No Chicanery at Chicago

U. S. stockbreeders flocked to the 31st International Live Stock Show at the Chicago Coliseum last week in greater numbers than ever before, officially assured that no tricky showmanship would be countenanced, that sound husbandry would prevail in the granting of awards. For the first time it became publicly known that for years certain breeders have been injecting their cattle with subcutaneous matter (oils, paraffin) to fill out sags and wrinkles in their animals carcasses. Even Lucky Strike, last year's grand champion steer, owned by 20-year-old Elliott Brown of Rose Hill, Iowa, who used his prize money to pay off the mortgage on his homestead (TIME, Dec. 16, 1929), was found when slaughtered to have had his hide lifted. Said Chief John R. Mohler of the Federal Animal Industry Bureau: "When such malpractices as these get to the point where our boys and girls, the farmers of tomorrow, begin to find them accepted, it is time to call a halt."

This year young Farmer Brown had no entry, but he led the grand champion. Jimmy, a coal-black Aberdeen Angus like Lucky Strike, into the prize ring. Aberdeen Anguses have won nine international shows, more than any other breed. Jimmy's owner is Banker J. Frank McKenny of King City, Mo. whose herdsman is Elliott Brown's uncle. There was no chicanery about Jimmy's championship. He was sold for beef at auction to the Breakers Hotel, Atlantic City, for $2,700, or $2.50 per Ib. (Last year's prizewinner was bought by Chainstoreman James Cash Penney at $8.25 per Ib.)

Many a notable came to see the thousands of sleek porkers, fuzzy sheep, velvety kine, clucking fowl. Governor Emmerson of Illinois opened the poultry show, Chairman Legge of the Federal Farm Board came to preach his gospel of fattening stock on the nation's surplus wheat, Mrs. John Hertz (Yellow Cab) showed a group of australorps, antipodean fowl, from her farm at Gary, Ill.

It was a triumphal week for college-bred fauna. Purdue won with sheep of all breeds, also with Poland China, Berkshire and Chester White hogs; the agricultural school at LaFayette, Ind. won with lambs; so did Illinois; Iowa State Agricultural School had the best pen of Tamworth barrows; Wisconsin had the best Yorkshire barrows, Tamworth hogs. Other winners:

Best Corn: Herbert C. Watson, Purdue-trained, of Tipton, Ind.

Best Hay: George J. Sauerman of Crown Point, Ind.

Healthiest Boy & Girl: William Ross Bodenhamer of Missouri, Marian E. Syndergaard of Iowa (see p. 53).

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