Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1925-04-30
RURAL CREDIT
BILL is SIGNED
Governor Christensen is
Victim of Unfair
Attack.
(By Farm Bureau News servIec.l'

4 NJ ~ sre@ose A*t"- wv '*t-@f
The Minnesota Farm Bureau red-
GRAFTON Ia not concerned with poiiti-
cal affairs or issues, except as they
may affect the welfare Of the tar
mers OF the state; neither IL It con-
cerned with the political welfare OF
any public official. as such.
But tho Farm Bureau does assume
the duty OF making known TO Its mem
bers and the citizens OF the state the
true facts when a public official In
unfairly attacked for doing his plain
duty In behalf OF the farmers Of Min
nesota.
For this reason the attention OF tho
people OF Minnesota Ia called 10 tho
unjustifiable and unconscionable at
tacks being made against Governor
Theodore Christensen by the 81. Paul
Dispatch and the Pioneer Press since
the governor signed the rural credit
bin authorizing the issuing OF addi-
tionl bonds for farm loans In Minne-
sofa.
shortly after the legislature con-
vened In January rumors we're cur
rent about 81. Paul and the state
capitol. crediting certain editor
with making boast. or threat, that
"he would get the rural credit sy-
stem or break Christianson." Ru-
mors are usually unreliable and un-
worthy OF notice, but In this case sub.
sequcnt events lend much credcnce
to the ono above quoted.
Promptly an avalanche Of hostile
newspaper propaganda was loosed
against the Rural Credit Bureau; q
Legislative investigation OF the con-
duct OF the bureau afforded opportun-
!ty for special reporters 10 play up
daily, In column after column. every
insinuation. rumor or assertion Of un-
friendly Witnesses; admitted mistakes
we're exaggerated and distorted.
when the investigation ended and
a report filed which failed TO bear
out the wild charges made. but recon-
mending changes In the law 70 corr
rect defects In administration OF tho
bureau. the House. by an almost
unanimous vote, passed bill strength
enIng the Law and authorizing the Is
suance OF additional bonds TO extend
the service Of the system to the far
mers. II having been shown that the
bureau had rendered n valuable and
needed service since Its establish
ment
The Pioneer Press Mt once had an
editorial conyulsion In which truth
was shamelessly outraged. the iegis-
lators libeled and the State OF Minne-
sofa slandered. The Legislators were
accused Of Throwing $30.000.O00 OF
the taxpayers good money after
$40.000.000 OF bad money" and the
statement made that millions have
already been lost which the taxpayers
will find In their tax statements"
In other words, the world was told
that Minnesota farm land Is entirely
worthless and that all money loaned
on II is a total loss!
These attacks continued IN an ef-
fort to brighten the Senate into a re-
lection OF the rural credit bill. until
that body also voted almost unani-
mously for the bill including the ad-
ditional bonds.
Then the guns we're leveled at the
governor and supreme effort made
to bullyrag and intimidate the execu-
tive into veto of the bill. Failing I'm
this. and with the autocratic editorial
will of the Dispatch and Pioneer Press
thwarted In It's relentless purpose
1.-THE motives for which need not be
considered). the Walls OF its wrath
have since been poured out upon the
head OF the governor.
These are the reasons why the
Farm Bureau believes the governor
is entitled to have the facts brought
TO the people.
The rural credit question Is too big
TO be dealt with fully in this article.
but II may be briefly summarized By
saying that the funds voted to extend
the service is not throwing good
money after bad: that II was not
the taxpayers money" that was vot-
ed for farm loans but simply loan Of
the states credit for bonds. the IN
terest and principal Of which win be
fully liquidated by the rural credit
bureau; that all the bonds author
lied may not have TO be issued To
meet the needs Of the bureau: that I'm
signing this bill the governor did not