Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 81, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 January 1915 — APPEAL TO PRESIDENT. [ARTICLE]

APPEAL TO PRESIDENT.

Illinois Dairymen Ask for Inquiry Into Alleged “Yards” Profits Through Disease Epidemic. The Chicago Herald of yesterday stated that none of the cattle at the Illinois state training school for girls at Geneva, has foot and mouth disease, in the judgment of experts acting in the interest of the Fox River Valley owners. This was announced last night after the experts, under a supplemental injunction issued by Judge Irwin, made an exhaustive examination. They found that one calf had diphtheria. All the other animals, they declared, were in a healthy condition. Jr ' • r Identity of the official, who in the opinion of the experts; blundered probably will be determined by state and federal investigation. How many similar cases have occurred will probably never bp known, as the greater number of the million dollars worth of cattle condemned, are under ground. Execution of the cattle at the Geneva school was halted .Monday by injunction obtained by Wah lace Norton, a Kane county farmer and taxpayer, acting on behalf of Fox River dairymen. After the writ had been obtained Norton attempted to see the cattle, but guards had been stationed about the place to maintain quarantine and bar outsiders. Late yesterday Norton was granted a Supplemental writ permitting both hirpself and Dr. A. M. Henderson, a former state and federal inspector, to see the cattle. “The blunder puts the state and federal authorities in a bad light.” said Mr. Norton. “It shows how ruthless has been the of animals in this state. There isn’t any’ doubt in my mind that hundreds of perfectly healthy animals have been killed. “Five state and federal veterinaries visited the farm and pronounced the herd infected with hoof and mouth disease.” The dairymen followed up their exposure of the alleged blunder at the Geneva School by sending a let*<6r to President Wilson suggesting that the department of justice make an investigation of reports that “a small -clique of dnterests” at the Union Stockyards has “already made several mifiion dollars” out of the plague situation. The letter in part read: t “It is currently reported that out of the misfortune of those owning cattle a small clique of interests has already made several million dollars; that daily shipments of cattle to the Union stockyards, Chicago, are held under quarantine so that they cannot be taken away again. Buyers fix their own terms for purchase of animals so held, thousands of animals each day are thus purchased for a price much less than their actual worth. “It is earnestly to‘ be hoped an investigation will prove the officials jnainTainipg quarantine are honest in ' the action taken by them, and that the terrible mistake made by them has been merely through ignorance.”