Los Angeles herald., 1909-01-27
STOCK RAISERS
DELIBERATE ON
GRAVE ISSUES
NATIONAL CONVENTION OPENS
ITS SESSIONS
RAILROADS COME IN FOR MUCH
SEVERE CRITICISM
Author of Carey Land Act Advocates
System of Leasing Ranges, Which
at Present Are Being
Exhausted
nj EMBERs of the American Nation

! EMBERS or Cne American N Nar1On-
! IE4 al Live Stock association from
A'A every state and territory in the
west and middle west assembled at the
Belasco theater yesterday morning at
10 and again at p. m. for the twelfth
annual convention. The meetings
| were called to order by President H.
A. Jastro of Bakersfield Among the
delegates present were many veterans
| of the plains, cowboys from the range,
| statesmen from Washington and rep
resentativeS of the packing house in
dustries.
Although only numbering a few
hundred the members present repre-
sent, directly and indirectly, more than
| 10000 stock raisers throughout the
| country, owning perhaps upward of
50,000000 head of live stock. During
the past twelve years their organiza-
ton has fought the great railway in
| tereStS of the country on behalf of
American shippers and has done more
than any other organization to force
congress to create the interstate COM
merce commission. 1t is now fighting
to have the powers of that commission
| increased.
Speeches and addresses which will
be landmarks in the annals of the stock
| raisers of this country were delivered
at both sessions.
The lower part of the house was
reserved for the delegates, while the
boxes were filed with their families.
The balcony was reserved for visitors.
In brief address George H. Stewart
Of the chamber of commerce extended
hearty welcome. He confessed sor-
owfully that he did not own a single
COW.
H. E. Crowley of Fort Worth, Tex,
responded to the address of welcome in
the place Of John w. Springer Of Dem
yer, who has been delayed by wash
outs.
President Delivers Address
President H. A. Jastro then deliv-
cred his annual address, saying, in
part:
Years of experience, much of it full
of misfortune, have impressed upon
| stockmen the growing evils of uncon-
trolled and overstocked ranges. When
the question Of federal control of the
open range was first considered by this
association eight or ten years ago there
was a marked difference of opinion
among the users Of the range, but in
the past few years there appears to
be a steadily increasing majority that
| faVOrS government control by a lease
or otherwise. At our last annual meet
| ing the almost unanimous sentiment
! Of our members was crystallized in a
proposed bill which we desired passed
by congress. By the provision of that
| bill the federal governm ent is author
| lied to establish grazing districts in
the semi-arid sections Of the west and
| to appoint officers necessary for the
| administration and protection of such
| grazing districts; to issue permits to
Craze live stock thereon for periods of
1 not more than ten years, with the right
to fence, giving preference to home
steaders and to present occupants of
| the range. Under this bill the gov
ernment of the United States exercises
the least possible control commensu-
rate with the ownership of the lands.
In fact, it is distinctly home rule
measure"
The failure of congress to act on the
Culberson- Smith car and transporta-
ton bill, designed to prevent unreason-
able delays in furnishing cars for live
stock and other perishable stock and
to compel reasonable and adequate
service, is deplored. :
Deceived by Railroads
when this association secured the
extension of the twenty -eight-hour law
to thirty-six hours" continued Mr..
! JaStrO, ut was confidently ex.
pected that the extra time would
prevent many unnecessary unloadings
| and enable us to get our live stock to
| destination in much better condition
and with much less hardship and suf-
fering to- the stock. Contrary to their
promises the railroads. have simply
consumed the additional time between
their usual stopping places by handling
the live stock at a lesser rate of speed,
so that almost as many unloadings are
! necessary today as under the old law.
| I'VE pay the railroads for good SER
vice, and they should be compelled to
furnish it.
"Our bill prohibiting advances in
! freight rates, except after approval of
| the interstate commerce commission,
has through our efforts received in
dorsement of many organizations
throughout the country, and I believe
that it has a fair chance for passage.
| This association should reaffirm its
former action on this exceedingly in1-
portant subject"
! Hon. w. A. Harris, from Lawrence,
Kas., delivered an address on Our
| Foreign Markets." in which he spoke
! of the necessity for tariff reform and
the education of foreign peoples to the
use of American meat products.
Pinchot Sends Regrets
/ At the afternoon session President
| JaStro read a telegram from Head
| Forester Clifford Pinchot, expressing
deep regret at not being able to attend.
| 1n1S Is Cne HrSC convention at Which he
/ has not been present.
j Former Senator Joseph NJ. Carey of
| Cheyenne, Wyo., author of the Carey
! land act and a noted authority on pub
lie lands, delivered an extemporaneous
address on Land Laws-Their Admin
istration and Effect" Mr.. Carey is the
idol of the stock raisers of the north
west. Besides being prominent in the
4 construction of western railroads he
has secured the passage of much valu-
able land legislation. HeAis spoken Of
by many of the delegates present as
candidate for second vice president of
the National Stock Raisers' association
Mr.. Carey said in part:
Whatever values lands have in the
United States today were given to them
by the people. 1t is only by use that
lands acquire values. Daniel Webster
placed no value on the lands of Califor-
:. MIA, because he said the country would
never be inhabited to any considerable
extent.
I'VE should use the lands of this
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