Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-05-11
many ATTEND
HOLIDAY MEET
Secretary to State Presi.
dent of Farmer Group
Gives Address.
Speaker Pays Good Tribute
to Governor Floyd
B. Olson.

CITY Saturday evening before crowd
estimated at more than 1900 persons,
Harold Peterson of Willmar, brought
to the Farmers Holiday association
a stirring message from Des Moines,
Iowa. Mr.. Peterson who had at
tended the Holiday Associations Ma
tional convention at Des Moines, gave
to the large audience a history OF the
present farmers movement. he
stated that in 1923 twenty-three farm
organizations got together in Kansas
City at which time they backed the
Dickinson Bill designed to help agrl-
culture, which bill was defeated. In
1925 and again in 1927 the farmer
organizations backed the McNary-
Haugen bill which was passed by
Congress and twice vetoed by Calvin
Coolidge. At present the Farmers
Holiday association has five major
bills which they are backing. CHIEF
among them is the Frazier bill with
its plan of refinancing farm indebt-
edness on go basis, 11afo on the
principal and 1870 on the interest.
Two other bills being the Wheeler
bill and the Patman Soldiers Bonus
bill.
Mr.. Peterson stated that the Farm
er's Holiday Organization had become
impatient at delay and was ready now
to put up fight. He stated that the
reason why 100000 business enter
prises had failed in the United States
was largely because the farmers had
lost their purchasing power when
forced to sell below the cost of pro-
duction.
"A farmer" said Mr.. Peterson.
may be defined as one who works
eight hours a day-twice day-for
nothing" The only way farmers have
been able to keep on was to borrow
until their borrowing power had be-
come exhausted The DeS Moines
meeting had decided on May IS as the
date on which the farmers would
strike. I'm previous depressions,'
said Mr.. Peterson, "our people moved
seeking cheaper land until our popu-
lation had reached clear to the Pacl-
fic. Today people cannot move but
must stay where they are and work
they way out of the situation. The
farmers must get cost of production
Praises County Organization.
Mr.. Peterson said he was glad to
see such a good organization in Pine
county and that he had come to Pine
City to the expectations of speaking
to about 200 people and he was very
much surprised when he saw the size
of the crowd Until agriculture gets
back on its feet" said Mr.. Peterson,
mo other industry in America will
have prosperity. Farmers must get
back their purchasing power. We
owe it to ourselves. to the business
men and to the laborers to make this
fight for better agricultural prices.
The business man controls the flow
of his goods. If he doesn't get
profitable price he may keep his
goods on the counter. Why shouldn't
the farmer do likewise? Instead, the
farmer, when he wants to buy must
ask How much does it cost?'; and
when he goes to sell he must say
How much will you give'?'
Praises Governor Olson.
The speaker defined the profit sys-
tenn as something received for which
nothing is given in return He paid
tribute to Governor Olson and said
that at the Iowa meeting at Des
Moines, MinnesOta's Governor was re-
ferred to with respect as man OF
courage and action. I'VE have in
Minnesota a government which more
nearly represents the original gov
eminent in the United States thar
does any other state in the union,
said Mr.. Peterson.
LAS we go about farming commun-
ities," said Mr.. Peterson, I'VE car
see that buildings are in need of pain,
and repairs and that machinery is
breaking down, but the saddest par'
of it all is that under the present
economic conditions human life Is
also breaking down. The farmers
holiday is not cure all but it is
step in the right direction. There
are some who will say it can't be
done and it won't work but there wer'
people to say the same thing tt
Columbus, and in the days of 177t
there were plenty to say that the
colonists were very foolish for re
belling against England. In the days
of the Civil war some people sale
that slavery could never be abolished
in the United States"
Referring again to the meeting a
Des Moines, Mr.. Peterson stated tina
the script plan had been discussed
and that in case of a strike some
plans would be made to feed the un
employed and to provide for direc
exchange between farmers and la