Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-19
THE BATTLE OF SEEDS
IT RAaxD r1ERcxLY M HOUSE
or REPRESENTATIVES
Some Of the Hnmorous incidents Of
the Debate ON the
slx; Subject. tIsa

The s'battle Of peeds's ragged fBercely in
the House ~ Representatives this rear. -
II Does In every session OF Congress. Each
year number Of Industrious men, with
the welfare OF the nation at heart and q
desire to save money for the taxpayers.
eliminate from the agricultural appropri-
alton bill the provision for free seeds to be
distributed through the senators and rep
resentatives OF the states and people. Ev-
cry year the appropriation Is restored, and
the fact IL patent that the time of the able
statesmen is wasted in this effort to econo-
mize in the matter of seeds Seeds the
rural members are bound to have and seeds
they obtain. But many amusing things
happened In the recent debate which are
worthy of better fate than to be en-
tombed in the Congressional Record. With
out attempting to make a connected story,
the purpose here is to bring out some OF
the best things that were said.
LilIey of Connecticut was reasiing letters
against seeds. and Shackelford Of Missouri
aGked:
Are you supplying your people seeds to
grow wooden n6megs?"
The only market we now have for wood
ell nutmegs is from the gentIenian's state.
Missouri, retorted LfIley.
The Connecticut man read the, following:
You are good fellow, LillGy. and my
whole did business is of no benefit to
agriculture" Also: Il am sure your con-
st.tuents almost to a man are opposed to
the garden seed nuisance. Please send ME
q Ayrshire bull and $4,000 in cash.
why should that man be opposed to D
cents worth of seeds7' asked Mann OF
Illinois.
Il sent him the cash, but did not have
the bull remarked Lilley.
do most of the farmers UP in your dis
trict use typewriters to write their letters
down here?" asked Johnson Of South Caro-
lima.
II have not read a typewriter letter
yet" replied Lilley.
The Connecticut member read the letter
that he had written to his constituents re-
garding seeds, and when he used these
words:
That the government seeds I am send
Ing you are under another cover may grow
and flourish is the earnest wish Of"
"A good letter. interjected Mann.
You hope they will fiourish7' questioned
James of Kentucky.
Il did not express any opinion" replied
Lilley
You did not insinuate that they would
not?" persisted James.
I said just what I have read to you,
Sir, remarked Lilley, with some heat.
Then Gaines of Tennessee broke In.
Y our constituents, he said, sit seems, do
no want this seed. Now. will you let me
show you here, as best | can a whole arm
to me after l had sent out mine, all the
seed allotted me? These letters are from
black and white old and young, the lame.
the halt, republicans and democrats, and
not single protest from any man, woman
or child has come to me from my district. -
Why" asked Wadsworth of New York,
who likes to have fun with Gaines what
is that printed matter which the gentleman
is holding with the letters? 1t is copy
of the Congressional Record and a copy Of
the agricultural appropriation BILL
Oh, no; come here, sir, and look al these
letters. Here they are
1t was that remark of Wadsworth which
gave Gaines so much trouble and caused
him to rise to a question of personal privi-
lege the next day because his letters were
alleged to be public documents.
Lilley and Gaines were both on their feet
at one time, and Wadsworth asked which
one was entitled to the floor
We are working both sides Of the AISLE
said Gaines. II am for the people and
the gentleman from Connecticut is against
them. am for the farmer, and my farmer
friend is not
SsI am as much for the farmer as the
gentleman from Tennessee" declared Lii
ley
"Oh, no. said Gaines
1T depends upon the point of view" OBJ
served Lilley.