Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1916-09-22
DiSMAHTLED DAIRY FARMS A
MONUMENT TO MiSHRNAGE-
MENT BY HIS COMMISSION.
TO BLAME FOR EPIDEMIC
Which Cost Illinois More Than a NIL.
lion Dollars-infected Hog Serum
Caused Second Outbreak.

When the Democratic committee on
haiis and speakers sends its spellbind-
ers into the field this fall in Illinois,
IL is safe to venture the guess that it
viii be with instructions to say as
little about the affairs OF the Illinois
livestock commission and the terrible
epidemic of the foot-and-mouth dis
ease, as possible, for that frightful
scourge among the live stock of Illi-
nois, and its attendant effects, is still
fresh in the minds of not only the
farmers and stock raisers Of Illinois,
but among all citizens as well.
Inc maladministration of the de-
partment, under the direction Of Gov
Edward Il. nunne's livestock COM
mission, is one of the political ghosts
that haunt the Democratic grave
yard and today points a gaunt, accus-
Ing finger at the present state ofIi-
Gals.
1t is little wonder that the Demo-
cratic spellbinders will not have much
to say during the coming campaign
concerning this terrible epidemic that
ragged year ago, which cost the state
OF Illinois a cool million Of dollars, to
say nothing of the loss of prize herds
of cattle. hogs and other live stock.
Today hundreds of stock and dairy
farms in Illinois stand dismantled, a
monument to the colossal mismanage-
ment and ineficiency of Democratic
state administration.
Governor Dunno, in his mad rush to
appease the well-whetted appetites of
a horde of hungry Democratic office
seekers, must answer TO the people for
the inefficiency that cost the people
of this state thousands and thousands
of dollars, for he appointed these in
competent job hunters to office with
out regard to their qualification or fit
ness of the men.
Governor Dunno and his followers
cannot sidestep the issue. 1t confronts
them and the people of Illinois will
not be satisfied with an eyasive an
swer.
When the foot-and-mouth disease
was discovered at Niles, Mich. in
1914 why did not the state yeterina-
rian, o. e. Dyson, go to that city and
investigate?
Why, did not the livestock commits
sion, composed of b. j. Stanley, l.. f.
Brown and r. M. Patterson, none of
whom is an expert on live stock, take
steps to prevent the shipment of dis
eased cattle and hogs from Niles,
Mich, into the great Union Stockyards
of Chicago?
II there is a state in the Union that
should have been protected from this
dread scourge, It is Illinois, for within
Its bounds are located the greatest
stockyards in the world, yards where
thousands upon thousands of cattle,
hogs and sheep are arriving every day
and being shipped to other parts of
the country.
Never in the history of the state OF
Illinois or any other state has there
been a greater display of ignorance
and inefficiency than was evidenced
when the state livestock officials of
Illinois permitted the foot-and-mouth
disease to enter the Union stockyards,
not only once, but twice. In fact, the
second epidemic. as has been proved
by an investigation conducted by the
United States senate, emanated from
the Union stcckyards of Chicago.
When the disease was reported at
Niles, Mich, in August, 1914, why
were not Dyson, Stanley, Brown and
Patterson on the alert, protecting the
interests Of the farmers and stock
raisers of Illinois?
.