The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1935-05-30
Congressional
NeWs Letter
BY Harold Knutson,
BY Harold Knutson,

BY Harold knutSon,
The other day prominent labor
leader delivered speech in New
York City to fifteen or twenty
thousand Of his followers and dur
ing the coarse Of his remarks
broadly intimated that unless three
or four labor measures now pend
ing before Congress are passed be-
fore adjournment there might be
nationwide strike and that Sena-
tors and Congressman who did not
go along 100 per cent would be de-
feated for reelection. Personally,
it is my belief and hope that he
was speaking for home consump-
ton. They do that in Congress, at
times.
I have carried a Union card for
many years and 1t Is one Of my
prizd possessions. know that or
ganization Of labor has made for
better working conditions, better
wages, and shorter hours. For one,
would not go back to the old or
der, but also feel that other
groups of Americans have rights
that must equally be respected and
considered.
The American people do not take
kindly to threats. nor will they be
bull-dozed. To give in on this mat
ter would be tantamount to set
ting up a government by coercion.
Suppose the farmer, who has for
years been asking for certain leg
islation were to say to Congress,
pass the measures we ask for or
we will grow only enough food for
our own needs" What would then
happen? Starvation and Chaos, Of
course. Suppose the World War
veterans were to say, "give us the
bonus or we will halt every train
and truck and permit no transpor-
tation until we have been paid"
That would mean starvation and
death to the people in our cities.
No, my friends, we as a people
will not tolerate government by
intimation. To do so would be to
surrender every vestige of our lib
critics. Dictatorship, whether by
Labor, Agriculture or Industry will
not be permitted and If an attempt
is made to carry out the plan out
lined at New York last Friday 1t
will only result in setting back the
cause Of organized labor by 25 to
so years. AS for the threats to
punish any member of Congress
who does not front 100 per cent on
the program-well that Is just too
childish to seriously discuss.
The President has vetoed the
Patman bill to pay the adjusted
service certificates at this time.
He appeared before joint meet
ing of the House and Senate and
stated his objections to payment in
his usual forceful language. The
House OVERRIDE the veto by vote
Of 800 to SO. After a short debate
the Senate sustained the President
by a vote Of 81 to 40. AS 1t requires
a two-thirds vote to override a
Presidential veto the measure
lacked 10 votes of passage in that
body.
The President spoke at length
upon the dangers of initiation by
paying the $4,000, 100000 through
the Issuance OF U. S. bank notes.
OF course, it is agreed that II Con-
gress were to indulge in program
of paying government debts and
expenses by the use of printing
press money uncontrolled initiation
would soon be upon us and misery
and suffering to a degree hereto
fore unknown in this country
would afflict our people as a re-
suit.
4 agree with such financial au-
thorities as Senator McAdoo, who
was Secretary Of the Treasury in
the Wilson administration; the
present Chairman Of the Federal
Reserve Board, Mr.. Eccles, and
Mr.. Jesse Jones, President OF the
Reconstruction Finance Corpora
ton. They agree that the issuance
of treasury certificates In an
an amount sufficient to pay the
bonus will not result in initiation.
From remotest times 1t has been
recognized by finacial authorities
that a metallic base for currency
in the ratio Of 40 per cent OF gold
or silver to the amount Of curren-
CIV issued was sufficient to meet
every requirement Of sound mon
ey system.
According to the Treasury Re
port of May %, 1885, we had on
hand gold in the amount OF $8,-
761 .734, 394.OS, and silver In the
amount of $811. 904, 259.69. Out
standing against this metallic base,
provided we return to a currency
based upon and redeemable In the
precious metals, we have silver
certificates and treasury notes In
the amount Of $797, 173. 022, and Fed
eral Reserve notes in the amount
of $3,407, 746, 255, or total paper
currency outstanding against the
metallic reserve of $4,204, 919,277
It will be seen from these fig
ures that we could redeem every
dollar of such currency now In cir
culation at full 100 per cent In
gold. We could pay the adjusted
service certificates in full In gold
-