The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-22

Pity the poor old congress- mani
Some work-thats what he needs.
Don't snub him Just because you can,
But write-for garden seeds
2 you need any garden seeds or
care to receive any that you don't
need write a letter to your con
gresham If he wants to be re-
elected he win have the department of
agriculture send you the package by
return mail You need not inclose
postage. Your congressman has
privilege called a frank which carries
garden seeds and other official matter
through the mail. Just intimate to the
man who represents you at Washing
ton that you would like a selection of
Uncle Sans choice seeds, and he win
do the rest It is all very simple.
Also. say some, it is all very silly.
Nevertheless the sending of seeds to
constituents is one of the perquisites
OF members of congress. It is a per
quisite so old that it almost ranks with
the prerogative of the German emperor
to wear his mustache at an angle of
ninety degrees. The Declaration of
Independence seems to have overlook
ed the matter Of free seeds to con
gressional constituents, and there ap-
pears to be nothing in the constitution
of the United States that requires free
and constituents have held this to be
one of the inalienable rights of man
kind since the establishment of the
practice Any attempt to do away
with the sacred privilege is considered
little less than treason. The country
cries for free seeds. and the congress-
man responds nobly to the cry Who
shall dare arise to rob us of this time
honored right2
Bile effort upon the part of a congress-
man here and there to yank his neck
out from under the calling yoke of the
seed sending tyranny. but to no avail.
It requires a very bold and fearless
congressman to stand UP and defy the
free seed sentiment. Few of them
care thus to make martyrs of them
selves. for reelection is sweet to the
man at Washington, and he knows full
well that the best way to build up his
political fences at home and keep them
properly staked and ridered so that no
other candidate can lope over and pos
sess his pasture is to send the farm
ers and the town gardeners all the free
seeds they ask for. and then some
For what do we elect a congress-
mani" asks the householder who is
going to raise turnips in his back yard.
rs it to make laws? Nay, verify.
There be too many laws already we
send a congressman to washington
that he may send US seeds from Wash
ington- He is our seed clerk, and we
pay him $1,000 a year for his work
OF course. after hours. when he is not
busy sending seeds. he may attend the
sessions Of congress if he likes and
help make laws, but woe to be unto him
In the house of his going forth if he
soIdiereth on his job and refuseth to
frank a package of turnip seed to US
when our soul crieth for turnip seedi"
Even the congressman from the great
city district is not exempt from this
seed sending requirement. The man
who represents a New York city dis
trict wherein there is not enough space
unpaved or unoccupied by buildings to
grow a hill Of beans receives frequent
requests for garden and field seeds. No,
the tenement jewellers do not intend to
grow roof gardens. nor the denizen of