H 1 S T R Y OF H E R E F R D CATTLE 



271 



CHAPTER XXV. 



A CONSPIRACY THAT FAILED 



We give this as it appeared in the "Breeders' 

 Journal," only striking out what we consider 

 non-essential at this date: 



At the Chicago Fat Stock Show of 1880, 

 the stock was to be gathered by the llth of 

 November, to be measured and weighed, that 

 the catalogues might be prepared by Monday, 

 the regular opening day of tbe show. This 

 four days of preparation was enough to show 

 the Shorthorn conspirators that something 

 must be done, or the Herefords were to sweep 

 the board; and on Monday morning rumors 

 were rife that the grade Herefords were from 

 Shorthorn cows; that the grade and thorough- 

 bred Herefords had been subject to a forcing 

 process, while the Shorthorns had come to the 

 show from the hands of common farmers and 

 common farm methods. 



Tracing these reports, those who were circu- 

 lating them said, "they heard so," and this is 

 all that could be made; none were ready to 

 stand father to the report. Another report that 

 the plainsmen were sick of Herefords, and 

 that the Swan Bros., of Cheyenne, were sick of 

 1 IK 'in and were to get rid of their Herefords and 

 replace them with Shorthorns. This report was 

 met early Monday morning following the other 

 reports. The circulators had no other author- 

 ity, than that they had heard so. A telegram 

 from Swan Bros, branded that a lie. A letter 

 from Lee & Reynolds' ranch showed that the 

 Herefords were doing better than any other 

 cattle they had. 



All the usual appliances were in use by 

 these conspirators during the week, that they 

 know so well how to practice. 



Some time after this show one of the con- 

 spirators (T. C. Anderson, of Kentucky) comes 

 out into the light and he brings two others 

 out one of these, a Shorthorn breeder and 

 horseman of Wisconsin, another, a banker of 

 Kentucky. We will leave out the banker and 

 give some attention to Anderson and the horse- 

 man, and their victim, Mr. Wm. Watson. 



Mr. Anderson starts out with the assertion 



that the dam or grandam of Mr. Miller's bul- 

 locks were Shorthorn cows. This I pronounced 

 false, and challenged him to prove. He says, 

 "It is sufficient to say his authority 'is based 

 upon an assertion made and repeated to Robt. 

 B. Ogilvie, of Madison, Wis., James M. Big- 

 staff, of Mt. Sterling, Ky., and to myself, by 

 one whom we believe to know the facts." An- 

 other time he says "The statement was made by 

 one who was often at my place." I have been 

 desirous of having this man define his position 

 and give his authority. I have had letters 

 from friends advising that Anderson had given 

 the name of his informer, and that it is Wm. 

 Watson, until lately, my herdsman. In the 

 process of dissection, I will give my first at- 

 tention to Mr. Watson. 



Mr. Wm. Watson is the son of Mr. Hugh 

 Watson, a prominent breeder of Angus cattle 

 in Scotland, a man who stood high as a breeder 

 and as a gentleman. His son, William, in- 

 herited these qualities. He was placed at the 

 best schools and with the best breeders of 

 England and Scotland to fit him as a breeder. 

 When educated he was placed on a farm and in 

 a position where he could use the inherited and 

 acquired advantages, and was achieving a sub- 

 stantial success. He married and had two chil- 

 dren. 



From Scotland he went to Australia, assum- 

 ing large responsibilities. Here he remained 

 a few years and we next find him in Oregon, 

 in the employ of a Mr. Reid, a wealthy citizen 

 of that country, with the management of a 

 large stock of cattle and sheep. From here 

 he went to California, where the American 

 Mrs. Watson met him. Soon after this, we 

 find him in Kansas, in charge of a large stock 

 of Shorthorns and Berkshires. 



These positions were important ones and 

 Mr. Watson was entirely competent to fill 

 them. There was only one drawback the 

 curse of liquor had followed him through all 

 his wanderings, through all his misfortunes, 

 wrecking the hopes of his father, his family 



