The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-25
BROWN REPLIES To !
k(AnER'S ANSWER
TT As MULTfTuDE
OF WORDS INTENDED TO
xTsLEAD.
ASKS FOR REPLIES
COMMISSIONER OF AGRr-
CULTURE FAILED TO DO SO
AND HE PROCEEDS TO GIVE
HIS OWN ANSWERS.

In a lengthy statement given out
last night. j. Thompson Brown, can
didate for commissioner Of agricul-
ture in opposition to the incumbent.
George w. Koiner, replies to the
statement given out by Mr.. Koiner
several days ago. He complains that
Mr. Koiner failed to answer some OF
his questions and then proceeds to an
swer them for himself.
Mr.. Brown says in his statement:
In an article headed "Koiner An
swers Browns Charges" in Richmond
papers of June 18th, Mr.. Koiner pro-
ceeds to discuss the brief outline OF
my platform which appeared June
14th-15 th.
A careful analysis of this state
ment shows that disguised in null
titude Of words intended to misiead,
there Ii just enough truth interviewer
to give plausible semblance or
truthfulness to the whole.
To men familiar with Mr.. Koiner
and his methods this 10 nothing new,
but the statement Ii very artfuHy
drawn and well calculated to de-
ceive the unwary.
He pretends to agree with me in
| my commentator Of the v. P. /. as
a great agency for instruction, etc.
and also with my statement that
| genuine harmony with the ONCE OF
commissioner Of agriculture IL essen
| tial to it's fullest growth and useful
ness" and then adds Il most heart
| lily concur in this statement. II Is
matter Of fact that for the whole
| pertod OF Mr. Koiner's incumbency as
commissioner he has never respond
ed to any advance or shown any
spirit of cooperation with the insti-
| tuition whatever---not even set foot
upon it's campus, except. possibly on
| one or two occasions.
/ was rector of the V. p. I. board
/ for ten years OF that time, and i
know that the statement can be fully
substantiated that his position has
| been consistently one OF antagonism
rather than cooperation.
! 1t is true. as he says, and l nave
said nothing to the contrary, that oc-
| casionally members of the stan OF "
p. !. have accompanied the ihsti.ute
| trains, and again have had to decline
on account Of classroom duties. but
! this emphasizes the truth OF my
statement, as showing that in arrang-
! ing his program and schedule tand
| thay must be arranged months In al
yance) there was no thought OF CO.
operation, but rather this shallow pre-
| tense now offered as his excuse ana
justification.
The same Is true Oh tIc
ton workers and his pretended CO.
operation is a hollow sham as We
shall see more particularly a little
| later.
The extent of Mr.. Koiner's cooper
alton with the dairy and food divi-
sion Of his own department can be
easily ascertained. and ] defy him to
call upon its chief officers for any
support in denial of my statements
OF course, the farmers of virginia
will always remember pleasantly the
splendid talks Of Mr.. linn. Mr. Cor
don, Mr.. Wagner and the other IN
stitute lecturers Mr.. koiner mas I'M
ported to conduct his institute work.
and they enjoyed and appreciated the
lectures by representatives OF the
United States agricultural department,
and all were. no doubt. able and use
full Our Virginia people are too hos
pitable and too polite not to have
pleasant thoughts OF them. but this
does not answer my statement that
such work should be mainly done by
those already In the employ OF the
State, and engaged In working out
solutions of definite State and local
problems In agriculture" Such gen
uine cooperation and coordination
ts necessary II we are to progress
from year to year, and accomplish
real definite results. Can II be ex-
pected under the present commits
sioner?
The Southern Planter says in a re-
cent (June. 1919 editorial: we are
more convinced than ever that MT
Koiner is the one barrier to COM
piete harmony Of all agricultural in
| terests in the State. He never has
nor never will cooperate with these
agencies"
in my statement to which Mr.. Koin-
er replies. I asked. what he himself
terms pertinent" question as fol-
lows: ITO cite a most recent exam
pie. why is 1t that the present COM
| missioner of agriculture Ii not mem
Der Of the united agricultural board.
an institution created within the last
four years for the express purpose
of securing harmony and co-opera-
ton among the State agricultural in
situations.
This board has especial charge OF
the conduct Of the great work in
demonstration being done In this