Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1919-05-21

ments, somewhat after the method
used with reclamation projects.
He finds that great many bills ap-
propriating money for the purchase
and development Of lands for soldiers
were introduced in the legislatures of
the various states this past winter,
but that only few bills, with small
appropriations, were passed.
"5RAINs" ORGANIZED At LAST.
One of the slogans Of our "se1ect
classes" few years ago was this:
you can't organize brains"
That was the final and crushing
answer to every proposal that the
benefits of organization need not stop
with the manual wage-workers or the
farmers. Trade unions and oranges
might be all very we'll for stupid peo-
pie, but the folks with college degrees
and white collars were different; they
would be insulted by any such binding
chains and obligations and brakes up
on their genius.
Well, now it has happened-these
''brains' have held big and enthusi.
astic meeting In the national capital,
and have formed trade union OF
scientists, for the purpose OF raising
the wages and lettering the industrial
conditions Of men who carry enough
college degrees to impress even =
banker.
Five hundred scientists and tech,
nologists, all employed by Uncle Sam,
met the other night in the lecture hall
of the National museum and voted, by
a large majority. to affiliate, through
the National Federation of Federal
Employees, with the American Fedora
ton Of Labor.
-Four years ago Washington was 4
city with almost no organized labor
movement outside the printing Offices
and the building industry. Today
there are $4,000 trade union cards
among the government employees.
It is probable that within a year
several thousand scientists in the ma
tional capital will be ardent trade
union members.
JONES FAvoRs CHIP SALE.
Senator Jones of Washington an
nounces that, as chairman of the
senate committee on commerce, he has
prepared bill which he will introduce
soon after congress meets, providing
for the sale or lease of all the ships
In the governments great merchant
marine.
This announcement indicates that
Senator Jones and Chairman Hurley
OF the shipping board are in full &C.
cord as to the principle Of public own
ership and operation of the means of
transportation. They are against 1t.
They do not propose to permit tho
government to give trial to public
operation Of shipping in time Of peace.
They probably have the support of a
considerable majority of the Demo.
Gratis In the senate, as we'll as a ma
5ority Of the Republicans, so that the
| announcement Of the Jones bill is an
announcement OF probable action of
congress.
There is, however. q possible fatal
obstacle to their plan, for the present
year. Congress is going to discuss so
many other issues that the shipping
measure can not be brought before the
senate for final action until late in tho
session. At that time, Senator La
Toilette and half a dozen others may
decide to talk the bill to death.
Farmers On New Legislation.
The Farmers National Council has
Issued statement showing that it is
actively working for the consideration
and enactment Of legislation in the
new congress Of bills protecting the
public against the private monopoly
OF our food supply, private ownership
OF railroads and shipping, and tho
Penrose plan of abolishing excess
profit taxes and reducing the taxes on
big incomes. 1t also calls for 4 battle
to tho end against the proposed giving
away to special interests Of the water
powers, the oil, the coal and other
natural resources owned by the people
through the government. Finally, tho
council calls for the repeal Of the
espionage law and amnesty for all DO
litical prisoners"
"6oostina" for New Pioneers.
The United States Railroad Admin.
1strat1on has gone into the business of
boosting the settlement of cutover
timber lands In northern Michigan and
Wisconsin. Its agricultural section
has issued an eloquent booklet, with
this sentence as an opener:
blessed with an abundant rainfall
and pure and admirably suited water
supply, possessing soil Of virgin fer
t1lity and admirably suited to diversi-
! fed farming. and situated within a
| nights ride Of markets for several
million people, three-fourths Of whom
are consumers and not producers, this
vast and largely unoccupted area IL
equivalent to a newly discovered
state"
Farther along, the settler is warned
that he will need at least $1,000 after
| making his first payment on so acres.
even under the most favorable circuuI
stances.
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