The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1936-10-15
FARMER-LABOR
Rv A. I. Harris

BY A. I. Harris
A coalition between two political
parties in order to bring about the
defeat of third party becomes
either an act of horse trading or a
piece of brilliant political strategy
1t all depends on whose OK is gor-
ed.
For example, two years ago the
Republicans sought coalition with
the Democrats for the purpose of
bringing about the defeat of Cover
nor Olson. The reactionary press
carried editorials in profusion urg-
ing such a move. Had this move
succeeded they would have declar-
ed it a piece of brilliant strategy.
But they failed.
Now, the same politicians who
attempted to effect coalition
against the liberals two years ago,
and the same reactionary press
which urged such move as piece
of brilliant political strategy, are
calling the coalition between the
liberal forces in Minnesota today
the Farmer-Laborites and Demo
crats-an act of horse trading. That
is just the cry of squealer when
he feels hurt.
Whenever a liberal movement
presents a serious threat, reaction
aries have no trouble to effect a
combination against them. The
united front for reaction has been
in existence for a good many
years.
Conditions today demanded a
that demand itself brought this
united front about A divided lib
eral vote in America could easily
bring about the election of Landon
and control of this country by
Hearst, Wall Street, and the Liber-
ty League crowd.
A parallel situation existed in
this state. A divided liberal vote
might have restored the Republi-
can Party, with its timber hooters,
special interests and corporation
gang, to power. This threat to lib
eral government so far as M;nneso-
ia is concerned is now happily
thwarted. The people have the is
sue clearly before them and when
they go to the polls on November
they will know that they will cast
a vote either for reaction or for
progress.
We wonder whether Mr.. Nelson
has read about the 81 years of Re-
publican rule in Minnesota
We suggest that he look into the
timber looting of the state under
Republican administrations. When
he gets through with that he
might do a little research into the
exploitation of our mining indus
try.
Here was a rich heritage of the
people such as no state in Ameri-
ca enjoyed Had our mineral
wealth been protected by Republi-
cans instead of exploited for the
benefit of eastern capitalists, as
Senator Benson has pointed out,
Minnesota would today be a tax
free state.
We might get down to a little
more recent history and refer Mel
son to the Rural Credit invest
ment. Why is Mr.. Nelson so dis
creetly silent about the $60OO0,O00
of the states bonded indebtedness
resulting from that investment. In
cidently, in this study Mr.. Nelson
can learn that his Republican of
ficials used the states Rural Gre
dit Funds not to help out farmers
as the law intended but to aid
friendly bankers in liquidating
their frozen assets.
The other night William Camp
bell, of Minneapolis, went on the
air for Martin A. Nelson and the
Republican ticket. Campbell will be
remembered as having been en-
dorsed secretly by the Ku Klux
Khan as mayor of Minneapolis
some years ago. The grand jury in
vestigation into Khan activities at
that time disclosed that fact.
Campbell doesn't feel very kind
ly toward Senator Benson, as judg-
ed by the tone of his utterances.
very kindly towards the late Gov
ernor Olson because Olson, who
was county attorney during the
heydey of the Khan, prosecuted
and convicted some of Campbell's
Khan friends.
Just what is there to this talk
about Republicans cutting down
state expenditures by firing a
great many state employees and
cutting down the salaries Of 9TH
ers?
We knew that it was just plain
tommyrot but we checked up a lit
tie on the figures. Here is what we
find:
II every employee in the state
capitol who is paid his salary from
the real estate tax levy were to be
discharged forthwith, the state of
Minnesota would save annually ST.
057, 900. This would even contem-
plate discharge of the governor
himself unless he saw fit to work
for glory, as well as all Of the i'm
portant officials of the state, en-
ployees of virtually all state de-
partments, as well as those work.
ing in the state institutions and
even the teachers colleges.
And then, with the state de-
partments unnamed, state services
demoralized, how much thereby
would the average taxpayer save?
For every hundred dollars in taxes
he now pays he would save the