The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-23
SEEDSMEN ID WAGE ACTIVE CAMPAIGN Object to Free Distribution of Seed by Congress CANNON HAS A HARD TASK Appointment of the Committee of Agri. culture of the House Will
 Show Which Way the
 Land Lies.
CANNON HAS A HARD TASK
BY PATTERSON srEALEY.

Washington, November 22.-(Special)- Considerable interest attaches to the ap- pointment of the committee on agricul- ture of the house by speaker Cannon, as following this announcement an active campaign will be waged by the seedsmen of the country against the congressional free seed distribution. The fact that the seedsmen, who are desirous of having this practice abolished, are divided among themselves as to the best course to pursue to the end that the coming an- nua appropriation by congress may be defeated, is having a deterrent influence upon their efforts. A year or so ago the entire trade was united against this dis tribution, for then the contract was let uninterested in the matter of the con- tract made vigorous fight upon both the contractor and the appropriation.
 Seed Trade Demoralized.
 Things are different at the present time, and this shifting of the circumstances has tended to demoralize the seed trade to considerable extent. The practice of the department at present Is to pur- chase from the seedsmen, and 1t has been alleged by a number of dlscontented members of the trade that purchases are made largely who were formerly most active opponents of the distribution, but who have now become reconciled to it.
 In view of these facts, steps have been recently taken by various seedsmen look ing toward a movement of an independ- ent character in this direction. The suIp port of a number of congressman has been enlisted in the movement who are very much gratified over this step on the part of the seedsmen, as they would like to see the practice abolished because Of the scandals which have sprung up from recent contracts and also because of the annoyance and trouble to them incident to the distribution.
 New and Novel.
 The department of agriculture has de- yised a method for signally weakening the opposition to the distribution by al- lotting to every member of the senate and house of representatives 2500 packages or 300 packages of what are termed by the department novelties and special ties" They are said to be Of selected varities and are supposed to be new and novel Each package of these seeds con tains a circular giving brief sketch of the assortments and calling the attention of the receiver to the firm furnishing the product and the grower developing the seeds, and a report of the results ob- tained from the seeds is requested. As this course of the department Is a practi- cal endorsement by it of the seeds fur nished by a private firm and sent under the frank of the government, 1t is consid- cred an exceptionally valuable advertise ment for the firms supplying the depart ment Of agriculture with these seeds.
 Considerable Pique.
 Considerable pique exists in the seed trade because of the fact that members of the committee of the Wholesale Seeds mems league, which committee was ap- pointed to devise a means of suppressing the distribution, are known to be fur nishing the department with the alleged novelties and specialties" These facts it is pointed out do not augur well for an aggressive campaign by the league against the distribution, and accordingly plans were made for an independent movement.