The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1925-04-22
Commercial Club
Hears Frank
CIague Mon.E Eve.
CONGRESSMAN TALKS TO NEIGH
BORS AND FRIENDS AT REGU-
LAR MEETING; BRINGS HOPE
FUL MESSAGE FROM WASH.

The regular meeting of the Com
mercial Club was held Monday night
at its club rooms with a good repre-
sentation of members. Congressman
Frank Clague was the principal
speaker of the evening.
A resolution was passed extending
vote of thanks to H. M. Hitchcock,
now residing in Minneapolis, for his
untiring labors in boosting Ramsey
State Park and especially for his
splendid assistance to the local Park
Board in securing from the legis-
lature the appropriation with which
to purchase the west 40-acre ad-
ditior.
w. H. Gold brought up for con-
sideration of the members the ques-
tion of eliminating the gambling de-
vices, such as blanket stands, corn
games and other devices of this ma
ture usually accompanying county
fairs. The contention is that such
sports are inclined to have an evil
influence and are detrimental to the
merchants in that large sums of
money are carried out of the COM
munity by those operating such de-
vices for merchandise. 1t was sug-
gested that other forms of amuse-
ment be provided in their stead if
possible.
Mr.. Clague opened his informal talk
by citeing the number of laws that
had been passed by Congress since
it's beginning. In it's 1876 years of
activity it has passed over $4,000
laws, about 10000 of which are OF
an individual nature while the bal
ance are general laws. There is at
present a commission at work to GO
over these laws and single out those
that have become obsolete so that
congress may take action to rescind
them. Mr. Clague stated that we
have far too many laws and he is
strongly in favor of keeping the
number of laws down to the minimum
In speaking of general conditions
among nations, the Congressman said
that conditions were generally i'm
proving among all but France and
Russia. France is a disappointment
to her allies and has made little eff
fort to meet her obligations to them.
Her general condition does not war
rant such gross neglect. At present
a commission from the United States
is in France, trying to bring about
some settlement on the war debt. 1t
will take Russia perhaps twenty-five
years to bring order out of the cha
otic conditions there at present. Ger
many has made the greatest progress
of the European nations to recover
from the effects of the World War,
and is rapidly placing herself on a
firm financial basis.
Representing a strictly agricultural
district and being a member of the
Agricultural Committee, Mr.. Clague
felt that his constituents would be
particularly interested in informa-
tion along these lines and with this
in mind, before leaving Washington
he called upon Secretary Jardine for
an interview 1t is difficult to tell
what the future has in store but the
belief is that prices in all lines of
grain will be somewhat higher. The
prices of corn, hogs and fat cattle are
sure to be good and there is decided
shortage of these products.
Financial conditions are generally
good in Minnesota. Money for safe
investments is plentiful in the east as
well as in this state and interest rates
are very reasonable. Bank failures
have been light in Minnesota as COM
pdIeU 10 OLHef states, Cne COnQlClOn
in this respect being the worst in
northern Iowa.
Mr.. Clague expressed himself as
strongly opposing the establishment
of a national educational or school
system in Washington, and stated
that these matters can best be handled
as at present with headquarters in
each state. He is of the opinion that
concentrating governmental power
that rightfully belong to states, coun-
ties and smaller divisions is bad
policy and that these matters can best
be handled by the divisions having
immediate jurisdiction, the same be-
ing true of railroads, telegraph, tele-
phone and other public utilities.
Mr.. Clague commented on the
splendid representation in the pres
ent cabinet that Minnesota has a
right to feel justly proud of Frank
Kellogg, Secretary of State and
Pierce Butler, Judge of the Supreme
Court. These men rank among the
top notchers" in Washington as well
as In the esteem of other nations.