Arizona republican., 1906-08-18
FREE SEED FIGHT Is ON
The Attitude of American
 SeedSmen
They Resent the Continued Competition of the Gov ePnment.

Washington D. C.. Aug. 9.-CSpecial Correspondence of The Republican, Indications are that the congression- al free seed distribution will be fought more bitterly next session than ever before. Encouraged by the pronounced opposition of the senate and house committees on agriculture to this ap- propriation and its almost universal condemnation by the press and public those interested have undertaken a campaign of education," to use a hackneyed term. The seed dealers make no secret of their opposition to the free distribution of common gar den seeds. In an open letter to the public, MT. Henry w. Wood, of Rich mOnd, Virginia, president of the Amer ioan Seed Trade association, says that the seed dealers oppose the practice because Is it an unjust interference with a legitimate industry. and be- cause it is a waste of public money. MT Wood points out that the total packet-seed trade of the country amounts to 12O.O0O.OO0 packets, of which the government gives away 4O,- 100000 and the dealers sell S0,0OO, 900. What industry could survive if 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 congress to change off and give away axes, saws, pocket knives and looking glasses, and give the poor seed merchants a rest. The American Seed Trade association is composed of growers, wholesalers and retailers and is thoroughly in earnest in its opposition to government inter ference in it's business. The Wholesale T . it. Between them they are in touch with about ten thousand persons en- gagged in growing and selling seeds, and with at least fifty thousand store keepers who carry seeds in stock. As some of the larger seed merchants have more than one hundred thousand GUS toners who purchase seeds in small lots, 1t is expected that they will have been in communication with hundreds of thousands of people before next ses- sion.
 The granges have taken up the mat ter in a systematic manner. The farm CTS are tired of the idea that their votes can be influenced by the receipt of a package of seeds which they can buy at the corner grocery for five cents and which usually arrives too late for planting. They say they do not want sunflower and pumpkin seeds from congress, and point out that the $242,- 900 now wasted in this manner would support a national agriculture college, the like of which the world has never seen, with eighty professors at S2,5OO year and sufficient funds to main tain the institution. Divided among the agricultural colleges, it would give each state institution between five and ten thousand dollars more than they now receive. This, the farmers say. would do. much more good than the distribution of rutabaga, turnip or parsnip. seed.
 An analysis of the vote on this ques- tien in the house of representatives last May shows that the free seed dis tfibution item was inserted in the az ucultural appropriation bill by dem qcratic votes. Led by Representative Gaines of Tennessee and Lamb of Vir- ginia, eighty-two democrats voted for The appropriation. How they reconciled their vote to the democratic traditional Opposition to government bounties and gTatuities, is not known. They rallied ro their support seYenty-one republi- qans. including such old warehouses as Hepburn of Iowa, Crumpacker of h. dana, the Landis boys, Fred and Char ley of Indiana; Lacey of Iowa, Curtis and Calderhead of Kansas; Allen and Bowers of Maine; Bishop, Hamilton and FOrdney of Michigan, and others. All these are old campaigners and they