The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-02
BLOW AT AN INDUSTRY
BILL REQUIRING SEEDS TO BE
STAMPED AGAINST MINNIE
sofa INTERESTS
l.. l.. May Explains why the Propo-
sition VIII Injure Minnesota
Seedsmen and Farmers If Enact
ed Into Law-He Says the Bill Is
Directly in the Interest of For
efgn Communication Houses.

According to l.. l.. May. Of L. L. May
q Co.. the bill before the house pro-
Vlding that seed sold In Minnesota
be In sacks plainly stamped with the
year In which the seed grew, is In the
interest Of the great outside seed
houses. and intend to hamper the seed
growing industry in Minnesota. In an
interview yesterday Mr.. May said:
Minnesota, am pleased to state, is coming
forward as great seed producing section.
This is mainly due to the enterprising seeds
men within her >borders,I and | feel / voice the
sentiment OF our state when l say such en-
terprise should be encouraged rather than
harassed The whole purpose of the bill
seems to be directed to the fact that in order
for good seeds to be sold within the borders
OF our state, every bag, box, packet and re-
ceptacle shall be stamped, printed labeled
the year such seed was grown. This very
clause is enough to stamp such a bill as
ridiculous in the eyes of those who are IA
miliar with the qualifications of good seed.
How often Is it the case the farmers do not
plant seed grain, for instance, of the first
seasons growth on account Of the poor germ-
mating quality caused by an unfavorable har-
corn, clover, etc. but Of all varieties of
seeds. Then again, how many are aware of
the fact that some varieties of seeds are
are the first?
Let seedsmen stamp their bags, This seed
was grown four years ago. and 80 per cent
OF the planters or purchasers would pass it
by, believing 1t was not such as they should
have, when In reality it was the best.
This is not alone where the hardship comes.
IN case scotsman sells bill Of goods to
should become detached through any cause
whatever Qn transportation, for instance or
that It may be wilfully torn off. the party 30
receiving the goods under the ruling of the
bill can refuse payment and the seed mer-
chant also be subject to heavy fine
1T works great hardship on our farmers.
sup ae,t they neglect through ignorance or
any other cause to attach the label on
thelr clover timothy, etc., which they sell,
they, are! liable to the same risk in not re-
ce1y lying, their pay and are subject to the fine;
so-called commission seed firms who exist in
the East. They send their goods on consign-
m lrsan. ana What Is not sold they take back.
In new packets, and the seedsmen can if they
SO choose, stamp what year they desire on
tnelr packet and no ONE can dispute. We have
several prominent seed houses in our state
VINO nave by hard work and energy gained
national reputation, and today the product
OF these concerns are sent from one end of
our land to the other. No business of late
years has had such tendency to advertise
minnesota and bring 1T before the people ais
the coming eedproducing section Of Ameri-
ca, and l claim 1t is not in the interests Of
the consumers, farmers merchants or IN
fact, any of the people, that such legislation
should be invoked, especially ais 1t has the
pronounced tendency to build up the same in
dustrles OF other states to the detriment of
our own. Fully 80 per cent of the seed busi-
ness done by some of the Minnesota seeds
men is done outside of the state of Mime
sofa, and If our home people are to be han
dlcapped in doing business In this state
through the ignorance of the consumers, on
account of their being in OUT midst and of
our own raising. 1t is most discouragng and
will certainly mark the downfall of an indus
try which In every way is most essential to
our own state. Our legislators cannot affect
firms outside of her own borders. AS many
seed firms doing business in Minnesota ex-
act cash In advance before the goods are
shipped, 1t makes 1t impossible to have them
do their business in our state under the same
restriction, and hardships which attend our
local seed industries are averted
With the majority Of commodities we can
tell what the quality is at glance, but the
question OF genuine seed does not exist in
the year Of its growth but in it's terminating
quattX and correctness of the type, and II
the seedsmans aim was to deliver at all
times seeds OF a particular years growth he
would soon find 1t an impossibility to satisfy
his customers.
rs this bill introduced in the interests of
those gigantic seed commission firms who
have become wealthy by their mode of doing
harass and eventually destroy the young and
competitive industries of this state?
/ No one who is familiar with the seed In
dustry can place any other construction on
such bill. These firms send their goods to
every merchant in our state whether ordered
Or not) to be sold on commission. What are
not sold are returned to the owner in the
East, and can be put in new jackets, la
beled for the coming year, and no expert is
capable Of telling their age.
One of our seed firms employs over sixty
travellers, who sell In every state in our
Union and mail annually over 400, 600 cata-
logues and sell between 5000 900 and 10, 000,-
600 packets of seed coming from our. own
state, and advertising the name of Minnesota,
let alone the employment such industries
give to our farmers and others of our state
II such law passes it will mark the down
fall or removal Of such firms who compete
with Eastern houses in states outside of our
own. for every packet box bag, etc., must
whether the goods are destined in or out of
the state.
IF our legislators demand legislation, or
think 1t in the interest of Minnesota, there
is not seed firm within her borders who
would not willingly cooperate in framing
Just and equitable BILL