The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1920-01-01
Senator Hamer Makes Analysis.
Milaca. December 80. 1919.

Senator Hamer Makes Analysis.
Milaca, December 80, 1919.
To the Editor Of the Union:
"The one big fly in the ointment Of
the anti-farmer gang of Mile Laos
county is the fact that they dare not
meet the champions Of the organized
farmers in public debate"
The foregoing quotation is part Of
an editorial in the Milaca Times Of
last week, and while it is characteristic
of that paper, little analysis will re-
veal some inherent defects. The pur-
pose of this communication is to make
such analysis, and consider these de-
fects. Let us, therefore, look at some
of the terms used.
-"Organized farmers" A
large proportion of the farmers in this
vicinity are organized into assucia
tons or corporations to secure better
marketing conditions for what they
have to sell and what they have to
buy, the Farmers Cooperative cream
cry being the most important. The
Importance of such organization is be-
coming more and more realized. Leg
islation to this end was enacted in the
Minnesota legislature last winter, and
farmers of Mile Laos county are now
having the benefit thereof. Legisla-
ton of similar character, but of wider
scope, is being attempted in congress
under the Capper-Hersman bill now
pending. A. J. Volstead of Minnesota
is chairman Of the house committee
where this bill is under consideration.
But the term ''organized farmers,
as used by the Times, and the league
press generally, has no reference to
any such organization, existent or con-
templated. 1t refers to the farmers
who pay, and the persons who receive
the amounts fixed by the big fixers as
membership fees in the nonpartisan
league, and which are used for the
purpose of undermining and abolishing
the present administration of affairs
and establishing a socialist system on
it's ruins, if the following from an
editorial in the Courier News of Far
go, N. D., December II, be correct.
The paper is an official league organ:
"The whole nonpartisan league pro-
gram, according to Wcbster's diction-
airy is socialistic. The state bank, the
mills and elevators, hail insurance-all
these are socialistic."
In some localities the farmers thus
"organized" are majority, in others
they are a small minority, in others
again there are none, and whatever
business relationships they may have
the dignity of being organized" ap-
plies only to those who aid the pro-
moters of that socia1istic scheme,
which is of doubtful utility.
Second "Anti-farmer." It seems
very improbable, ridiculous even, that
any man of ordinary intelligence
Should be "anti" towards the industry
in which he is engaged and on which
he depends for a livelihood, and yet
the Times persists in representing
that such is nevertheless the fact. Men
engaged in farming, and with whom
it is their only vocation, are spoken of
as "anti-farmer" merely because they
do not have sufficient confidence in
the Political conditions of North Da-
kota to put their money into similar
experiment here, and have the courage
to say SO.
Third Champions of the organ
lied farmers" Who these champions
are is not stated, but any way it ap-
pears that if debate be staged the
champions" are to be there, and the
organized applause would determine
the decision that, if not satisfactory,
would nevertheless have to be used,
as being the best available.
From previous statements Of the
Times we feel sure that Senator Mag
nus Johnson would be one of the
champions" so for the information
of your readers and of the Times, we
submit what may be called some meas
urements Of this champion" accord
ing to the journal of the senate, which
is the official record of that body.
There were sixteen bills introduced
in the senate at the last regular SEES
sion with which Senator johnson was
connected, either as author, joint au-
thor or sponsor. One of these had no
less than eight names, including that
of Johnson. Three of these bills pro
posed amendments to the constitution
and proposed such changes as would
provide for experimentation in this
state like that Of North Dakota.
What became of the bills?
Four were returned to the author
Of these four, two were returned OF
Mr.. Johnson's own motion, one on mo
ton of Senator Lee, league senator