Warren sheaf., 1922-02-08
STE'EN EN|Ell;R'l|S!|!0N ISSUES AN
ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE
Continued from t,rs. page)

ADDRESS TO The PEOPLE
Continued from nrat pager
more beneficial farm legislation than
any Congress ever had before. 1 have
supported and voted for every mea-
sure proposed in the interest of agri-
culture:i initiated the measure to
admit farmers cooperative societies
to the grain exchanges which is now
law. I Introduced the Steenerson
grain grading bill which has been un-
animously reported to the House and
is on the calendar. 1t has the sup
port of the Minnesota State Railroad
and Warehouse Commission, headed
by o. p B. Jacobson; the grain in
spection officials of Minnesota, North
Dakota and South Dakota, and the
Americana Farm Bureau Federation of
those states.<< But it hs encountered
the opposition Of the big millers and
grain trade interests who are now
scheming for my def6 Sat, because they
could then claim it had been repudi-
ated by the people of my district.
StOckyards Act.
Senator Sageng cites the recent
legislation Of Congress intended to reg
ulate the packing industry of the
United States as an illustration Of the
necessity for having a larger repre-
sentation Of farmers. This illustra-
tion is unfortunate The legislation
referred to originated with and was
put through Congress by means Of the
influence OF farmers. Among the num-
erous representative farm organiza-
hot rI>I EI,o l..
peared before the Committee are the
following: Thomas G. Atkeson, repre-
sentative of the National Grange, pa
irons of husbandry, the oldest farm
organization in the country and hav-
ing 100000 members; Benjamin G.
Marsh, representa- tive Of the National
Farm council; Gray Silver, represen-
tative of the American Farm Bureau
Federation; S. w. Tator, of the United
States Grain Growers (Inc); Miss
Jeanette Rankin, Field Secretary of
the National Consumers League; Mrs.
Edward P. Costigan, of the National
League of Women Voters. Among
other things Mr.. Silver said:
II desire to say that our farm
ers, the people / represent, are
very much interested in having
legislation that has to do with
properly supervising the packers
and getting different result out
of the stockyards of the country
where they market their stock,
and that in doing so and for the
purpose of bringing about that
legislation, they have seriously
and earnestly, through committees
and otherwise, worked on this
matter for some years. r."
Hearings, page $50.
The only controversy or dispute
arising out Of this law was in rela-
tion to the question whether the busi- !
ness Of weighing and feeding cattle |
in the stockyards at South St. Paul
constitutes Interstate Commerce or is
local, that is intra-state commerce. If !
it is the latter, the Congress cannot
regulate, and if it is the former, the
state has no authority. This is purely
a constitutional question and must
eventually be decided by the courts.
The Secretary of Agriculture indi-
Gated that he would hold that all busi-
ness transacted at the stockyards was
subject to regulation of Congress,
whereas the Minnesota authorities
the contrary. At the request
of the State RAILROAD and Warehouse
+ appeared before the
Secretary Of Agriculture and his legal
adviser and Nprged the claim of the
state andnAls0 fled d written argu-
ment. The question arising was then
certified blythe Hecretary to the At
torney General, md again at the re-
quest Of the Etate Railroad and Ware
house Commission, 7 submitted a writ
ten argument I'M favor of the conten-
ton that The weighing and feeding of
cattle at the South St. Paul stock
yards did ;;'snot constitute interstate
commerce.. @Hfe only, possible. exception
being cattlhm jtppmediate and contin-
GUS transit.t0 another state. Mime
esota will insist On This contention un-
til it is finally decided by the United
States Supreme Court: If decided in
the states. Eayor, the objection pointed
out will be removed. The fact remains
that this, legislation originated with
the farmers and was put through by
their influence.
= The Minnesota Farm Bureau FEEDER
ation through Mr.. Reed, it's president,
called On: me and expressed
the appreciation Of that organization
for my work in the stockyards mat
ter, and also of my legislative work
for the farmers.
Thanking YOU for the many evi-
dences Of your confidence and good
will in the past, assure you / shall
continue to strive to deserve the same
in the future ...,"55...f ri
Respectfully,
...' Halvor Steenerson.
RATTI IS ELECTED POPE