discussion concerning the admission of Texas cattle to the Territory. The Texas men were represented by Mr. John W. Buster of the Continental Cattle Co. and Mr. W. M. D. Lee of Lee & Reynolds. It was the old question of Texas fever; one long since settled in the public mind, but it was pregnant in those days. The southern men contended it was a bugaboo, whereas the facts were against them. That very year we were defending suits for spreading this disease in Nebraska. We were only indirectly interested. A party whose cattle we had a mortgage against had either smuggled or got in some cattle to that state by a back door route. Anyway, a lot of cattle died and we were landed into over thirty law suits. Eventually we had to compromise, as while morally we had no liability, technically there seemed to be some doubt. In my time I have had a lot of experience with the above disease. Fortunately it is almost a thing of the past under present scientific conditions. The above and countless other discussions led on to the dead-line against Texas fever in the South and consequently from the Panhandle cattle came freely north. In this connection there is rather an interesting paragraph in the Minutes of 19th April, as follows: Secretary brought up question of eligibility of Mr. H. S. Boice for Stock Commissioner. After discussion, President dictated as follows: "The Board have decided in view of the fact that Henry Boice is not a member of the Montana Stock Growers' Association, and for the further fact that he has shown himself unwilling to comply with the rules and regulations of the Board and also that he is a non-resident of the Territory of Montana, to request his Excellency T. H. Leslie, to revoke the late appointment of H. S. Boice as Stock Commissioner for the County of Dawson and request the appointment in his place of J. L. Day as Stock Commissioner for the County of Dawson, Montana Territory, and we make it our duty to go there and lay the matter before the Governor." The above may all be true, but in the light of today this is certainly a mock tragedy. Boice was there as he is now in the first flight as a cattleman, with a splendid upright character. Nothing better in this broad country. Just, safe, conservative in his methods, he is one of the beacon lights in western life, known favorably from the Rio Grande to the swift running Yellowstone. [Since dead.] On the same day a matter personal to myself comes up. It had almost passed from memory. Judge C. H. Loud, then and now of Miles City, was dreadfully aggrieved that we had shipped a stray cow with his brand from the VVV outfit. This animal was sold in the fall of 1887 and only netted $12.24, against a shipment of cows from his own ranch averaging $22.50 per head. This $10.26 cost the good Judge, ourselves and the Montana Growers' Association a heap of trouble and expense. And the name of Clay, Robinson & Co. stank in the nostrils of the cattle raisers' attorney. Letters flew freely and probably not in very good temper. To add insult to injury, we were accused of branding other people's cattle, and so forth. It would tire our readers to go further into the matter, because the Judge and ourselves have buried the hatchet, but it is impossible to refrain from repeating the following dialogue taken from the minutes of meeting of 22nd April: Dispute between C. H. Loud and Clay & Forrest, relative to "SL" cow sold by the latter firm, and belonging to Sanborn & Loud. Secretary read latest correspondence with both parties. Com'r Myers: "I move that we remit check to Messrs. Sanborn & Loud for the cow and that the correspondence between these parties be transmitted to the Executive Committee of the Stock Growers' Association." Com'r Scott: "I would ask leave to add to that, that if this correspondence be handed over to the Executive Committee, that it be done so with the resolution that it never be brought up again." Com'r Myers: "My reasons for it are these: We have no business with the case before us, except to transmit this money. The Cattle Association have a right to deal with these parties as far as memberships are controlled." Com'r Poindexter: "Would it not be better to let them bring this matter before the association?" Com'r Scott: "I make another suggestion, that if it is necessary to have this thing settled once and forever, let us resolve ourselves into the Executive Committee of the Stock Growers' Association." Com'r Murphy: "I move that in all such cases, action be deferred by the Secretary until they are laid before the Board." Carrried. Secretary was finally instructed to write to Sanborn & Loud as follows: "We have taken no action in this fight for the simple reason we had no shadow of jurisdiction. It was beyond our power to interfere in this matter and we had no right to do so. We return check herewith." And to Clay & Forrest as follows: "The Board of Stock Commissioners having taken up at their fall meeeting, the dispute between yourselves, and Messrs. Sanborn & Loud, wish to state that the matter was brought before them at the Spring meeting, and action was deferred waiting for further information and light upon the subject. In the meanwhile, our Secretary in reply to your letters upon the subject, seems to have given offense in some way which we are satisfied he had no intention of doing. Neither the Secretary nor the Board has any desire to take sides in the matter between yourselves and Messrs. Sanborn & Loud and anything in our Secretary's letters that seemed to convey that impression, was unintentional. Messrs. Sanborn & Loud have accepted the check sent them which settles the matter. We regret very much that in the course of the correspondence anything has been written calculated to cause you to think we are partial to Messrs. Sanborn & Loud or had the slightest prejudice against yourselves, assuring you that there is nothing of the kind." There is not much further interest in the Minutes except detail work. Mr. Granville Stuart who had served from 1885 resigned 21st April, 1891, Mr. Alfred Myers taking his place. R. B. Harrison also resigned, Mr. Greene Preuitt filling his shoes. Harrison as a Secretary was excellent. Preuitt was more or less of a politician, inclined to be careless, rather a poor organizer and when he died the affairs under his charge were in a confused state. Socially he was delightful and while there were rumors of delinquencies in his term of office, I am glad to say personally Preuitt's record was clean. He was the victim of other men's misdeeds. In April, 1893, the Board cut loose from Wyoming and inspected Montana and North Dakota under a separate organization. This was unfortunate and as mentioned above gave rise to a good deal of friction betwixt Scott representing Montana and myself as President of the Wyoming Stock Growers' Association. I have always maintained and feel stronger on the subject than ever, that this brand inspection business should be done by one or at least two well organized outfits. If there is to be a division it should be north and south. At any rate Mon |