The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-09-27
Commissioner Of Agriculture
Disgrace to State, Says linn

Hon W r. linn. OF PhiNppl, compliments thu lntelhseHcer To- de-
rounnng tho present operation Of the state Department o Agriculture.
Mt. zinn is # tn nos prominent and best informed farmers in West
Virginia and IS widely known for his writings ecturer o asricul-
tural topics. Mr. Znn car speak for the West Virginia probably
as au,hora,vey IS my other man IN tho State His communication to
the Gnteligenccr is to the point and will be of particular interest at this
time
Editor Wheeling 1ntelhsencer,
Dear Str:
yu Why Tax Are High" that should have the consideration of every
,nxua, err in the State You have made some very grave charges against
the Commissioner of Agriculture all o 4 which l pehcVe 70 DC rue ot
you have not told the whole truth.
You might have stated that A bill in duplicate vas presented at the
lstl legislature which disclosed the fact that the said commissioner had
bought with the the states money $500 worth Of fertilizer a Kramer
wagon worth possibly $3.50 and q Cuta~ay harrow worth 5 and paid
for these ut Of tho states funds and the bills of ladins showed they
were shipped 0 a station near his farm. No denial OF these charges va
wei made by the commissioner. but because o 4 these things Or ome
Incorporated $1,000, the legislature ouo " crease Ms salary
$4,000.
He has always had 2 lot of broken down politicians on his pay roll
that know n nor about agriculture than Il hog knows about holidays.
As a example. a fw years a farmer sent a sample OF scabbed
wheat to the Department. and a farmer Of Randolph county as visiting
the office recently, seeing this smrVrHeo "heat AsNeu oe I" hseA
perts co what variety it vas. The expert sadth that 1t a new variety
Just discovered in --c county and 1T is called the "scab Wheat"
Farmers Want Department Abolished.
In specifyins the waste of money you say 1t is necessary that this
thing should be stopped. II II can't be stopped otherwise than by ahol-
fishing the department. 1t would be we'll to abolish It." Let me say mere
that that is Just what the West Virginia Farm Bureau Federation asked
the last Legislature to do. but they did nothing and increased his salary.
If there is any reason for the existence OF this department 1t Is to help
he farmers. AMI they asked that the office be abolished. Managed
properly this department ought to be Of great service to the farmers o
III state. but IT will eve &c while such lei as Jim Stewart are at the
truth about West Virginia, but IN truth he should be careful ever to
,or o,d hat ia that Inn Stewart served two terms as Commissioner of
Agriculture. l know OF M darker saln on I'M tNr name o. west
~ hoh,1f Of !. farmer. OF the state var to thank you for this
rpIendid editorial II all editors had the courage Of their convictions a
vou have shown that YOU have in this editorial. u state would be a
better place N which to live. commend you all the more because the
Commissioner Is Of your political faith. Continue TO denounce wrong
doing ven tho found in high places and success is bound to crown your
efforts.
Yours truly,
W. L. linn.
rhnnpri. W. Va, Sept. rs. 1872.