Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1908-01-21
MUST HAVE A CHh>(
IN HANDLING
STOCK
National Livestock Convention
Opens at Denver With
Large Attendance
Present.
PRESIDENT M'KEAz|t
CRIT|CzES RAILROADS
Shippers Must Quit If Stock Is Mo-
Handled Rdpidly--Finest Cattle
Display In the West At
tracts Thousands of
Visitors.

Denver, Colo, Jan. 2l.-Attended
by stockmen from every part of the
United States the annual convention
of the American National Livestock
association was opened here today
with the address by President Murdo
Mckenzie In this opening address
President Mckenzie enlarged upon
the treatment of stockmen by the
railroads and the greater part of his
speech was a criticism of the meth
DDS of the railroads in handling
stock.
He favored a law by which the
railroads can be punished for failing
to give reasonable speed to livestock
shipments and suggested that the in
terstate commerce commission should
be given power to enforce such
law.
should Furnish Cars.
Railroads, he said, should be forced
to furnish cars for the shipment of
stock whenever cars were wanted,
and stock shippers should not be
made to wait the convenience of a
railroad which could furnish cars,
but which, through failure to do So
causes enormous losses to shippers.
lie favored the plan of giving the
interstate commerce commission au-
tfsority to decide whether an advance
in rates Is just before the roads are
permitted to put an advance into eff
feet. Tariff schedules which are fixed
to suit eastern manufacturers were
attacked.
Asks for Resolution.
Concerning the grazing policy Ia
vored by President Roosevelt, in
reference TO the bill for government
control OF unoccupied public domain
Mr.. Mckenzie said:
"If the members of this associa-
ton are still of the opinion that the
present administration should be en-
dorsed, a resolution similar to the
one of last year before the conven-
ton should be passed.
President McKenzie's address was
in line with the demand for better
transportation service which is the
cry of the stockmen and which will
be the most important business to be
transacted at the convention. The
members of the executive board of
the association are working to Sc
cure some action which will result in
concerted effort to improve the
railway service, particularly in secur-
ing rapid shipments and lower rates.
Must Have n Change.
First Vice President Jastro, who
is slated for the presidency OF the
association on account Of President
McKenZie's determination not to be a
candidate for reelection, is promi-
nent in this movement. He says:
We viii have to get along If there
is no change in the leasing situation,
but unless there is a change in the
railroad situation, unless We get re-
lief soon. We will have to go out of
business"
1T is Of vital importance that we
secure Il minimum speed limit law.
II the same conditions prevail an
other year, as have in the last twelve
months, many stoCkmen will be
forced % quit. First, the railroads
told u that they couldn't get us the
livestock ears. Then, when we got
the cars they were so long or the
road that the shrinkage almost ruin
ed Us
''Stockmen cannot lose IS or $40
head on cattle and stay in the busi-
ness. And that is what they have
been losing by shrinkage because of
the delays In shipments A continual
tion of present conditions spells ruin
for all engaged in the industry
"Still another important subject
will be the tariff on hides and wool.
This matter, too, must be adjusted,
and its discussion probably will take
precedence over the land question.
Then, TOO, the question OF foreign
markets is vital We must have bet
ter conditions abroad.
CAS- for the land question, it sim
mers down to this: Nine-ive per
cent Of the cattlemen Of the country
want government control Of the
range. with the leasing system adapt
ed TO local conditions. The big sheep
men really are the only ones oppos-
ed. and l do not look for enough
opposition in the convention TO re-
tara the passage of resolutions up
holding the Roosevelt policy, the
same as last year"
The gauntlet will be thrown down
TO the railroads when S. II. COwan,
general counsel for the association,
makes his report on Legislation
Needed by the Livestock Industry"
or the legislation now pending be-