Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-03-08
THE RECORD

1t was only to be expected that pub
location by the Farmer-Labor Educa-
tional Bureau of tables showing the
record of Minnesota legislative men,
bers en- important bills would not be
relish ed by everybody
members who did not rate so high.
Fifteen roll calls were used in the
Members are scored from nothing up
to 100 per cent. depending on how they
voted Those with a 100 mark voted
right on all the bills under consider
alton. from a Farmer-Labor stand
point. Four house members and four
in the Senate scored 100.
Tabulation on important roll calls
IL the Legislature have been made
before. including also the 1888 .ses-
sion, by the Railroad BrOtherhoods,
and published in pamphlet form. Fol
lowing the 1881 session Representa-
tive George w. Johnson of Duluth,
worked out table showing percent
ages from a progressive viewpoint
which was published in the AskOy
American and several hundred extra
sheets used. But this is the first
time that the legislative score has
been published in a newspaper that
reaches into all parts of the state,
commented on by daily and weekly
newspapers, and printed up in extra
lots by the thousands for distribution
amongst voters.
Candidates filing for reelection
have time and again made the state
ment: 81 stand on my record" How
many folks follow and remember the
record votes on important bills during
the session as published in the daily
newspapers? How many look into
the voluminous Senate and House jour
mails published after the session and
check on their lawmakers? But here
is a concise table by the Farmer
Labor Educational Bureau with Is
House and II Senate votes, made easy
for the reader to check on. That
gives the legislator who files again a
chance to stand on my record" The
record, viewed from a progressive
standpoint in the table, is made clear
and can be understood by the layman.
A surprise complaint on the legis-
lative score or ratings comes from
Representative Fay Cravens of Milaca,
who is editor of the Mile Laos County
Times. Mr.. Cravens who has COM
planned about Congressman Shoe
maker raising too much noise and
friction within the party, should have
90 L4c
print what he did on the score sheet.
1t might also have been well for the
editOrlawmaker to have talked it
over with other leaders in the party
and given the matter more considera-
ton before criticising to the world.
Some of the Cravens objections may
be merited but on the other hand may
be discounted. Having appeared in
print it was only to be expected that
the conservative and reactiOnary press
would make the most of it. The ink
was hardly dry in the Mile Laos
County Times before the eagle-eyed
Charles B. Cheney had part of the
article with comments i'm his Mime
sofa Politics. column in The Mime
opoho coul hdl. TGOU1 there IL Is
sure to travel on into other papers
that might like to protect legislators
with low scores, or who would like to
discount the ratings as having little
meaning. And others will be glad to
herald the tempest within the party.
Mr.. Cravens complains about no
farm bills being listed in the table.
and suggests several that should have
been included.
The bill for cutting the price on
prison machinery and Irvine passed
the House by vote of 81 to 81. Pro-
gressives like Atwood, Nolan, Stock
well, Wier, Youngdahl, and others
voted against it, and, of course, not
without reason. If the price of goods
made by inmates and to be sold to
the public is too low it will surely
have effect on the wages of the free
man outside the gates and may also
affect the taxpayer. The Legislature
can arbitrarily set prices on prison
made goods that may be right or
may be wrong. 1t is hardly a funda-
mental issue as between conservatism
and progressivism, and we presume
therefore was Left out of the table OF
votes.
The, bill for tax on oleomargarine
passed the House with only one dis
senting vote Which means that con-