The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-08-13
Congressional Distribution to
be Bitterly Fought at Com
ing Session of the National
Legislature.
WANToN WASTE OF
THE PUBLIC FUNDS
Seedmen's League Making u Systema.
tic Fight-Claim Farmers
Don't Want 1t.
Evening Time. Special Service.

Evening Times Special Service.
Washington, d. c., Aug. 13-Indi-
cations are that the congressional free
seed distribution will be fought more
bitterly next session than ever before.
Encouraged by the pronounced op-
position of the senate and house COM
mittees on agriculture to this appro-
priation, and it's almost universal con-
demnation by the press and public.
those interested have undertaken
campaign of education" to us hack
neyed term. The seed dealers make no
secret of their opposition to the free
distribution of common garden seeds.
IN an open letter to the public, Mr..
Henry w. Wood of Richmond, Va,
president of the American Seed Trade
association, says that the seed dealers
oppose the practice because it is an
unjust interference with a legitimate
industry, and because it is waste of
public money. Mr.. Wood points out
that the total packet-seed trade of the
country amounts to 120,OOO,OOO pack
cts, of which the government gives
away 4O,0OO.OO0 and the dealers sell
SO,OOO,O0O. What industry could sur
vive IT the government gave away
free, half as much as those engaged
in the industry sold?" he asks. He
also suggests that it is time for con-
gress to change off and give away
axes, saws, pocket knives and looking
glasses, and give the poor sed mer-
chants rest. The American Seed
Trade association is composed of grow
ers, wholesalers and retailers and is
thoroughly in earnest in it's opposi-
tion to government interference in it's
business. The Wholesale Seedsmen's
league is also out against it. Between
them they are in touch with about ten
thousand persons engaged in growing
and selling seeds, and with at least
fifty thousand storekeepers who carry
seeds In stock. AS some of the larger
seed merchants have more than one
hundred thousand customers who pur-
chase seeds in small lots, it is expect
ed that they will have been in COM
munfcatfon with hundreds of thou
sands of people before next session.
The Oranges have taken up the mat
ter In a systematic manner. The
farmers are tired of the idea that their
votes can be influenced by the receipt
of package of seeds which they can
buy at the corner grocery fer five
cents and which usually arrives too
late for planting. They say they do
not want sunflower and pumpkin seed
from congress, and point out that the
$242,000 now wasted in this manner
would support national agricultural
college, the like of which the world
has never seen, with eighty professors
at $2,500 year and sufficient funds to
maintain the institution. Divided
among the agricultural colleges, It
would give each state institution be-
tween five and ten thousand dollars
more than they now receive This,
the farmers say, would do much more
good than the distribution of ruta-
baga, turnip or parsnip seed.
While there is no politics in the mat
ter, those opposed to this distribution
will try to get their friends to write
to senators and representatives, urging
them to vote against the appropriation
next session. The National grange,
mang state and local oranges have
already adopted resolutions condemn
ing the appropriation, and other
oranges and societies of farmers are
expected to do likewise The press
will doubtless continue it's hostility
as it has always rOundly denounced
this form O fpetty graft