The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1921-02-10

American Farm Bureau Federation.
Having demonstrated the power of
the American farmers to help shape
national policies by fighting the IN
crease asked by the railroad and OBJ
tanning from the commission re-
duction Of $1,70O,0OO,OO in the val
uation set by the roads themselves,
the federation has begun the assem-
bling of data to be presented with
its request for lower rates, ]. r.
Howard, president of the national
federation, announced in communi-
cation received by the Minnesota
Farm Bureau Federation today. Re-
peal of certain provisions of the
Cummins-E sch bill will be asked.
The federation's representatives,
appearing practically as the sole
spokesman for agriculture in the
rate increas hearings forced con-
cessions and actually saved American
shippers and consumers $500, 900
a year, Mr.. Howard said.
''The farmers share of that saving
alone would run the American Farm
Bureau Federation for 200 years"
he said --s. ..
+ The federation's action on present
railroad rates is to take the form of
demand for changes in sections of
the Cummins-Esch act which provid-
ed that the railroads may adjust
rates to obtain 1-2 per cent on their
capitalization, and an extra IL per
cent for equipment.
While this bill was up in Congress,
on behalf of the farmers I bittery
opposed the provisions. Mr.. Howard
said. However, the matter was COM
promised. The guarantee provision
was passed at 5 IL per cent for two
years, when it expires by salute.
This limitation was disappointing to
the railroads and really victory for
the farmers. The one half per cent
for equipment, however, have al
ways contended to have been rank
class legislation. 1t ought never to
have gone through, and must be re-
pealed at the earliest possible min
ute.
The interstate commerce commits
sion put the rates entirely too high.
They themselves stated that except
for the emergency they are too high,
and that they can be very easily
lowered. We have man at work on
this transportation question now and
at the earliest possible minute are
going to urge a reduction of rates.
In Prizes For Minnesota Seed
T. E.. Odland, secretary of the Min
nesota Crop Investment association,
reports that already several hun
dred samples of Minnesota grown,
pure bred seed grains have been en-
tered for the seventeenth annual
seed show of his association, which
will be held at the Ryan hotel, St.
Paul, February %, "a and rs, and
that more are coming in every day.
These entries from Minnesota's farm
ers, both members of the association
and non-members. Any farmer who
wishes may make entries, without
the payment of any fees, simply by
writing to Mr.. Odland for blank ap-
plications. To make an entry is to
get chance at some part of the
SO 900 which will be distributed in
cash premiums.
Among the speakers to address the
annual meeting to be held in connec-
ton with exhibit will be j. w. Nj
colson, secretary of the Michigan
Crop Improvement association, which
this year will handle several hundred
carloads of seeds for it's members;
w. r. Porter of the North Dakota
association, and w. S. DIN, one of
the leading agricultural specialists OF
Colorado, Luther Burbank, wonder
worker of the plant world, has also
been asked to- speak.
| Minnesota's annual seed show is
ranked as, among the top-notch ex.
hibits of the kind in America.
4**s*
Minnesota Hens Sentenced to
Death-The farm hen of Minnesota
is out to increase her batting average
this year. Her average yearly egg
yield is now around seven dozen. She
| is ambitious to bring the record up
to nine and even ten dozens. Poul-
try experts are predicting she will
succeed.
Under the culling campaign car
ried on in 1920 by the cooperation of
farm bureaus and the agricultural
extension service of the state univer-
sity about 5000 fiocks were culled
and about 10000 birds were discard
ed as non-paying layers and con-
demned to the block. Demonstration
were given by the poultry experts
! in so counties. The number of dem
| onstrations to the county ranged
from five to twenty.
Men, women and children from
the farms were in hearty accord with
\ q II. nd