The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1929-01-23
THE MINNESOTA PLAN

Consideration of the problems
arising from the fact that the
Philippines, Hawaii, Porto Rico,
and supervised countries such as
Haiti, San Domingo, Nicaragua
are and will continue to be agri-
cultural countries, tending to
compete unfairly with our con-
tinental farming. Development
of our Inland Empire we suggest
to be the wiser polity.
AS pointed out in our remarks on
sugar policy, Hawaii, Porto Rico and
the Philippines have free entry to
our markets. Cuba has preferential
rates. Their combined population is
over 100000, nearly all agricul-
tudal. The continental United States
has about 100000 in towns under
$500 and on farms with a strictly
farm population of only 10000, 600.
In addition to free or preferential
entry, farm products from these
colonies have the advantage of water
Transportation to our coast markets.
The inevitable results is fattening
of the colonies at the expense of our
farmers, building of investments IN
the islands rather than in our farm
sections.
Due to lack of proper regard for
our farmers in this matter, these IS
land territories have turned more and
more to our farm competing products
n. oh as sugar, fruits, vegetables,
= tobacco, rather than to the non-com-
peting products such as rope fiber,
tea, coffee, and rubber.
A further compl cation is the fact
that our farmers, operating their own
farms, holding up their duties here
as citizens, are helping to pay for the
stability in these islands, are denied
the right to obtain the kind of labor
available to corporation farming at
these other points under our flag, and
vet our farmers are asked to match
prices in our markets.
Consideration Of immediate
steps to shift government activity
from reclamation of land to re-
forestation and grazing.
Up to June 80, 1922, the federal
government. h I'd spent 100000
to get water TO about four million
acres of semi-arid and arid lands.
This policy was entered into 26 years
ago when a shortage of farm pro-
ducticn was feared, and it is natural
for a government del lrtment to go
on and on in spite of changed condi-
lions. Not an acre If this reclaimed
land has been actu, 'ly needed. States
having such land, of course, have a
lively interest in reclamation, and
can bring considerable pressure to
bear on congress.
The Reclamation Service has To-
Gated about 100000 acres of re-
claimable and irrigable lands. One
cannot say that retaining this land
in the future might not be good ma
tional policy, bit at present it in
l creases our agricultural problems.
- On the other hand re-forestation
withdraws cutover lands from farm
entry, and any increase in cheap graz
ing on such lands and otherwise will
enable our people to cut down the
present huge imports of woods and
reduce the cost of FEEDER cattle.
Hence this suggestion in the plan
is a double-edged knife which cuts
down the farm problem on each edge.
Acted on, there would be no addition
of farm land by reclamation. Foresta-
ton and grazing would withdraw
-ao.d which otherwise our people are
p sure to try to put into pillow land and
dairying. Minnesota and Wisconsin
have millions of acres of the latter
type.
Thus by the simple process of
shifting this government activity, we
can immensely aid in heading off
those conditions calculated to assist
in the creation of crop surplusses and
at the same time we can open up new
avenues of profit to farming. No
new government department will be
necessary to effect this change, nc
appropriations will be required and
no new officeholders need be ap-
pointed