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STOCKMAN RECALLS FIRST RANGE CONVENTION;SII PIDHRSiLDKETBEEW.B, Skaghter, Member of First Gathering, in S. A. for Meeting.: (Continued Froru Page Oce.)at* the firat convention .of tie “punchers” so Iong.'ago.ATTENDED first .meeting.Mr; Slaughter vividtly pictured the carp/, days- of the Cattle Kaisers’'Association,. in the time .of mavericks and 'tinfenced ranges. Although only a boy_ h inself, cor; side ruble of tenderfoot compared with the pioneer trail drivers who organized the association, he attended the first organized meeting of the cowmen at Graham, Tex., on February 15, l$77.In those days of drifting herds and ini fenced prairies, the chief troubles'of the cattleman tvere -the questions of ' rustlers'* and mavericks. Unmarked cattle caused contention and tronbl-*, since the herds were not confined it) pastures. Each winter when the big uiuc*’ northers swept over North Texas plains, the big herds drifted southward, and unmarked cattle cither been me the property of thieves or were awarded possible owners through boards of arbitration organized at tie spring roundups*.MEET UNDER LONE TREE. Thai. was why six men met under lone tree on the Li tile Krachoyv creek in the I'alo Pinto neighborhood, ;■* arrange a meeting of the cowmen at Dillingham Prairie, in Jack county. for the next autumn.September, 1S76, saw the largest round tip of cowmen ever held on Texas plains in those early times. They met on the open prairie, riding to.:the meeting on their saddle ponies: they carried -canteens and most of them had six-guns in their belts. J. C. Loving op Lost Valley presided, sitting, on a camp stool, while wild flowers bloomed on the carpet of the “convention hall” and. birds furnished the only music they had.' 200 AT GRAHAM.The next convention of the cattle-inon was held at.Graham. About 200 brethren of the range were present. The president rode 25 miles in his buggy to the meeting. -.Everybody wore. spurs. Thu . question of mamy beauty wasn’t important at this meeting—they acted, dressed and talked natural.” Those wlm liked leather chaps wore them, and there were rod bandanna handkerchiefs. Tail, boots, designed to protect, the wearer from hungry rattlesnakes, were a part of ever costume.; Today the sours are gone—automobiles have replaced ponies. The boots urc nearly extinct—Micro aren’t any rattlesnakes on the floor of the convention hall. Ban dan lias arc no-, worn for “nice” any more. The ■■a'.iicen l.::s been driven away by tin; :co water cooler. Ami the six-shooter of old is absent—civilization has orphaned fire-SAN ANTONIO CHANGES.Kan Antonio has changed almost asA trip, through the. lobby of the GpntSr/HoteL would convince old-: timers and strangers that “John B.” of 10-gallon hat fame, still enjoys a comfortable business.t The mission or the big hat has : changed though in recent years, coiv-• men declare.Formerly cowmen wore the log hats on the range to shut off the blazing rays of Old Sol. When they came, to town to appear dressed tip I they coiiod from rhe laymen of the-city in - ins habit of a small top-pieec. This day and time regardless of the size- hat worn ou the ranch the big sombrero is'worn to town as a mark of distinction.KING OF GRANGERS.For blocks a eattJemau can he . recognized by his hat. And it's'uo-job to pick out tilt visitors as they, greet one another in the lobbies of the leading do wist.own hotels.For instance on; a walk through the Gunter lobby there was Ralph Gates of San Angelo, jle is known throughout cattle circles' as the liing-bee of calf branders. During r.*24 Ralph is credited with branding more than 5000 calves, which he says is the average number that come under his iron.Then, too, til ere was F. 31. Horn of Topeka noted for his extensive ■ operation in Texas, Oklahoma. Colorado end Kansas. His chief business is buying and selling.Just a few feet away were J. F. Cook and his son,- R. G. Cook of Crockett, cattlemen and ranchmen from Webb county, in the vicinity of Carrizo Springs.HOUSTON MEN llEBE.The Hon ton delegation made up of Bassett Blakeley. G. C. Blakeley, his son. G. O. Stoner and G. I). Scott, were having a big time looking over ihfi boys.” One just naturally associates the Blakeleys with „ the famous picture. North of 30.”It was on the Blakeley ranch near Houston that the nictnre was taken.They scented to enjoy the fact that. FI. G. Nelms of Houston, had to suffer a rushed trip from Victoria u* .San Antonio in jut automobile to break i:i in time for the . convention.W. B. EUis. cowman from tin* • north section of San Antonio trade territory., close'to. Menard, was looking arodnd for W. A. Neal, who, not being satisfied with the trials had tribulations of .cattle raising is also associated with the sheep raising, industry. .'Ellis said Neal is ■ his neighbor from San Angelo.