Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-09-09
State Capitol News
BY A. I. HARRIS

The conference of farm leaders
which Governor Benson has directed
Charles Ommodt, Commissioner of
Agriculture, to call for the purpose
of formulating farm program look
ing to the solution of the problems
of agriculture could not come at a
more propitious time.
The daily press and all the forces
of reaction which are opposed to such
remedies for farm ills as guarantees
of cost of production are now max
ing a great ado about the So-called
prosperity of the farming population.
Some of the papers are actually say
ing that the farmer is ''in the money"
because the gross value of Mime
sota's farm crop this year is esti-
mated at some $3.50, 100000. Divided
equally among the states 100000
farm families, it is less than SIS a
day for each family. Out of this
must 60 fixed charges such as taxes,
insurance, labor costs, debt retire
ment, wear and tear of machinery
and other expenses.
When all this sensational talk of
farm prosperity is simmered down, it
means an income of less than 81 per
day for each adult member of the
farm family who tolls on the land
an income less than the wages of
factory girl, who is underpaid.
These stories of alleged farm pros
perity appearing in the daily press
were, to an extent at least, response
BILE for the unwillingness of Con-
gress to do anything towards the
solution of agricultural problems,
particularly legislation which will
give some security to those who pro-
duce the nations foodstuffs. One
eastern newspaper, which the Gov
ernor quoted in his letter to Commits
sioner Ommodt, said: THE farmer
is better off today than he has been
at any time since the World war.
Why, then, must the federal govern
ment continue to plan new and more
elaborate schemes for extending re-
lief to the farmers? Why must WASH
ington continue to pay heavy sub
sides to these people"
The sensational and exaggerated
stories of farm prosperity appearing
in the daily press (the Minnesota
daily press is full of them), the Gov
ernor points out, serve but one ma
jor purpose: namely, to lull people
into indifference about the actual
farm problems; to prejudice the nom
farming population against the ap-
peal of farmers for federal and state
assistance; to kill off public senti-
ment, especially in the cities, for ade-
quate farm legislation"
The Governor outlined four main
features which the farm conference
should cover in its program: Cd help
keep the economic gains from this
years improved crop; (2) aid to farm
erS who are victims of flood or drouth;
CD protection against fall in prices;
and (4) provide opportunities for ten
ant farmers.
AS the Governor points out, the
Minnesota conference could ultimately
be increased to include the Mid-wes-
tern agricultural states, to develop
a common program and present
solid front at the next session of Con-
gress''
1t may be recorded as a certainty
at this time that Congress at its next
session will again overlook the needs
of the farmer unless the farmer pre-
sents show of force through united
front
The advice given the village of
Hopkins by Attorney General Erwin
last week was probably not music to
the ears of the utilities. He advised
Hopkins that the question of issuing
a 2O-year franchise to the Northern
States Power Co. should be SUBJ
mitted to vote of the people.
mo municipality" he stated,
should bargain away its rights for
long terms, because the present ten
dency points to lower electric light
and power rates, which might not be
available in the immediate future
under the terms of the long franchise"
A severe stomach ache, if nothing
worse, was spared hundreds of peo-
pie last week when the state depart
ment of agriculture confscated $4,000
cans of LaChoy bean sprouts distri-
buted by the LaChoy Food Products
Co. of Detroit.
The cans were packed in manner
which caused them RI SweJI Opop