The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1907-03-22
TEXAS CATTLE TICKS.
Editor THE CHRONICLE;

Sir--I am going to beg a space in your
columns to once more talk to your read
ers in regard to the Texas cattle ticks,
which are the sole and only carriers Of
the hated Texas cattle fever, which, if
just let alone, has surely come tostay--
or, in other words. it will stay-untilap
aroused public opinion shall sternly say
to the ticks and fever $50, stand notupon
the order of your going, but 60 atonce."
Mr.. Editor, the press is the real creator
of public opinion, and public opinion is
the real and only king in this free land
Law is dead without the force of public
opinion behind it.
Now the occasion and cause of this
writing in the recent act of the legisla-
ture, introduced and very ably pushed to
final passage by Mr.. Thomas, whom
Benton County has honored, and helm
turn has honored Benton County by his
very distinguished conduct in the gen
eral assembly of Tennessee.
Mr.. Thomas bill was amendatory OF
the law of 1901 chapter 15e of the acts of
that year. That act, though dulypassed
and signed by GovernorMcMillin, was as
lifeess as mummy Of Egypt which has
sleptin the dry catacombs ofthat OLDHAM
ever since Moses was found in the bull
rushes And why? Because it created
FIVE new crimes, and affixed severe pen
atty to each separate offense. All these
related to the Texas cattle tick, boophi-
lus annulatus. But it failed to enact, as
it ought to have enacted, that every cir
cult and criminal judge in Tennessee
should give the law in special chargeto
each grand jury impannelledin the State.
Because this was not done the judges
failed to charge the grand iuries the
grand juries had no inquisitorial power,
the people were not informed and the law
was dead letter.
But by Mr.. Thomas bill now firmly
passed into law by an overwhelming
majority, life and vitality has been pump
ed into the lfeless corpse of law. The
judges are compelled to give the whole
law inspecial charge to the grand juries.
and they must act, and have the inquis
itorial power besides. Let us see what
the law really embraces:
Section 6 Of the old law, now made as
live as hornets nest, provide that any
person having possession of domestic
animals which are infected with fever
ticks must not let them run at large to
spread the disease, or "who shall ship,
drive, sell, traffic, or give away" any
such infected cattle shall-what? why,
"shallbe guilty of a misdemeanor and on
conviction shall be fined in any amount
not less than $50 nor more than 500 for
each ofsuch exposed or diseased animals
which he shall permit to run at large or
shall sell, drive, ship, trade, or give
away"
Now. this is drastic law, but it is law;
and more, it won't be. repealed. The
counties which are not infected yet are
ina large majority in Tennessee. All
these, counties dread the disease, and
the best opinion Of thinking men in. all
the infected counties is strongly for the
law. The law has come to stay. 1t has
five other penalties in addition to that
quoted. tits a very stringent and severe
but most desirable law, which, when
once promulgated, as it will be in every
county by the judges, will then be well
knownto everybody. The law has come
to stay.
And now what must each citizen do RI
Clearly, obey the law. But more, The
new act very greatly increases the power
OF the. State Commissioner of Agriculture
and the State live Stock Inspector, and
also of the County Board of Health.
And now, Mr.. Editor, since the law is
as it is, and Alabama has just passed an
equally effective law, and the whole drift
of events-law, good sense, ard human
reason-are all one way, is it not wise
and safe for every citizen every one and
not some) to obey the law? Is it not the
wisething for the County Board of Health
and especially the County Court at it's
coming quarterly court to take steps for
the good county of Benton to get clear
and forever shut of ticks and end the
very name of quarantine in old Benton 3?
Mr.. Editor, close with the announce
ment that I propose to be with you, peo-
pie at Camden on the first Monday in
April, and / shall surely address the
people,on that occasion,
/ Jam YOUR truly,
A. II. PETIT BONE,
Agent Agricultural Department OF the
United States.