“MAVERICK” STROLLS IN.Lon Beal, the feeder and steer buyer from Topeka, strayed from the Kansas flock and was about to be picked «p for a maverick, when F.»I. Robb;' from Topeka, who proved the guiding light for Texas cattlemen buying 5000 bead of steers last year, nut him on the right path.E. H. Brainard of Canadian. Texas. could be seen greeting friendswirli rbat optimistic mien reflecting .prosperity '.despite., so-called hard •'times.'''’ ■/////.■He is evidently well acquainted with W. E; and Lonnie Cates, known throughout the Southwest by cattle and oil men, operating-in Lotna Vista and around Laredo, because he game them the highball” as they came through the lobby.TV. A. Kingston of. Balmorhea, the irrigating farmer and cattlemanfrom the Fee os coutnry. r.-as sifting around in the turmoil giving points on what a little water will do to dry soil,BACK FROM MEXICO.And right next to him was Ralph Briscoe of Barnhnrdt, who took SHOO tows from Uvalde to Old Mexico-not so long ago.Vicrgever, ranchman andstockman from Millard, Kansas, was betting Joe Cotulia, of Coiuila; John Dyer, Fort Worth, and Buck Hundley,. Fort Wort!*., that they never heard a name like his and was willing to throw in another black-raced yearling they couldn't spell it,_ V.’. H. Jennings, okl-tiinc stockman and operator from the Laredo country- wno is said to have been attending cattlemen’s convention:! ever since Dave Crockett and the gang kept the Mexican army in suspense over at the Alamo and who cattienca claim is imbued with the same spirit of “never give up.” seemed to be the most popular cowman in the botch He* and ■ John Blocker of Big AY ells were having a great time chatting* with other visitors.SLAUGHTER HERE.TV. B. Slaughter, who became famous by winning the distinct ion -of being the only man that ever drove a herd of buffalo from Texas to Fort Collins, Col., was the recipient of a shower of greetings from .out-. of-town friends. -,: /■ A. TV. Rigby of Beeville, known, throughout that country because of his. position as inspector for • the -Cattlemen’s association,' was. there •with bells on; so to speak.A roar , of greetings broke loose when a quartet/composed of P. G. Owens of Kansas City. TV. EL-Bain. banker and cattleman from Alpine, Bob Evans of Marfa and Luke . Brite, operator of .100,000 . acres and; noted Hereford breeder, from Valentine, sauntered through the lobby, '_ Lee Russell, of the Western Hemisphere. known operator from 3Iex-ico t»'Canada and the Snider Brothers, biggest operators in and around the Lubbock country, were swapping yarns off in one corner'while W. S. Forrester of Wichita, known.' throughout cattle and oil circles, listened with an attentive car.Judge M. D. Sinter, lawyer and cattleman with holdings in Llano. Kinney and Webb counties. -Tim Slatoi* from Bracketville, and Sam McKnight, sheen and cattle.; raiser ..and vice president of the cattle-much as the cattlemen’s convention, since the first roundup of the :owbovs was held here. 3n March. 1.807. the czars of Texas prairies met in San’Antonio for the first time, in the old First Baptist Church. Colonel George Saunders was present. So was Mr. Slaughter. The principal hotels of that time include two that are no more— the old 31 an dike and the 31a r crick.It was a .little hard to. get a house in San Antonio big enough to hold the cowmen at the first meeting—those were the flowery days of the stockman. and there were perhaps .7.000 here. Mr. Slaughter said. “There wasn't very much town here then.” SONS LIKE FATHERS.F. H. Brainard of Canadian, pioneer organizer of. the Panhandle.cowmen, once drove,-cattle to Kansas before there Were railroads to take the herds to market.. “The. only: thing .that has changed much is just the times,” Mr. Brainard said. “The boys are just. the same old puncher?, with