The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-04-07
rhe F0IIy d Fcee oovernnont seeds

A farce Of these latter days Is the
wide distribution of free seeds by
The United States government
through the department Of agricul-
ure.
Just Why they arc referred 20 as
"frce seeds II not quite clear as
they are paid for by the people, and
incidentally il is an exiraFasaal
waste OF their money such being
the ease would 1t not be more sensr
ble and satisfactory for those desir
ing seeds TO 50 70 their local merch
ANS. get lust what they need when
they need Il and pay for it2
If this were country of paupers
ne'rdowells, or self-conlessed ial'
ures. this bounty might ID some way
be justified, or even be necessary,
but Tho spectacle Of our enlightened
governments annually projecting a
miscellaneous lot Of common seeds
upon an intelligent ana prosperous
public il ludicrous
Begun with the bes, intentions
benevolent in theory, capable OF no
little good il rightly supervised and
KEEP, within bounds, under the pres
ent method 1t has become a joke
From a practical viewpoint, con
gressmen are its only benehciaries,
and even for their purposes il prob
ably has not a tilhe Of the value
many suppose,
Americans, and especially the
farmers. are too Indifferent as TO the
character Of the legislation that en-
anates from congress In any pro
tests they may wish 10 register they
/ laci. unity Of action, and besides they
are tolerant, and TOO busy with
work-a-day affairs. The attitude Of
/ The public toward it's members Of
congress is, in the main something
like this You are paid to repre-
sent your constituents aud their in
terests. Ii is your business TO stud,
the various problems that confron
You and TO Learn what in all pr0ba
hility is best for the people Others
know but little about the many ma
ters constantly pending IN congress
and their proper settling is entfuste,
to YOU and with that the scheme
of legislation is summarily dismissed
How long would The distribution
of seeds. as now practiced, contnu
If based entirely upon the advance
ment OF agriculture? Not twenty
four hours There is no seYiou
claim that ii is of advantage 10 lh
farmer, and more often it Is not th
farmer who receives the principa
part Of the seeds, nor that he wani
: them As to who gets them, how
ever, is neither here nor there, fo
one citizen has as much right
/ them as another whether he lives q
l dizzy heights IN a steam heated fla
!. or mUeeE. hreaihes and has his b.
j ing on The soil Left for he farm
= ing fraternity to decide upon lh
{ distribution would doubtless come /
r y sudden end. for whatever seed
I are needed they are able TO buy an
a IN so doing they would secure VIII
was desired, in sufficient quantities
If il were not for the fact that the
, are free there would be few y
, quests upon congress for seeds {
, amy nature Il is ihe old infuenC
!, a work, of dpparcatly getting som
: hing for nothing, and wherever th,
3 appears possible there will alwaN
: be a crowding up to thc trough.
I Seeds are seut 10 large nambcI
! who neither care for nor use then
: in other instances obey are sent
. bulk to political hangers-On 10 pla'
q where they viii do the most good
, aud are handed out Ndiscrlmina'e
: TO Tom, Dick and Harry, and beli
= free. Iom Dick and Harry tat
: them on he theory that hey eau
= lose
2 1t rs probably a fact thas no %
. ot intelligence really believes the
. seeds TO he Of any practical benel
, bur this 'frce' handout /, couiim.
without successful protest. accum
: lating volume with each passltg yca
D until 'he Goth congress appropriate
S31S.000 for he purpose, under q
I heading Purchase and Distribute
of Valuable Seeds To his amon
must be added the cost of packI
and mailing which IS enormous, az
IL being "farnked- it adds 10 the d
r. liclt 0i me already mons upportl
+. postal service. which Otherwise wou
" be improved financially and IN ei
d cheney Years ago the ac, specific
thai these seeds shall be confn,
(, to such as are rare and uncommS
$ TO this country IN
T. was amended in 1896 to read "Th
purchases and distribution of veg
table. field and flower seeds
shall be OF he freshest and best O
I ainabe varieties and adapted
l. general cultivation This Is qu
different from the former slaiul
/. which made a special p2in, oi see,
+. RARE AND UNCOMMON To TIL
Il COUNTRY As matter ot lac q
= original law did net conlemp'a
y such promiscuous and vide spre.
/. distribution as is made at prestn
II In truth. the seeds sent our ha'
e practically nothing to DO with tl
). Yields Of our farms, and az best the
n planting Is the PLAYING OF q game
n chance with The odds largely again
!. .he constituents Moreover. fo
merly the inten; Of the law was III
&C. I 80.