Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1922-04-05
WRITES ANSWER
FOR EQUITY
[Continued from first page)


is insignificant and don't cost
enough to be noticed Then he goes
on to say that it is his observation
L" that many are inclined to strain at
the gnat and swallow the camel, and
states as a matter of fact that the
Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is the
only organization of Farmers that
has been big enough and had tinanci-
al backing big enough to do anything
in regard to securing reduction IN
taxes. He gives as a concrete eX-
ample that of securing a reduction
in taxable valuation of Live Stock be-
fore the Executive Council of Iowa
last June amounting to approximate
.ly $500 per quarter section. Now If
the Farm Bureau had anything to do
with this change of validating it is
not to their credit.
Is not our County Agent a little
careless in stating facts as he
claims? Is he trying TO mislead or
is he entirely ignorant OF facts, and
getting his dope from others?
Would it not be good idea for our
County Agent not to get into news
Paper discussions with Ignorant Far
mers Whom he is trying to Educate?
Here are the facts and any one can
verify them by going in to our Audi
tors office and look it up: In place of
a reduction in taxable valuation of
Live Stock the Executive Council at
Des Moines in 1921 raised the valua-
tion of Live Stock as follows:
Cattle in feeding 11fo from $43 to SAT
Heifers / VIZ. old 1870 from $50 to "a
Heifers 2 yr. old 1870 from $2S to 80
Cows .................... 1870 from $40 to A
Steers l yr. old 1870 from S24 to %
Steers 2 yrs. old $3.50 from S32 to al
Steers yrs. old 20fc from S44 to 50
Bulls ...... ..... ........ go from $50
Now, where is the $500 per
quarter section or the $11,50000
county saved by the re-
duction in valuation of Live Stock
secured by the Only Farm Organi-
zation big enough and having finan-
cial backing big enough to accomp
Iish anything? Now, again, who is
trying to mislead? Well, misleading
IS not hardly a big enough word for
of this kind. Our County
Agent goes on to say the Farm Bur-
EAU was established on an entirely
basis and that it is not
is purpose to tear down but to help
build up and to assist any other en-
.erprise in building and maintaining
Itself.
Then he goes on to say that we are
spending thousands of dollars lit is
not only thousands of dollars but
of thousands of dollars) an
lually to maintain our Department
Of Agriculture and our Iowa State
College, and that it is the duty of
the County Agent to cooperate with
these Institutions.
Now, then he admits we are spend
ing thousands of dollars for MAIN
tanning this Institution and wien the
County Agent charges that we are
not far seeing we can tell him how
far ahead we can see. In the first
place we see in the near future q
County Agent as Head man for a
system with one agent in every town
ship in the county whether the peo-
pie would want them or not. Just
the same as we now have the County
Nurse and the Township Nurse and
school district nurse or nurses, if you
please.
Well, you say we have not these
nurses and that the County Nurse is
paid out of the Red Cross Pig Club
money. Good and well, but dear
friends, look up the Law and you
VIII find there IS nothing on Gods
Earth to prevent our Supervisors,
our Township Trustees, our School
Boards, TO hire a nurse or nurses.
Who put this Law over and how
many farmers in Winneshiek County
knew there was such a law passed in
our 38th General Assembly? 1t came
from Ames, of course. Who is re-
sponsible for saddling the County
Agent on the people? Who brought
about the County Engineer Why the
same answers. Who is responsible
for taking the power away from our
County Supervisors, Township Trus-
tees and School Boards? Why. Ames.
and our County Agent is in duty
bound to cooperate with them, he
says.
Now, in drawing to close will say
that we are sorry that we should get
into an argument with our County
Agent, as we have no personal
grudge against him, and will leave
him severely alone as long as he
sticks to the truth and states facts,
but any misrepresentation he shall
make we are going to correct as we
nave a lot Of dope on these things if
1t should be wanted.
Henry Ruen.