The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-08-18
SPOKE TO LARGE
CROWD At PICNIC
WORK HAS BEEN DONE FOR
AaRICULTURIsTS
MARKET BILL DETAILS
Federal Aid For Highways; De-
clares For Enforcement
Law and Order
Especial to The Free Press.l

Senator Frank b. Kellogg spoke to
an enormous gathering here this
afternoon as a feature Of the pro-
gram for the formers picnic which
is annually held in the Grove and
in part he said:
Il stated to the farmers and the
people of Minnesota six years ago
that. If elected to the senate, |
should resign all my positions and
devote myself exclusively to my du-
ties in the senate. | have done so.
cannot review that entire history,
but | propose this afternoon to talk
exclusively upon agricultural prob
lens.
Il say in no spirit of boasting-
Minnesota is a great state, with
wonderful resources in iron, and
timber, and with great jnanufactur-
ing centers; but, after all, the foun-
dation of its wealth, its basic indus
try is farming, and l made up my
mind when | came to the senate
that l should give first and most
careful consideration to the prob
lens confronting the farmer"
Foreign Relations Feats.
81 might briefly mention other
accomplishments, the settlement or
the dispute between Panama and
Costa RIGA, which threatened war
near the Panama Canal; the settle
ment between Chile and Peru.
which has improved our relations
with all South American Republics,
but I believe the most vital prob
lens which lie at the foundation OF
the nations prosperity and future
greatness are those pertaining to
agriculture. for all history shows
that a nation founded upon an in
telligent. independent and prosper
Gus farming community, where the
people are proprietors of the SOIL,
secure in their rights. and with hope
of progress, is a nation rising IN the
tide of civilization. | do not mean
that We should thereby neglect otn,
err activities of life. Our mineral
resources, manufacture. tranSporta-
ton, and all other activities must be
developed with those of the farmer,
hut as I have said before, his is
the basic industry. He produces
the food of the nation. He takes
the greatest risks, and today | be
lieve his returns are the smallest,
though his position in the world Is
secure"
Cooperative Marketing Bill.
"One of the most important blllS
passed by the last congress in aid
of the farmers was the cooperative
marketing bill. ] had the honor OF
having charge of the bill in the SEN
ate. 1t had been before the con,
gress for two years and had passed
in different forms in the house ana
In the senate, but the conterees Oh
the two houses could not agree.
finally moved in the senate to
adont the house bill, which thought
fully met the necessities of the case
and had the approval of the fai u
representatives know of no move
ment of greater Importance TO the
farmers than that of cooperative
marketing. In many Of the products
of the farm, especially those not
handled in the great markets, the
difference between what the farmer
receives and what the consumer
paws is, in many cases. exoroltahI
and unreasonable. Furthermore the
indiscriminate marketing, without
intelligent cooperation, tends TO Sidt
the market and depress prices, WIN
out a corresponding beneht TO the
consumer. 1t also tends to waste
and is not. therefore, in the inter-
est of national economy.
Improvement of Prices.
"In anV event, prices of farm pro.
ducts have very largely increased
in 192. 1t is true that during the
summer and autumn of 1921 prices
which had commenced to go down
continued to decrease in most pro
ducts, but it is also true That the
War Finance Corporations actlVl.
ties did not begin to take enect
until the beginning of the year l9ZZ'
and between January and the pres
ent time prices of the principal
farm products, including wheat'
corn, oats. barley, rye. hogs, cattIe,
sheep, and wool have very greatly
improved. In some of these pro.
ducts there has been a very great
advance: in others less.
81 do not saw that the proper re
lation between farming products
and other products has yet been
reached. 1t is true that under the
effects of the enormous demand dur
ing the war in farm products de-
creased more rapidly in price than
other products, so that the purchas-
ing price of wheat, hogs and cattle
in the market was less than most
other products CT the markets; put
a proper relation is rapidly now pc
ing restored, and | believe that IN
the near future the prices OF farm
products will be brought nearer
proper relation to the high prices
of other products"
Road Aid Proposition.
"At the time when the first Dill
appropriating federal money for the
construction of rural highways was
being considered, it was impossible
for Minnesota to accept money
from any source to be spent upon
its roads. for our constitution then
forbade the expenditure Of money
by the state for internal improve
ments."
But there was then pending an
amendment (Which was adopted IN
1920 allowing the state so to ex'
pend money, and |, CO. operatlns
with Senator Nelson, prepared an
amendment to the appropriation Dill
setting aside Minnesota's share ana
holding it in the national treasury
for our people, in anticipation OF
the adoption of this constitutional
when finally the amendment
was ratified by the voters OF this
state, there Immediately became
available a sum of nearly $1,000
10000. This amount forthwith was
turned over to Minnesota and has
been used in the construction and
Improvement of it's highways"
Governor On Business.
president Harding wisely SAID
THAI we should have more business
in government and less government
in business. This is wise rule.
al. Go ~