The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1936-07-09
FARMER-LABOR
BY A. I, Harris

Governor olson, in addressing
the Swedish Midsummer celebra-
ton held at Minnehaha park, Min
neapolis, was not afraid to say
that the people of Sweden have
done a better economic job than
have the people of the United
States, and that the living standard
of the masses, despite the limited
resources Of the country, Is higher
than in this country.
To say a thing like this, even
though 1t may be the truth, Is moth
ing short of sacrilege to the SO
called 100 per cent patrioteer. Fail
ure on our part, however, to recog-
nize these facts is one Of the bar
riers to social and economic pro-
gress.
Here is something from the Gov
ernor's speech which Is food for
thought: 1--WE may call what they
have done in Sweden socialism, or
cooperation, or anything else, but
they are not so doctrinaire about it.
They merely go about solving pub
lie problems in the most practicable
and thorough way, and as long as
it does the job effectively and ben
efits the people, they care very lit
tie what name or ism you apply to
it."
Harry Hopkins, National WPA
Director, in his interview with the
press in st. Paul declared that the
government owes an obligation to
all citizens to aid them in time of
need. 1--WE are not giving them a
gift" he said, NOR are we doing
anything for the people that is out
side the sphere of ordinary govern
mental activity. The people are en-
titled to the aid of the government,
as the government is entitled to
the aid of the people"
He added that the Federal gov
eminent was ready to take all steps
needed not only to furnish work to
people in the drouth-stricken dis
tricts, but to aid in the feeding and
marketing of livestock, to furnish
direct relief to those unable to
work, and to rehabilitate families
within it's territory.
One of the most encouraging
features of Mr.. Hopkins plan Is
that the work projects are to be
of permanent benefit to the COM
munities effected.
We might contrast this policy
with the philosophy of Hooverism
and the public announcements Of
Landon and Knox that local COM
munities should take care of their
own needy.
Teachers throughout the estate
are complaining that school boards
in many counties are refusing to
renew contracts of teachers who
have joined unions within the last
year or are suspected of union &C
tivity Such action is particularly
un-American and in striking con-
trast to the cooperation existing be-
tween school boards and teachers
in the past.
The farmer got only SO cents ou
of the consumers meat dollar in
1884 as compared to So cents in
1926, according to an investigation
made by Farm Research, Inc.
There has been a general drop in
the farmers income along the line.
What holds true in the case of
meats is substantially true of veg
etables and other agricultural pro-
ducts.
The greatest loss sustained by
the farmer on meat products was
in the case of mutton and lamb. In
1884 the farmers got "a cents out
of each consumers dollar while in
1926 he received IS cents. This re-
presents a decline of nearly so per
cent.
The farmer is still on the tobog-
gan downward Notwithstanding
the efforts made by the Roosevelt
administration to bolster up the ag-
ricultural industry.
Among the speakers addressing
the national convention af the
Farmers Holiday Association was
Attorney General Harry II. Peter
son. Mr.. Peterson in brief adj
dress, summed up some of the out
standing legislative achievements
of the Farmer-Labor party, parti-
cularly the mortgage moratorium
and tax legislation. He vigorously
attacked the United State Supreme
court for its hostility toward farm
relief measures, and discrimination
in favor of big business.
'It would not be proper for a re-
lief board to adopt sweeping reg
ulation declaring that every veter-
an who receives payment from his
adjusted service certificate should
be stricken from the relief roles"
This was the ruling made the
past week by Attorney General
Harry H. Peterson relative to tina
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