St. Paul daily globe., 1889-03-08
A PRACTICAL GENTLEMAN
Should Be Appointed Chief Grain In
specter, Not a Coal Dealer.
KICKING AGAINST RANDALL.
Minneapolis Grain Hen Think the Office
Should Not Be Poll
teal One.

The report that Gov. Merriam will In
few days appoint John J. Randall a
WinOna business man to the position Of
chief grain inspector of the state, in
place of j. A. Jansen, the present in
cumbent, is causing more or less COM
ment among the grain and commission
men of Minneapolis. 1t is generally
held that just because Mr.. Randall is a
good business man it is no sign that he
is an expert on grain. and considerable
amount of .kicking'' is being done in
consequence. 1t is also alleged that the
appointment will be purely political
one-to pay political debt, and this is
another thing which has aroused some of
the members of the chamber of COM
merce.
A large number of them were asked
for their opinions yesterday. Many re-
fused to say anything, stating that they
they had reasons tor not wishing to be
quoted. The following expressions
voice the general sentiment of the gen.
tlemen in the chamber of commerce
building:
{. G. Wyman-It strikes me that a
man who has had several years. expert
ence as grain inspector would be a
better man for the place than q man
whose only qualification is that he has
done good work for the Republican
party. At the same time, l do not
know how good man MIR. Randall may
be in the grain business.
5. S. Cargill-While I am not ac-
quainted with either Mr.. James OF Mr..
Randall. it does not seem to lie that a
change would do any harm.
II II Pp9yPy-Vhp chief Grain in
sDectOr should be a tirSt-class man in
every respect, and should thoroughly
understand the grain business in all its
details especially. / do not know Mr..
Randall, and can only hope that he is
the man for the place.
f. w. CommUns--I have heard 1t
stated that while Mr.. Randall is good
business man he does not know much
about grain. The chief grain inspector
should know more about that than any
thing else, in my opinion.
G. NJ. HarringtOn-Wc think that the
hief grain inspector of the state should
be man familiar with the grain trade,
and, il he does not possess that Qualifi-
cation, he should not be appointed to
the place.
X. MaXfield-l have been of the Opin-
ion all along that the commission could
not do better than to reappOint MIR.
James, who has given general satisfac-
ton.
F. Sunwall, Manager Central Ele-
vator C0lnpany-I understand that Mr..
Randall is thorough business man in
every sense, and has remarkably good
Judgment. 1t is not necessary that he
be an expert on wheat or grain so long
as he appoints a good deputy here, who
is an expert.
f.,x Il
BILE to have the chief inspector a man
who is thoroughly versed in grain. it is
not essential. The main thing is to get
good deputies. 1t has got SO now that
the offices of chief inspector and chief
weigher are given out to pay political
debts.
q. NJ. Brush-I am personally ac-
quainted with MIR. Randall. and will
Say that he is thorough business man.
and will give general satisfaction all
around.
Col. &. S. Rogers in the Market Rec
ord: The alleged selection of John j.
Randall, wood and coal dealer of Wi
mona, for chief grain inspector of the
state called out a great deal OF adverse
criticism at the chamber of commerce
to-day. 1t was a common remark that
very serionS mistake had been made
if the selection of MIR. Randall had been
decided up. While there are, perhaps,
positions III the state that may he filed
by appointment, for party service, with
out great injury to the public, the posi-
tionof chief grain Inspector is not one of
them. Not one, even among ardent sup
porter of Gov. Merriam's administra-
tion, tried to excuse this appointment.
If it is true that such appointment is to
be made, then the largest interest In
the state must be prepared to struggle
through another period of inef1iciency.
He is alleged to have been strong
supporter of Gov. Merriam, good look
ing and six feet high. So far as the
public has been informed. these are
among the chief qualifications for the
office, though it is said that he was a
member of the board Of railroad COM
missionerS from 1874 to 1876. AS there
was no commission at the time TO super
wise grain grading, the knowledge OBJ
tanned from that mythical position
is necessarily about as airy as
any such pretense for the gentleman's
appointment. Since the grain and
warehouse law went into effect in this
state it has been kindergarten, and
now that few men have fitted them
selves by experience in it to fill the
position. to turn back to the education
Of new men is a nnblic biundnr' ,,