The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-03-27
AS TO SEED GRAIN.
The Law a Fault The County Commits
sioners Have Been Doing All They
Gould With the Knotty Problem.

The long drawn out session OF the
county com missioners is giving rise to
much criticism OF not a very pleasant
nature to men who are trying to do their
duty. 1t 10 not always easy for public
servants to do just as they woald like,
and too often, perhaps, they have to do
a. things will do with them. This seed
wheat business is u OF the latter class
OF things. In proper time the commis-
sioners started out to provide seed grain
for the needy, with due regard for the
interests Of the county, and a caution
not to be deluged by claims Of the unde-
serving. Commissioner Clark was sent
to eastern Minnesota to look up fields
for purchasing seed and obtaining
prices. He purchased three carloads OF
corn for the county, learned where aud
at what price to obtain wheat, purchased
a couple OF carloads OF seed grain for
himself and other parties, and returned
to deliberate with his conserees on the
weightier purchase Of seed wheat. His
travelling expenses, about $21, was all
that was allowed him for the trip. Then
the commissioners set to work to devise
means to procure seed wheat, oats and
barley. The first thing was to negotiate
the warrants to be issued under the seed
grain law. This they accomplished
through banking houses here with CAPT
talists in Chicago. Then they made
contracts for $4,000 worth of seed grain
with different firms. to be delivered ut
once. These vel big deals, involving
much money, and negotiations naturally
proceeded slowly. Before the grain was
delivered the eastern capitalists began
to question the constitutionality of the
new law under which the seed grain
warrants we're to be issued, and backed
out Of their contract, losing their 500
forfeit or guaranty put up to bind the
bargain. the commissioners were again
thrown upon their " resources, and
had to begin over again.
Business men, eager to see seed grain
furnished, suggested the propriety of 60
ing to La Crosse and Chicago and inter
viewing moneyed men personally with q
view to negotiating the warrants, which
the commissioners reluctantly consented
to. The business men accompanied
them and a most earnest personal can
vass was conducted among the monsyed
men Ut both these cities in behalf of our
warrants, but t. no avail. Only q per-
sonal guaranty would make them float
and no one feels disposed to give that.
While Mr.. Clark and the business men
were in Chicago, the other commission
ers, who would much rather have been at
home on their farms, remained at their
post here and continued q correspond
ence by letter aud telegraph with many
other parties in hope of disposing of the
warrants somewhere or exchanging
them for seed grain, but so far Their
efforts have proved u~nsvailing. They
are not to blame for the flaw in the law
or the inability otherwise of the county
to meet the strain, nor should they be
expected to give their time and labor for
nothing in such responsible and thank
less work. Criticism is all right when
merited, but when showered down with
out regard to facts or due knowledge OF
the situation, it is entirely gratuitous.
No one questions the desire of the
commissioners to do the very best they
can for the interests of the county and
it they fail in the attempt to secure seed
grain for the needy OF the county, 1t will
not be their fault.
For Rent-A six roOm mouse, Apply