" Jennings In.
CURED.
Judging from the amount Of alfalfa
In 1t it ought to make good cattle
fsed," Belford suggested. you'll be In
luck II you amt mobbed by some OF
the cowboys when they hear that
you've been selling them alfalfa and
arsenic and other things In the guise 81
tobacco
The first thing that attracted Bel
ford's attention that evening when be
rode up to-, his ranch corral was q
bunch Of his cowboys sitting upon the
board gate each With a rolled ciga.
rette III his month and the strings OF d
tobacco sack hanging out Of his hip
pocket They were the very picture d
eontentment % they poured wreaths Of
smoke from their mouths.
Bedford rode up Ii front Of them and
silently looked them over for min.
1 ute. Should he break the news to
them? Would 1t not be best to lie,
them continue In ignorance of the kind
Of stun they were smoking? Then be
thought OF the arsenic and opium and
decided to tell them about 1t.
1 "You are a nice set Of hay burners
he said by way Of beginning.
i The cowboys looked at him in sur.
prise.
| IT'S wonder every one Of you and
me along with you have not. been
locoed from using arsenic and OPIUM
he continued.
The cowboys were aroused by this
time. They demanded to know what
he meant by his insults. I'D i M
| Il mean that that tobacco which
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