The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1935-07-25
from myself and others.

The foreign farmer has already
taken the cream and with the
domestic crop coming on there is
nothing left for the American far
mer but skim milk and rather thin
milk at that. When the price Of
butter fat was around the 40 cent
mark, and rye nearly one dollar
per bushel, the foreigner had our
market to himself. Now that the
few cows we have left are coming
into full production, and a large
crop Of rye and other grains Is In
prospect, and domestic prices are
so low they will not cover cost of
production, the market Is turned
back to the American farmer pro-
viding that he can hold 1t against
the constant completion Of subsi-
died peasants and poems of other
countries.
IT am sure that you will agree
with me, Mr.. President, that no
real benefits can accrue to the A
merican farmer from the crop
control program so long as we per-
NIT the foreign farmer to replace
such domestic reduction as may be
effected hereunder.
ION June LIST the Department OF
Agriculture estimated a A million
bushel rye crop for this year.. Ac-
cording to the same authority the
annual consumption of rye in the
United States Is about 80 million
bushel which means that there will
be IL million bushel surplus. Not
withstanding this situation, we
permitted 4,46S,S58 bushels of rye
to be imported into the United
States for the four-month period
ending April LIST. During the same
period we imported 1888 1877
pounds of butter, and large guam
titles of corn, oats, barley and
wheat.
IT am sure, Mr.. President, that
If you would Immediately increase
existing tariff rates on all agri-
cultural products by so per cent II
void be a tremendous help to the
American farmer. AS you know,
you have the power to order such
an increase under the flexible pro-
vision of the tariff law.
1.-THE American farmer is looking
to Washington for relief and I
can think of no other way in which
this relief can be extended in time
to be of help
To date I have had no reply, nor
received any intimation that my
suggestions are being acted upon.
How much longer can we stand
this invasion of foreign producers
without going bankrupt Do you
not think 1t is high time that we
close the doors to the foreigner
and give the American producer a
fair chance at the American mar
ket?
The other day I called Chester
Davis Of the AAA and asked him
when we may look for action on
my proposal that cash advances be
made on rye and other grains so
that the grower may be enabled to
hold the new crop until prices are
more favorable. He informed me
that they are waiting for the Sem
ate to act upon the amendments to
the AAA, which passed the House
several weeks ago. Mr.. Davis stat
ed that they are all set to go the
minute the Senate has acted. Four
weeks ago I was promised defin-
tie action by not later than July
10, and here we are ready for
shock threshing and nothing done
yet.
That is the way things go In
Washington. To get action down
here is like moving a mountain,
and yet there are those who want
the Federal government to take
over all activities. There was a
time when I, too, leaned a little
that way but after seeing the gov
eminent in action, or rather in in
action, have long since come to
the conclusion that the less gov
ernmental interference we have
the better off we are. I recall when
we could travel anywhere on the
railroads for cents per mile but
as a result of constant badgering
by the government, which greatly
increased railroad operating ex-
penses, the cost of travel per mile
was increased to 4 cents and then
people stopped shipping and travel
ing by train and business fell off
to the point where all roads are
now faced with bankruptcy. A
number are already in receiver
ship, and yet we like to call our
selves the most intelligent people
on Earth. Maybe we are but If so
the mental standards Of other
countries must be exceedingly low.
It has long since been demonstrate
ed that the best regulation Of all
public utilities is a regulation
which will give to the general pub
lie the service of these public SER
vice corporations at price the
public can afford to pay-a reason
able price. It Is arrant foolishness
to strangle or hamstring enter
prises that are necessary to our
well-being. Call 1t old fashioned, If
you will.