Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-10
GOVERNMENT SEEDS IN TEXAS.
The Health Omcer of Ell Pase Writes
Secretary Morton.

The Following letter has been received by
Secretary Morton from DR.. w. NJ Yan-
dell. health officer Of Ell Paso, Texas, in
acknowledgment of the receipt of packages
of seeds:
My Dear Sir: Through the kindness Of
the Hons. X. Q. Mills and j. V. Cockrell
/ received lately from your department
number Of packages Of winter vegcta-
bles. each bearing a printed request that
/ report the result Of my trial Of tlat va
riety "and return this paper bag with such
report" 1 enclose the bag which con-
tained the only variety so far given a
trial. and in this connection I desire to
say to YOU that your strict compliance
with the democratic platform demands
for more rigid economy in public expendi-
lures meets my hearty approval, and to
assure you that 1 shall take great pleasure
at any time wheE you short on paper
bags in forwarding you a dozen or two
on receipt Of prepaid self-directed en-
velope.
This request make not so much to save
postage as because l am determined not
to be party to the Post Office Department t
scheme for working off John Wanamaker' s
chest protectors Uhe only stamps now to
be had at our post office on an innocent
quest that when you send me more dried
vegetables you enlarge the paper bags, as
those received. in the language of the col
ored lady who does me the honor to pre-
side over the astronomical department of
my establishment. don har1y hof a
tas'e"
Candor compels me to report that If 1
have ever tasted worse peas than the
Champion of England. the variety given a
trial, l do not recall it. My first impression
was that they were taken from lot or
condemned army stores lett over from tne
late civil war, but after mature delibera-
tion l have arrived at the conclusion, from
their name and condition, that they were
captured with CORVALLIS at Yorktown. The
vegetables to the doubtful districts in the
northwest and unloading your stale veg
etables on Judge Cockrelrs district. which
is safely democratic, and in many parts OF
which dried apples are luxury, L repel
with scorn as weak invention of the
enemy, coming, as it does. from repub-
lican.
Although do not subscribe to the asser-
tion made by a distinguished Texan in our
prohibition campaign that you had as well
try to run the Baptist Church without
water as the democratic party without
whisky. l want to suggest that II IL Is pro-
posed to cor tinue in the republican rut OF
governmental paternalism it would be a
good idea to encourage both the farmer ana
the distiller, the producer OF the raw II a
terial and the manufactures, by distributing
that most valuable product of Indian corn.
handmade sour mash, among the democ-
racy of this district, who are sadly lacking
In enthusiasm since witnessing me Spec
tacle of senatorial courtesy in the silver
debate, and democrats in the House voting
against democratic platform demands en-
bodied in the Wilson bill. Should you de-
eide to adopt my suggestion, L shall take
pleasure in acting agent for your depart
ment in distributing many barrels as
you can spare. Of a real good article. and
can assure you that l shall put them where
they will do the most good.
AS the south is now doing its full share
rd ma al onN
those of us who served in the southern
army are prohibited from refreshments at
the pension pie counter (even under the
very liberal ruling Of the late pension COM
missioner, which, as / understand 1t, was
that 1t was not necessary to have been
shot in the war to secure pension, but
merely to have been half-shot when en-
| listed, Ii might strike you that you ought
\ tribution of pie by your department. Per-
/ sonally, having as a frst-course medical
student served in the hospitals of the con-
federacy, l have no doubt that i, unin-
| tentionally. did our cause as much harm
as any defender Of the Uuion who draws his
pension today.
| II you feel that my services deserve rec
ognition, you can borrow an empty two
bushel sack from my friend, w. @. Sterett,
I'LL it with fresh vegetables, attach the
frank Of a Member of Congress (Which l
see by the report of the chief of the seed
division under your predecessor, he some
times himself wrote for members), so that
/ may return the sack promptly. and for
ward to me at your earliest convenience
( Trusting that you may decide to act
| promptly and favoraby on my suggestion
for renewing the waning enthusiasm of the
democracy of this district, and that YOU will
convey to Coils. Mills and Cockrell the ne
newed assurances of my most distinguished
consideration for their kind remembraaces
in the way Of garden seeds and ancient
history reports of departments and free
silver speeches), the latter OF which I have
unloaded on the helpless inmates of the
poor farm and the county Jail, | remain
my dear sir.
Yours for seed.