PAGE 11
JULY, 1916
Commission Man and Shipper
"The Itelationshlp of (lie Commission Man mimI the Live Stink
exchange to the Shipper," by Secretary A. F. Strjker
Stocker and Feeder Shows
lesignetl to Boost Live Stock Market." in the Corn licit,
hut llecome a lieneflt to the Cattle Country that Has (ool
Stuff to Sell.
The following Interesting and in
structive paper on the above men
tioned subject was read before the
annual convention of the Nebraska
Stock Growers Association, at Alli
ance, In June, by Mr. A. F. Stryker,
secretary, of the South Omaha Live
Sto; ' Exchange:
Nw'.e I b devote sufficient time to
discuss this subject in all of its tie
tails, hours would be consumed. I
shall, however, In the few minutes
allotted to me, endeavor to touch up
on a few of the most vital points of
contact between the shipper and his
agent at the public markets, the com
mission man, necessarily embracing
the organization of the Exchange, the
commission man's association.
From a somewhat intimate knowl
edge gained by twenty-six or seven
years' exeprience on the Omaha mar
ket, ll Is my opinion that In no other
line of business In this country does
the producer come more closely in
contact with his agent than does the
live stock producer, or Bhlpper, "with
the commission man. Very often the
shipper and the commission man con
sult as to the time of purchase, the
amount to be purchased, the kind of
live stock to be purchased and the
future market prospects. From one
season of the year to another, the
commission man makes It his busi
ness to keep his shippers poBted as
to market conditions and future pros
pects. In visiting the homes of many
shippers, it is a pleasure to learn of
the high esteem and confidence re
posed In our commission men. I am
proud to say that In but very few in
stances has this confidence been be
trayed. If you could know, as I
have learned to know, the constant
thought given by these commission
men to your business, the studied at
tention to all of the details of the
business given by these commission
men, the earnest efforts made by
them to secure for you the last possi
ble dollar for your live stock, you
would, I am sure, feel perfectly sat
isfied that your interests are in safe
hands on the public markets of the
country and that these gentlemen,
whom you choose as your employes
when you market your stock, are ex
erting every possible effort to be
faithful to the trust reposed in them
by you.
We want you to feel that your
commission man is your employe, oc
cupying, of course, a different posi
tion than do some of your employes,
but at the same time working for you
and your interests, labor lor which
you pay in the way of commissions.
The fact that he works for other peo
ple at the same time does not mean
that your work will be slighted. What
it does signify is the fact that he is
handling business for other people,
meeting the buyers of the different
classes of live stock, sharpening his
wits and getting Information con
cerning the condition of the market,
makes him a better and more capa
ble employe for you.
Again I want to reiterate, your
commission man will be glad to con
sult with you, to work with youyand
to represent you just as thoroly and
as fully as you will allow him.
Now, passing to that other feature
of my talk which relates to our or
ganization. ' It will be needless for
me to go into the details of the nec
essity for the organization of Live
Stock Exchanges. Mr. A. C. Daven
port, manager of the Journal-Stockman,
covered this matter very fully
In a paper , w hich was read at the
National Live Stock Exchange meet
ing at Cincinnati a few weeks since
and was reproduced in The Alliance
Herald Of June 15. Suffice It to Bay
that a public live stock market with
out au Exchange would be at the
mercy of every crook and black-leg
who iw At to Uctt thtru
Every transaction involving your
live stock at the Omaha market is
made unde the Jurisdiction of the
South Omaha Live Stock Exchange
and every man making these trade3
is answerable to the rules of the Ex
change to the end that all transac
tions shall be made in fair and hon
orable manner and that the last cent
of proceeds from your live stock shall
be remitted to you at the. first possi
ble moment.
Most of you are conversant with
the activities of our organization in
the way of protecting your Interests
along transportation lines. Your
president will recall our having ask
ed him to attend a conference in Chi
cago some months since which had
to do with the charges assessed
against shippers of live Mock on ac
count of the cleaning and disinfect
ing of stock cars. While this matter
is still in controversy, it will un
doubtedly be Fettled with charges for
this work, when necessary, much less
than those originally decided upon'
by the carriers.
The matter of live stock contracts
is now before our organization and
we shall do the best we can to bring
about a final adjustment of this mat
ter which will protect the interests of
the shipper. We were represented
at the conference in Chicago on June
6, at which was organized the Nat
ional Live Stock Shippers' Protective
League, which has for its object the
protection of the Interests of live
stock shippers thruout this country.
The National Live Stork Exchange
has entered upon a twelve months'
test of stock yards fills, to the end
that shippers of live Btock to Omaha
and other markets may receive an
adequate fill allowance on their
stock. It is the desire of our Ex
change, and other live organizations,
that the shippers themselves shall in
dicate to us their desire that we co
operate with them in there matters.
