Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-09-06
Routing Out of ''Tried, Capable
and Honest Inspectors" In
81 dignantly Denied
A. CRUSHING EXPOSURE ip,
''Skin Grade" Iniquitles and
the Outrages Of thes"Mix-
Ing Houses ~
Earnest Reinsurance of Re-
form-Gov. Lind Will "Re-
member the Grades"

The following is Governor Lind's re-
ply to Republican aspersions, that
political appointments are being made
in the grain department prejudicial to
its efficiency, the reply being addressed
to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, for its
article of the oath inst, entitled "Po-
itical Wheat Inspection:
Editor Pioneer Press:
My attention has been called to the
editorial appearing as a leader in your
paper of the Gath inst, headed, "Politi-
cal Wheat Inspection" part of which
reads as follows: r,' -':
''Governor Lind has been routing out
very nearly all the whole force of
trained, capable and honest wheat in
spectors, whose work for many years
past has made the Minnesota inspection
certificate thing to be absolutely re-
lied on in the markets of the world.
He has filled their places with political
appointees who realize that the chief
motive for the substitution Is not to
maintain the heretofore high repute of
the Minnesota inspection abroad, but to
so curry favor with the farmers as to
promote Governor Llnd's chances for
reelection.
"Gov. LIND probably reasons that it
will take about a year for foreign buy
ers to discover that the heretofore ex-
listing business-like inspection in Minne-
sofa has been superseded by political
inspection, and that meanwhile some
votes may be gained by hberality in
fixing grades. If he is reelected, what
matters it to him that Minnesota's hon
est reputation shall be gone? If he is
defeated, upon Republican governor
and not upon Lind will fall the labor of
repairing, if possible, the damage done
to the permanent interests of the state"
If the effect of such an editorial were
simply political, I should not feel called
upon to reply, but when paper of your
pretentions deliberately undertakes to
discredit in advance the Minnesota
wheat crop in the eastern and foreign
markets, it behooves me in the interest
of the thousands of farmers and bust
ness men whose pockets you attack, to
make statement of the facts and to
counteract. 50 far as lies in my power,
the baneful effect of such pernicious
statements.
Your first statement that "Governor
Lind has been routing out very nearly
the whole force of trained, capable and
honest wheat inspectors, etc." is abso-
lutely without foundation in fact. The
services of only one inspector have been
dispensed with by the new chief in
spector, so far as I am advised, and the
inspectors in the service who have de-
voted their time to their work, who are
efficient and qualified and whose record
entities them to remain, will be re-
tanned. The head of the department
and the chief assistants have been SUI
perceded by men who will direct the
work on the lines herein indicated.
The personnel of the Board of Appeals
has not been criticised. On tho con-
trary, their appointment was we'll re-
ceived. They are all men of integrity
and experience in the work for which
they were selected, whose appointment
has met approval with all interests.
They have met pursuant to law and es-
tablished grades for the ensuing year in
harmony with the grades that have
been in vogue in the past, the only
change being that the inspectors will
hereafter be required to determine the
dockage in grain classed rejected" or
''no grade" which change experience
has demonstrated to be necessary for
the protection of the producer. The
grades so established will be main
tanned with integrity throughout the
season, not only with regard to the in
spection Of the farmers grain sold on
the track and inspected into elevators,
but with equal strictness as to the grain
inspected out of the elevators and mix
ing houses for the eastern and foreign
markets.
In the report of the examination be-
fore the joint legislative committee Of
the last legislature, you will find in the
house journal Of the last session, on
page six of the appendix, the following
question put to Mr.. Clausen, and his
answer:
@. But that does not explain the
original proposition which we started
with; that it has always been that the
grade was more severe early in the sea-
son, and grew more liberal as the sea-
son advanced"
A. Nov, we start out conserva-
lively every year; we don't know what
we have got to contend with with any
crop before we get into it, and we never
get into it so as to understand it until
about the LIST or 18th of October; we
start out as we did the year before, car.
rying an average grade on each of the
grades, what we call an aver
age as far as we have it;
now I don't propose to antagonize any
body, but will challenge anybody to
show or demonstrate that the grading
Of the grain has not been within the
rules on this crop as we'll as on other
crops. That is to say, claim that
with the exception of some mistakes
that may have been made, no one can
Justify or confirm the statements that
the grades on this crop have not been
carried within the line laid down for
the different grades. That no wheat
has been graded Northern that
any graded 3 Northern that Should HdG Sav We,
been graded !, Northern; now that may
seem 9 broad statement; but Z am max
ing that on general lines; there may
have been cases. ''as<s 49, : r ~
~ On page 8 you will find the following
questions put to- Mr.. Tunnel, Chief
Deputy Inspector ct Minneapolis, and
his answers: s5 a. ..s s..', s.
@. Do you mean to say that you did
not inspect too closely2 E n 1871. 81 ..s
A. No, sir; not if the wheat was Of.
the same quality. AZ I'M - 3
g. You have testified that early in
the season you have toinspect closer?
!. Yes, ats the very start. 81 81
How long do Won consider that
necessary?