Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1929-06-20

what sort Of man is engaged to be
the agent, and in this connection it
must be said that w. F. Hammargren
is very active and has put in some
good ticks in the extension work as
is proven by a perusal of the annual
report which was published in last
weeks American. The report of 1923
shows up good with SCI members,
much work in grain tests, treating
spraying, crop schools, dairy schools,
culling dairy cattle and poultry. work
ing with COW testing associations,
women's clothing projects, boys and
girls club work, distribution of eX-
plosives for land clearing, etc. There
is no question but that this work has
been of benefit to the county as a
whole, has created more interest in
the farm and works for more content
ment in the rural districts. In 1923
the county agent also made 334 farm
visits and 80 visits to homes. 1t is
of course next to impossible for the
agent to visit all the farms in the
ices are made he is eager to accom-
modate
The matter of an appropriation is
up to the county commissioners. The
editor of the American has said more
than once that if member of the
board he would vote for such an APP
preparation. We have boosted for the
Farm Bureau throughout the dozen
or more years that it has been estab-
liShed-and sometimes criticised a
little where we felt it was well to do
so. As an Independent newspaper we
opened our columns last year to a
general discussion of the matter.
There were many opinions pro and
con by readers of the American. This,
it appears, was not approved by some
of the Farm Bureau members, they
assuming that we were opposing it.
But how in the name of common
sense would we be doing any good as a
newspaper dispenser of informa-
tion-if we did not allow various
opinions to be aired? Would the news
paper be Independent if it allowed
but one side of the question to be
heard? 1t might please one group
at one time and the next time they
might be entirely dissatisfied. That
manner of conducting newspaper
public forum-makes it just plain
propaganda sheet. And goodness for
bid that the American should ever
become such. The editor of an in
dependent newspaper may be disliked
and even hated at times, especially
through what whispering politicians
may work up against him-those who
are afraid to come out in the open, but
fight or wrong, if he expresses his
own candid opinions he will stand his
ground in the long run.
But enough of that. A person can
not help but note that the Farm Bu-
reau has many active members and
friends-folks who will devote time
and effort to circulate petitions for
its upkeep and welfare If the Blu
reau had done no good there would
not be so many well meaning and pub
lie spirited citizens who would spend
their time on it. True, many will
sign petitions that would not vote for
measure if it came to a referendum
vote. They often sign because they
do not like to say no to the man who
circulates the petitiOn-a man who in
most cases is a friend of the one he
asks to sign. Nevertheless the petit
ton has many signers and has a big
bearing-it is up to the county COM
missioners to do what they deem is
best and they must bear the respOn-
Sibility of their own actions.