Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-10-16
SHEEP MEN HOLD
ANNUAL SESSION
Breeders and Wool Growers
Discuss Measures Of
Protection
DOG LAW IS SUBJECT
OF MUCH DISCUSSION
Claim Raisers Are Without
Relief From Roaming
Beasts in Flocks

The thfrty-third annual session OF
! the Iowa Sheep Breeders and Wool
Growers association is being held
mere today and will conclude its work
late this afternoon. The convention
was to have opened Thursday after
noon but the small number present
made 1t impossible to convene and
! the same cause prevented the holding
of session in the evening.
The change Of the time Of holding
the annual meeting from December to
October is thought to be Responsible
Tor the small attendance as this year
the experiment in change Of date was
made to bring the convention to OF
tumwa during the Farmers Institute
and Live Stock show. Action taken
this morning by the sheep men was
opposed to the change and the old
date will be reverted to in the next
meeting. A motion prevailed fixing
the time Of the next meeting between
December Is and 25 and Ottumwa will
remain the place OF holding the con-
ventions.
The election Of officers resulted in
the following men being chosen for
the next year:
President-E. D. Michael Selma.
Vice president-W. s. Merritt. Sey-
mour.
Secretary-treasurer-v. G.. Warner,
Bloomfield.
6IakeIy Paper Read.
Some of those who were to appear
on the program failed to come but the
papers prepared by them were read
at the. session, one OF which was by
A. ]. Blakely, Jr., of Grinnell.
In his paper on dogs and wolves and
their depredations Mr.. Blakely. who
Is ono Of the pioneers in the associa-
ton and active in the conventions,
told of the things that have been ac-
complished since the association was
formed over thirty years ago. Mr..
Blakely has attended nearly every
meeting since the organization in
1882, at which he was elected secre-
tary. He states that during the life
time of the association that feeces
increased two to three pounds per
head and the mutton qualities have
also improved. He referred to the
days when there was no dog tax and
said that even after the tax was I'M
posed there was no fund from which
the flock owner could be indemnified
for his losses due to dogs and wolves.
The legal fences were criticised as of
the shanghai type that would restrain
only horses and cattle while the sheep
men have had to have tight fence on
all sides.
The securing of the $50 wolf pelt
bounty was recalled and reference
made to the breeding which he urget
should be more careful and judicious.
He stated that the state fair exhibits
show many pure bred Iowa focks
which compare favorably with those
of other states although those from
outside Iowa sent to the fair are the
best their owners can breed or pur-
chase and usually win the prize, the
Iowa sheep in most cases getting sec
ond prize Some judges favor the
fleece of the Ohio sheep as against
the larger size and better shape OF
the Iowa animal. State fair exhibitors
showed that the best Iowa breeders OF
pure breed sheep have plenty Of the
very best stock with which to i'm
prove the fiocks without sending out
side the state.
Mr.. Blakely urged that Iowa have
more and larger hocks Of sheep, say
ing that It was more profitable to
raise good grade sheep and lambs
than to keep cows and calves unless
the cows are milked and afford dairy
products. He said that sheep are the
best stock to maintain soil fertility.
Numerous talks were made today
on various phases of the sheep busi-
ness and the laws the association
wants for the protection Of the men
who are raising flocks. Among these
was W. s.. Merritt Of Seymour. who
took a slant at the type Of men who
make. up legislatures and the manner
in which many people view the cleo
ton Of legislators. He said:
'The average person in Iowa seems
to think that no one knows anything
but lawyer when they cast about for
legislature material. The lawyer is
alright, but he has no sympathy with
the sheep breeder The man most
fitted for the hall of legislation in
Iowa at least is the man Of varied
business knowledge. He does not need
CONTINUED on page 81
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