Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-02-11
FIGHTING TICK A
PATRIOTS JOB,
SAYS U.S.. CHIEF

NEW ORLEANS. Feb. 11.-Cattle
uen from thirteen Southern states,
live stock specialists from agricultu-
raj colleges and experiment stations
and commission merchants from the
principal marketing centers OF the
limited States, more than one thOus-
and in all, attended the opening SEES
sions here today of the annual con
vention of the Southern Cattlemen
association. During the afternoon OF
the convention blooded live stock ap-
proved by the association, will be auc-
toned off to the members.
Plans for increasing live stock pro-
auction in the South and lettering the
breeds will be outlined during the
session.
Closely allied with the stOckmen's
convention was cattle tick erad1ca-
ton conference held today, and which
was attended by practically all OF the
federal inspectors engaged in cattle
tick eradication. Plans for the 1919
cattle tick fight were discussed and
delegates to the cattlemen's conVen-
tion attended in large numbers. The
department of agriculture was rep
resented by Dr. John r. Mohler, chief
of the bureau of animal industry, and
DR.. R. A. Ramsey. chief of the tick
eradication division.
DR.. Mohler was the CHIEF speaker
He said in part:
t'This conference would fall far
short of its purpose unless while meet
ing here we get renewed spirit from
the past achievements to surmount the
obstacles that remain before American
soil will be freed forever from the
cattle fever tick. 1t would not be
worth while unless every one of us
carries away with him clear idea of
what we plan to do this year and de-
termination to do his full part.
There is no man in this meeting
who cannot be proud, now and here
after, of his share in the fight against
the tick. You are doing constructive
work that has met with phenomenal
success. especially in recent years,
and in the first years as well. consid-
oriDu 4bo Droiudico oDd ionaro N cn 4hot
had to be combatted at that tina. The
work that has been done it its own ar
gument, and the effort that remains
is amply justified by the benefits from
past accomplishments.
when the work is finally complet-
ed when the tick has been permanent
ly eradicated you will have erected
your own monument, and if it SO
pleases you at that time, you are at
liberty to pass on to the heaven OF eff
1cient tick eradicators. with the full
knowledge that you have done some
thing of real value for your country
and the human race.
Few, if any. of us, have had the
privilege to wear the khaki in the
world struggle that has just ended
in complete victory for the Allies and
the United States. 1t would be pre-
sumptuous to think that any Ameri-
can who did not risk his life for his
country could have given service COM
parable to that OF the boys who bled
and died. But at the same time, we
we're all working for Uncle Sam. and
we were all doing work that was es-
-sential to victory. 1t is not too much
to believe that had The war stretch
ed several years more. it would have
been decided by the reserves of beef
that the South possesses as the direct
result of tick eradication. Even with
our comparatively short participation
the meat that the South was able to
produce because of the absence OF
the tick, weighed powerfully in the
food balance. So, while you wore
uniforms, dipped cattle without the
inspiration of brass bands or bugle
calls and performed tasks that Nigh,
have seemed humdrum when youl
hearts were "over there" you have
done as your country instructed, and
no man can do more than that.
''Tick eradication In the past two
years has made a notable record. In
1917 the 70.754 square miles released
from federal quarantine far surpassed
the record Of any previous year. Again
IN 1918 the release of 1927 square
miles esclipsed all previous accom-
p1ishments. These figures would COM
mand attention at any time But they
become truly remarkable when we
remember that in 1917 and 1918 the
United States was at war, and every