The Redwood gazette., 1935-02-14

One Year (outslde United states) $3.50
"-e-o-e-o-e-o-e-o-
Public sentiment is one of the strong
est factors affecting the field of business.
IF one needs proof of this statement,
look at the theatre business. Attacked,
quite justly, several months ago by the
Legion of Decency for showing motion
pictures of a popular but immoral type,
the industry has vastly improved the
quality of it's releases.
David Copperfeld" is an example of
one of the better type movies. 1t is not
result of the Legion of Decency's efforts
for it was in production two years ago
but it's popularity wherever it is shown
indicates that the public wants better
things. It's success undoubtedly will re-
suit in bringing more of the classics to
the screen.
A committe on public school finance
has devised scheme to have the state
aid to public schools greatly increased in
an effort to reduce local taxes but so far
as we can learn it contains no provision
for raising the money by any other means
than general taxation. Just what benefit
reducing local taxes will amount to if the
state levy is increased proportionately is
rather difficult to understand.
In this day of federal regulation of
merchants closing hours, wage mini
NUNS and hour restrictions it seems
great inconsistency for the government
to undertake changes in the postoffce de-
partment which result in curtailing serv-
ice.
That the postof6ce department has
operated on a scale that could not possi-
bly, have been maintained by private
corporation is no secret. That some prun-
ing has been done is commendable but
the fact remains that postoffce can be
kept open Saturday afternoons at so
little extra expense that communities
such as Redwood Falls are fully justified
in asking that this service be granted.
"You can't make it rain but you can
help save the rain" With this as a slog
an the public-spirited Marshall Daily
Messenger has launched program to get
every farmer in the dry areas to save
every drop of moisture possible. Other
newspapers are asked to assist with the
plan, a request which all will grant will
ingly.
Editor Peterson's idea is to dam
every pothole, slough and ditch that
would drain otherwise as soon as the
spring breakup comes, and force the
water to stay where it will soak into the
dry subsoil instead of rushing away to
cause floods in other sections.
Such dams would be temporary, any,
thing that will hold back the water until
the frost is out of he ground. 1t will be
absorbed by the soil in short order at that
time
To just what extent this plan is
workable will depend upon the lay of ones
particular farm. Where it is practical, it
certainly will pay good dividends for the
amount of labor necessary.
Mr.. Peterson has heard the predic-
tions that we are likely to have wet
spring, that the dry cycle is over and all
that but he isn't at all sure that we won't
be hearing the same predictions next win
er after another dry summer. He con-
cludes very logical arguments for the
that we don't damn so much next sum-
mer."
The writer is indebted to John M.
Zwach, representative at large from
Brown and Redwood counties, for the
privilege of ringside seat Thursday dur
ing one of those sessions at which the
legislature bi-annally saves the state"
Mr.. Buckley would have been proud to of
fer such entertainment at the Redwood
theatre and he certainly would have been
assured "bank night" crowd for these
men were giving away ten million dollars.
Sums as trifing as 500 weren't even
mentioned.
It has been said that the calibre of
the men in the 1885 legislature is above
the average of recent years; that there
are more practical, thinking individuals
present. Based on one afternoons per-
formance, we would say it has the edge
on the 1929 body which we visited quite
frequently.
{. On the other hand, it is soon appar-
ent to the listener-in, whether he is fami-
liar with Minnesota politics or not, that
the pro and anti-G Governor Olson lines are
quite definitely drawn and that no love is
wasted between factions. This fact must
be considered by anv person or group
which hcues to see the 1885 lawmakers
accomplish anything outstanding.