the same big hearts and powerful right hands. Their sons will be just, like their fathers. And even if we do ride to conventions in flivvers—there isn't .much difference, between a bucking auto and a bucking broncho.” *Big hats and kindly faces and “powerful riyht hands”—this is the first impression of the convention. Happy greetings. strengthened by handclasps that are paralyzing. Eyes a little squinted from looking nt the sun. Fact's bronzed by the outdoors.men’s association of Sonora weir all having a rip-roarin’ time with friends.MILL ALL THE TIME.Theodore Pyle, of Longfellow, says cattlemen remind him of his 25JHJ0 Lead of cattle after they’ve been herded from the tiOO.OOO acres. • under his supervision. “They mill all the time.”While he stood in the lobby, he. was seen to .speak or nod to B. A. Platt and J. M. West: of Houston, lumber, oil and cattlemen from, the Lobo and Longfellow country. A. H. Tamby of Canadian. AT. E. Haring of Amarillo, Walter -Weather-by of Del Rio. Charles F. A7ieregg of Kansas City: Tom East and Henry Eads of Hcbbronviile, AY. A. Kab'iill of A:inita. H. M. Stone-., breaker of. K. C.. Ira . Word. Del, Ilio, and (A-lbeiL Kiacr.id of Ozona.reception from -our'numerous buy-; Sheriff T. A. Linford of Harris county, who' is here attending the cattlemen's convention, was; the guest of Ms fellow officer. Sheriff Jim Stevens, at the- Bexar county courthouse.There arc 25.000 different cattle brands in the cattle country. Tad Moses said Tuesday morning .*iu discussing the method cowmen ue to mark their stock. 31auy states have laws which compel cattlemen to register their brands, he said, but Texas. Oklahoma and New Mexico do no;.president of the Sheep and Goat, Raisers asociation.James Callan from Menard, member of the Livestock Commission; was present to take7'an active -pait in the proceedings on the coaveu-* tion floor. A. G. Williams of; AYashington. was also there.Dudley Kent, the official reporter-for the convention, had a hard time trying to keep track of- what was going on above the rustle of the milling throng. Henry Bell, cashier, /or the association, was ready for business when the session opened.W. L. Calohan, an inspector for ; 3$ years, was there to greet old friends. Then. there was George Bowles from Kansas Oty, and ,1. A. AA’ikuoth, field director of the Southwest District,- from Fort AVorth.'Leonard. Dixon from Fort TVnnh, was there to represent the Kansas City .Produce- company; • HV: 31.-. . Stonebreaker was present.- He is' also . from Kansas - City. , .. .j Paul Wagner, multi-millionaire -oil and L cattleman, was - a visitor.'-.Richard Kleburg from Kingsville,-• was on hand meeting, friends; Tom. East, from the King-ranch- was there, , 'J. A. McXaughton, vice president ' and general .manager of tKe Lcs;. Angeles Stock Yards, was: an op* ’ timistic visitor: at the convention. “Conditions for profitable produc--’ tioh of cattle in the Southwest arc rapidly rounding into shape and should continue to improve,” said Air. MoXaughton.“We. are- glad to'be able to offer - another'marketing outlet for this - section through the recently established Los Angeles .Stock Yards' which will help to broaden demand, for your, livestock.“Already we have received shipments from sixteen-western states.' and our business has shown an on- . couraging growth month by month as more produriirs. learn, of the. possibilities1 of -this, new open and/ competitive market. Texas cattle in particular have met with A good;A bevy of pretty girt, began to round up the Mavericks who carue in late Tuesday morning, to bring them to the desk to register. The lobby of I he Gunter Hold was so packed that it was difficult to pass through without being mashed in the struggle.Motion me;mi's was thrown bn an improvised screen on the balcony of the Gunrer Hotel lobby during ilio morning, showing characteristic ranch scenes.AA\ B. McFjtiden of Beaumont, well known Texas cattleman, was present when the convention was called to order ana was- greeting his friends.Bud Wells, from- Fort AVorth,. from t'ac Santa Fe railroad was ou hand to fcwi; the herd from -stain*’ peding. • 'Red Hawkins, inspector- at Del Ric, and A. TV. Bickering. inspector from A'ictoria,. are attending the . convention.:. . ■' -■■■. .C. E- Weimoutli, Amarillo...eat-.tleinan. came down to tcU'what the Panhandle; needs in-tths-way of -better stock conditions.;/ -G. E. Hillboldt of';Seely: aiid his son were1 present, meeting' their friends from the cattle., country.