Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-01-24
PRESIDENTS SYKES, OF MEAT PRO.
DUcERs, PREDICTS GREAT FuT-
URE FOR STOCK INDUSTRY.
SAYS STATE WILL LEAD
IN CATTLE INDUSTRY
lowans Breaking Away Dependence
Upon Western Rangers For Feeders
Farmers Warned That Present
High Prices Will Not Be Possible
After European War Closes.

Das Moines, Jan 24.--To make Iowa
eventually the greatest beef raising as
we'll as feeding state in the union her
farmers are now increasing their pro-
duction of cattle Signs of this step
forward and the breaking away from
dependence upon the western ana
southwestern ranges as Il breeding
ground for steers to be fed Iowa corn
are seen on every hand now, according
to President A. Sykes, Of the Corn belt
Meat Producers Association, who ad-
dressed the opening session OF that
body in thirteenth annual convention
President Sykes sounded the Keynote
Of Iowas live stock industry when he
pointed to the necessity of farmers in
creasing home production OF cattle as
they have hogs in recent years. he
declared the past nine months had W.T.
messed highest prices on record TOR
stock, and that these prices offer the
farmers the greatest stimulus possible
to increase their production. President
Sykes pointed to coming years OF as
sured unprecedented prosperity FOR
stock growers, altho the present prices
were characterized by him as abnorm-
ally and dangerously high.
II believe that for the last nine
months live stock prices have been abb
normally and even dangerously high
he said. "If it had not been for the ex-
tremely high price Of corn and other
feed stockmen would have reaped
rich harvest.
"The impression, however that these
inflated prices have come to stay is err
roneous. There will be drop soon
which may be fatal to those stock deal
ers and feeders who are not prepared
to meet it. Caution must be observed
and our resources conserved so that
when the market slump comes we may
meet it with the least possible loss.
Live Stock Disease Discussed.
The business session of the conven-
ton will be held Wednesday. This
afternoon addresses were made by DR..
A. E. Kepford and T. D. Rutgers on tu-
berculosis in live stock, and Charles f.
Holman, of Madison, Wis, on cooper
ative packing companies, and Dean
Curtiss Of Iowa Agricultural College
spoke on live stock In Argentina. e.
In his annual address President
Sykes declared that the farmers of
Iowa have come to realize that only
thru organized effort can they success
fully carry on work affecting the vel
fare of the whole industry. He stated
no spectacular events had occurred
during the past year to seriously dis
rupt the live stock situation as affected
by railroad rates, but pointed to the
forthcoming investigation by the inter-
state commerce commission into rail-
road rates as matter which would
command the attention OF every stock
man in the country and compel them to
put up a stout defense of their inter
ests against exorbitant freight rates
being granted by the commission. Pres
ident Sykes warmly commended the
work of the National Live Stock Ship
pers Protective League and declared
the voluntary assessment of cents
car on stock shipments to pay the ex-
pense of the leagues work met with
universal approval among Iowans
Rail Rates Attacked.
Speaking Of the Cummins amend
ment which eliminates the valuation
clause in live stock contracts, Mr..
Sykes urged Iowa shippers to refuse to
pay increased rater where stock was
not valued by them above the limited
liability named in the contract. He
stated the railroads are not complying
with the Cummins amendment and
pointed to the necessity Of the Corn
Belt association forcing a test Of it's
in the supreme court
as a last resort in gaining for shippers
their rights under the amendment. He
urged stockmen to prevail upon the
state legislature to pass Torrens sys-
tenn of property recording in this state
and recommended a strong legislative
committee for the association to fur
Their stockmen's interests.