Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1936-07-30
QUESTIONS REPRESENTATION

Mr.. Mann:
l have read with amusement your
very weak defense of your votes in the
legislature. Your defense of your
votes is about as base as your cOnclu-
sion. Your own statement as follows:
Nov in conclusion l wish to say
that l do not know the standing Of
either of these two men in their own
communities, but l strongly suspect
that both are on, or have been on the
public payroll in one way or another
Now, Mr.. Mann, for your informa-
ton, while you have been on the pub
lie pay roll, a member of the majority
group which was one of the most flu
tile legislatures we have had in re-
cent years. l personally have never
been on the payroll of the State Of
Minnesota. l am in fact farmer
who has realized for many years the
real necessity of more honesty in our
political system, the need of men rep
resenting the interests of the farmers
and producers of wealth rather than
..
Northern States Power Company, and
the large out-of-state real estate hold
ing interests, and ask you to explain
to the readers of this paper your sup
port of the omnibus bill, the passage
of which would have been of such
great benefit to the above groups and
so much detriment to us farmers, con-
sumers and merchants in Pine county.
The best break the people Of Pine
county received out of the whole ses-
sion was the veto of this Omnibus bill
by Governor Olson, probably the worst
bill that has been passed by session
of the Minnesota legislature for many
years, bill that would have saddled
onto the average man the sales tax
which would have made every man,
woman and child pay and pay a tax
every day upon merchandise that they
would have to buy
As to Mr.. Barker, whose progressive
record you question, the people of this
this county could have been proud OF
you, Mr. Mann, If your record had
only been on a par with that of Mr..
Barker. While you voted against pro-
posed increase in inheritance tax sup
ported by Representative Barker, and
while you voted for this Omnibus bill,
Mr.. Barker voted against this Sales
Tax Omnibus bill and very much to
his own credit. The minority group in
the legislature endeavored to protect
our interests and should have had
your support.
Mr.. Mann, during the last session
of the legislature, petitions with over
1000 signatures from Pine county
were filed and the names were pub
lished in the Askov American as OPP
posed to the Sales tax. How do you
explain your vote for the Omnibus
bill in the face of such expressed op-
position?
The record of the legislature of the
last session demonstrated the need of
organization by the Barker forces
rather than by the reactionary, con-
sentative group with which you line
up.
The membership of the standing
committees is very important because
they determine which bills shall be
voted on by the House. These COM
mittees also have power to amend
valuable bills so as to make them
worthless. This roll call on the cleo
tion of speaker conclusively proves
that the House was controlled by an
overwhelming majority of so-called
independent progressives"; in other
words the conservatives.
am sending you, Mr.. Mann. a copy
of this article which l wrote you tC
publish in your paper with an answer
to same in your own paper. If you
feel that your record is justifiable.
you will be glad of an opportunity of
this kind.