-Charles Craighead of Hebbronrille and; Fred Rod way Jr.. of Sarita mingled with the- crowd.John Montgomery; cainc down with the Font Worth delegation and was on hand when'the bell ran for the morning round .up./The Irish motif was stressed on the convention floor. Tuesday morning when large numbers of cattlemen blossomed forth with shamrock tics and green ribbons.SIGNED TOCALIFORNIA FIRMS OFFER TO PURCHASE TURKEY FEATHERS'. Captain .C'uai'los. ■ Y.: Hart,-Medical Corps, who graduated' from the Ad vanccil Flying School. Kelly - Field. Saturday, has been afwijncd to duty at Brooks Field as flight shigoon.Captaiu Hart holds the distinction, of being the only flight, surgeon in the service who has completed _ the advanced course and gained ‘ his. rating as airplane, pilot and observer.'.• Second. -L ie n ten ant - Otto . P.- TVcy-land, who graduated in the observation section .as . pilot and-observer, has been assigned to the Air. Service detachment • at.. Fort- Sam Houston.Among.other assignments'that have been-made of students .of the last class is' that; of Captain S. G. Hoyt, who goes to.; Washington. for duty in the office oi i he ('bier of the Air Service. THREE ASSIGNED.Sacr.ud Lieut. R. W. Douglass Jr.. Second Lieutenant' C- D. McAllister and Second Lieutenant .G. F. Sehulgcn hayc been assigned to the First Pursuit Group at Scifridge Field.All three specialized iu pursuit work uv Kelly Field.Second Lieutenant J. K. Nisslcy, E. T. Rundouist and A. Y. Smitii;aduaies in the bom bard rrent action. Slave been asfjigned to fhc Second T.ombardmcni' Group at Langley Field. Va.DISCHARGE CADETS.Other :nwignr.ieni« that have been an non need by'the War Deiartmear include . the following : /Second Lieu ten an t.D. W. Alayhn-i to Pope-Field,-Fort Bragg;/Major Roy: 31. Jones. and Fi rst' .Lieuteu a nt.W. 0. Farnuni to the Ciinal Zone; Second Lieutenant Ernest S. Moon- and First.. Lieutenant' Arthur. Thomas • -to the Philippine Islands; and First'Lieutcn-.-ants' R,' S. Hcald, R. S. McCullough and-H. T. McHugo and Second Lieu-renaiif. S. ,P. Edwards to Hawaii. -.(Advertisement).Cet Rid ofPiles — MowA box. of -Pyramid Pile Suppositories is your best friend to stb^ maddening- pain, put out tlie fire of burning- soreness, relax protrusions and. give -you gTatefnl ease and comfort. Thousands testify. Many say Pyramid averted operations. Step into any drus store for a 60c box.. Got any turkey feathers?The Chamber of Commerce can. direct you where to sell them in TOO-, pound Tots. ■ \ ./ . * ' •California concerns are buying the feathers, to be placed on arrows, According to a letter received at the Chamber of Commerce Tuesday.But they will only buy feathers between six and eight inches in length,’ from turkey wings. .. AA’hich means .it will take ; matiy turkeys to make ii p a 3 00*poimd ship-•bent. .-(Advertisement.)You Know a Tonic Is Good ®when .it makes you at lake a. hungry boy and brings back the color to your cheeks. ■; You can soon feel the. Strengthening.. Invigorating ‘Effect of GROVES ' TASTELESS CHILL TONIC; 00c.GrandLentenheBy All Episcop Wednesday, MarcSt Paul 'sSermonThe Rev. SylvesteUnder the Ali-% AssociatedA little empire of the! tig empire - of Texas,, this convention is. and-every subject of that empire of “ten-gallon hats himself a king, a monarch of his prairies!They have followed the trail to Sim Antonio, and have rounded in* the herd. What matter -if that trail is a highway todayV Over that sea of “John B.” rolled hats in the convention hall the spell of romance- lurks, in spite, of the roar of traffic just outside. These men who have literally “punched” prosperity and civilization into Texas meet today under circumstances jery different . from that prairie meeting (hat united them—but they arc the same old cowmen, with big lists, big hearts, and big—powerful big—handclasps. ■HATS*See the Window Displ ays—Th ey Tell the Story‘' T h e Shop of' Co u r I e s y ” fW- 22f~£. HOUSTON S Tf(£ET Tomorrow and Thursday
Newspaper Details
San Antonio Light
San Antonio, Texas, US
Tue, Mar 17, 1925
Page 14
Full Page
Clipped by
Wikipedian I.
NA, 22 May 2025
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