PROCEEDINGS CORN BELT MEAT PRODUCERS' ASSN. 567 



freight rates convening December 14. I feel that I should be there at 

 the very first day, or possibly the day previous, for conference with other 

 shippers. 



I regret this exceedingly, as it will deprive me of one of the cherished 

 events of the year, my meeting with my old friends of the Corn Belt Meat 

 Producers' Association. Cordially yours, 



CLIFFORD THORNE. 



(Applause.) 



I don't think it is necessary for me to take your time in going 

 into an explanation of this matter. You are aware that the Inter- 

 state Commerce Commission has determined, on its own motion, to 

 make a general investigation of freight rates as a whole and to find 

 out whether or not these freight rates can be reduced under existing 

 conditions, and they set the date for the opening of that hearing and 

 investigation for December 14, and this is why Mr. Thorne is absent 

 from this banquet tonight. 



The second letter is dated at the State House, Des Moines, Iowa, 

 December 13, 1921. This letter I received after we adjourned this 

 evening upstairs. 



Dear Mr. Sykes: I regret exceedingly that I can not attend the ban- 

 quet tonight, to which you were kind enough to invite me. As you are 

 aware, I am threatened by a serious situation created by the strike of 

 packing house employes at Sioux City, and it may be necessary for me 

 to order the national guard there to protect life, maintain order, and pre- 

 serve property. A committee of officials and citizens of that city has 

 just notified me that it will arrive in Des Moines at 6:30 this evening to 

 discuss the subject fully with me. I know you will agree with me that 

 my first duty is to confer with them. 



I wish for your meeting the most complete success, and I want you to 

 know how deeply I appreciate the courtesy implied in your invitation. 



With personal regards, I remain, 



N. E. KENDALL. 



This explains why our governor is not with us this evening. 



In emergencies of this character, men who are in charge of gath- 

 erings of this kind are put to their wits' ends sometimes to meet the 

 situation ; but, fortunately, we have in the state of Iowa several men 

 to whom we can always appeal to fill just such an emergency and 

 such a situation as confronts us this evening. As I came down 

 from the convention room this evening, about 6:00 o'clock, or 6:15 

 I believe it was, to be exact, I met in the lobby of the hotel, among 

 other men, one man to whom we all like to pay honor and respect, 

 and delight to listen to, a man who has been a leader among us since 



