The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-05-27
STATE CAPITOL CHATTER
by G. B. wellan. Special Writer 70 The Ely Miner.


Should such a contention govern,
there are at least two other names
besides that of Mayor Nelson that
readily suggest themselves for con-
sideration. These are Nate Holm
berg, state commissioner of agricul-
ture, and former Sen. Henry Ben
son, st. Peter.
1t is generally conceded that Nate
has made good in charge of the two
departments-ag agriculture and dairy
and food-and should be a good vote
getter. 1t may be offered that Sen.
Benson lacks the important charac-
teristic of being '1colorful"- but h
sure stands ace high with the Swed-
ish Lutherans and they represent
a big part of Minnesota Republi-
canism.
Yet friends of Bill Nolan, lieuten.
ant governor, say that he is not at
all "scairt" of the racial bugaboo
and is ready at moments notice
10 run for governor, true to his Irish
courage Trash though it be at times).
Considering the promised trait
congestion on the highway of politics
it may be fortunate that Charley
Babcock, our own state highway
commissioner, was recently elect
president of the American Road
Builders association.
This is an honor both TO him and
the state.
Incidentally, if Charley should
some day load his fiivver with the
gas of political ambition, the chances
are that all he would need to do
would be to drive it onto the track
and sound his siren and the whole
flock of candidates would run for
cover.
The hast legislature created far n
relief commission-but failed to pro
vide funds on which to function.
Which leaves the commission in
just the same boat as the farmers, it
was suggested by one of the wits of
the state capitol.
In which connection it might be
added that this same legislature en-
acted law placing state employ IS
under the workmen's compensation
act, but did not appropriate a single |
dollar with which to pay claims to |
injured employees.
Query: If a "woodchuck' is SOM
thing that gets into the law without
having any business there, what |
would you call it when something
that ought to be in is left out?
I'd call it a calamity" if I were
state employe-and happened -
suffer an accident within the next |
two years.
Chances are improving that the
farmers of Minnesota and the North |
west will work themselves out of the |
slough of financial despond" with |
out Legislative aid.
Two "straws" pointing in this di-
rection have come to my notice in
the last couple of days.
One of these is contained in a |
preliminary statement issued by N. |
j. Holmberg showing that patrons
of Minnesota creameries in 1926 re-
ceived SOL, 100000, about $780,
600 more than in 1870. Besides,
the average price paid for butterfat |
last year was 47.52 cents pound
compared with 46.7 cents in 1925. |
Minnesota creameries in 1926
made 267.373,511 pounds of butter,
an increase over 1925 of 6,734,884
pounds.
All this in spite of an unfavorable |
season in 1926 from the dairy far
mers' standpoint because of pastur-
age and feed conditions.
The other "straw" is contained in
an official statement issued by the
federal department of agriculture,
showing that the population move
ment from farm to city last year
showed net gain for the cities of
about 100000.
Now, if this away-from-the-farm
movement continues few years at |
this rate, the farmers left ON the
farm won't have to worry about the |
disposition of their surplus there
just won't be any.
Dame Nature and changing con-
ditions may, after all, afford the real |
~relief" for agriculture. Be it sol
but what will lot of fellows then
have to shout about in their quest |
for the farmer vote?"