The Traffic Department of our organ
ization is at all times at the service
of the shippers to our market. The
o flic. j of the Secretnry-Traflic Manag
er is always open to any shipper, and
those in charge of this office will be
glad to meet and discuss with any
shirper to our market the service ac
corded him by either the carriers,
the Stock Yards Company, or the
commission men. It Is only as we
get closer together and have more
confidence In each other that the best
results can be obtained for all con
cerned. Those who are In positions
of authority in our organization real
ize that only as we work In harmony
with, and for the shipper, who alone
makes our public markets possible,
can we hope to retain their confidence
and co-operation.
IllMPKK t K01S THIS KAH
Corn llonming, Farmers Happy,
Staockmcii Pleased, Pros
Kft Itright
We have just about told this little
story In the heading above. The pros
pects of a big crop of good, sound
corn in eastern and central Nebraska,
Iowu, northern Missouri and north
eastern Kansas are much better than
they were at this time last year. This
of couise makes the farmers and
feeders glad, and It also pleases the
ranchmen in the cattle raising coun
try, for it is generally believed that
the better the corn crop in the "corn
belt" the stronger will be the demand
for ranch cattle to feed In the ensu
ing fall and winter.
Small grain in eastern and central
Nebraska Is much better than last
year, at least on the 11a t land; in
western Nebraska not quite as good.
The excessive rains of last year that
destroyed crops to a considerable ex
tent in eastern Nebraska made an un
usually heavy crop in the western
part of th tute.
IU:XUKHi:i ItAXCIIMEN (iOOl) SLItVICE
The Nebraska Stockman and the stockmen's editions of The Alliance
Herald have done Nebraska ranchmen a good service in calling attention
to the superiority of their cattle as feeder stuff.
It isn't bunk or hot air but a fact, verified by feeders of eastern Ne
braska and Iowa, that no better cattle can be found for feeding than come
out of tho sandhills and the adjacent tablelands. Giving publicity to this
fact tends to improve the prices paid for Nebraska range cattle oy increas
ing the demand for them for feeders. While some cattle go direct to the
packing houses from the grass, it is a well known fact among live stock
commission men that the demand for them by feeder buyers makes a much
better maket than could be expected if they were sold only for immediate
slaughter.
Likewise the live stock markets accessible to western Nebraska that
put on stocker and feeder shows are doing the ranchmen of this country a
pood turn. Prizes that are worth trying for are offered and special ef
forts u.adp by the stock yards companies to have plenty of feeder buyers
at the shows; but in our opinion the principal benefit does not come from
the prizes or in securing a good market at that particular time, but in the
publicity given the stuff exhibited and the herds from which they are taken,
which applies also to a greater or less extent to the state and that part of
the state in which they are raised.
Last September St. Joseph put on a stocker and feeder show. In the
issue of the Nebraska Stockman for August we said:
Why Nut Nebraska Cop the Prizes?
What reason is there why Nebraska ranchmen should not. cap
ture a large share of the liberal prizes offered at the St. Joseph
stocker and feeder show? None, whatever.
If they exhibit, they are practically sure of getting in on the
prizes. Hetter feeder cattle cannot be found than are raised in the
west half of the state.
The Herald Stockman earnestly desires to see Nebraska
cattlemen compete for these prizes, and win some of them. u: tcy
will if they exhibit. Already Nebraska rancli cattle have a splen
did reputation among feeders in the corn belt states, and that ref
utation is sure to be enhanced by proper representation at the
first annual St. Joseph Stocker and Feeder Show.
In the next isue following the show we had the pleasure of announcing
"Nebraska Cops Cattle Prizes" and gave the names of successful contest
ants, as readers of this paper will remember. There is no way of ascertain
ing the exact value to ranchmen of the publicity given to the good qualities
of their cattle, but no one who understands marketing conditions will deny
that it possessed a benefit worth while.
This Year's Shows '
Some of the markets will put on stocker and feeder shows his year,
the exact dates and particulars of which will be given in due time in the
Nebraska Stockman and the monthly stockmen's editions of The Herald.
Owing to the large number of feeders from the corn belt who will attend
and buy stuff for their feed lots, it is probable that exhibitors, whether
they get in on the prizes or not, will get a somewhat better price than will
be paid at the same time under other circumstances, and there will be no
extra charge for yardage and commissions. '
If Nebraska ranchmen are well represented In the exhibits, without
a doubt they will secure a large share or the prizes. The stocker and fee ler
show is one kind of live stock exhibition at which ranchmen wl.:i do i ot
fatten their cattle can get In strong. In fact secure the lion's share of the
prizes. It is a pleasure tor us to give advance Information regarding the
shows; It will be a greater pleasure, after they are over, to tell our readers
about the prizes won by Nebraska cattlemen.
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