Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1896-02-14
SENATOR VEST TALKS.
Free Distribution Ofseeda DiscOn-
tinued.

scores the Secretary Of Agrieuiturr suys
He Raises Plants Cleveland's bouquets.
Cuts on the Poor Farmers Seeds and is
Gold Bug.
We last week mentioned the fact
that Secretary of Agriculture Morton
had discontinued the free distribu-
ton of seeds, and now this is what
Senator Vest thinks of that worthy.
He said the technical construction of
the law by the Secretary was a mere
sham to cover up his personal OPP
position TO this particular law which
had stood for years, and had been
executed with incalculable value to
the whole country. 1t was an effort
to discredit those in Congress who
distributed seeds. The Democra-
tic party has been most unfortunate
not only as to its internal discords
but also in the fact that the devil
has owed it a grudge and paid it in
a Secretary of Agriculture.
The Secretary has put the Demo-
cratic party in antagonism to the
great agricultural interests of the
party, although that party had al
ways stood as the close friend of ag-
riculture. Why did not this secre-
tary turn his search light on the sale
of bonds to a foreign syndicate?
Why did he not investigate the pro-
fligacy of public printing. The gi-
gantic intellect of this Secretary of
Agriculture has daily gone outside
of his legitimate duties and why did
it not discover some of the really
fragrant abuses?"
"This Secretary, assumed to run
the entire Government He has been
practically the Secretary of the Trea-
sury, flooding this country with re-
ports and pamphlets, ,denouncing the
silver lunatics and upholding the
single gold standard.
Here was this Secretary. declared
Mr.. Vest, "cul tivating orchids and
lilies of the valley and palms to
grace the banquets and receptions of
the President in this city, but when
we give few seeds to some poor
farmer this Secretary springs to
arms and liberty lies bleeding in the
street. ="
AS for himself, he would rather
send seed to some struggling farmer
of the West or put one flower in the
sick room of some poor girl, than to
decorate the banquets where the
chandeliers flashed its light across
the red wine.
Why should the colossal capa-
city of this Secretary of Agriculture
be restricted to cabbages?" ex.
claimed Mr.. Vest. There was much
amusement through the chamber
and in the galleries as the Senator
compared the Secretary with classic
heroes. Like the war horse of Job
his neck is clothed with the thun-
ders, and he sayeth amoung the
trumpets, "Ha, hap "
The trouble is" said Mr.. Vest
{" that the Secretary of Agriculture
is a monomaniac on the gold stand.
ard. He sees only gold, gold, red
gold, and he thinks any man who
does not see as he sees is lunatic.
Mr.. Vest closed shortly after
O'Clock with a remarkably sarcastic
and bitter peroration. He referred tC
the useless seeds, which it was as
serted the Secretary had properly
refused to buy. But, added the sena
tor, there was one seed not men
toned.
ut was, a." he proceeded, smiling
maliciously, the aurifer feniculun
canis Mortonae, or in palmer words
Morton's golden dogweed. Thi
would fournish while this Secretar,
swinging his golden censor at tn
Executive Mansion shouted, Hol.
holy art thou, oh Grover, king o
kings and lord of lords.