Askov American., 1937-05-13
THE NATIONAL
GOVERNMENT
BY PAUL JOHN KVALE, nj. c.

An abbreviated news letter this
week will be occaSiOned by the fact
that there is little noteworthy news
arising out of Washington that has
not already been amply covered in
the regular press services. With the
Senate in session but two short after
moons, and the House four Zone of
them eight minutes in duration)
that can be understood.
True, the House on Wednesday did
manage, by squirt, to pass the bill
designed to build up farm forests,
conserve the water supply, and other
wise aid agriculture. In their sud-
den haste, a number of members who
thought the final vote was to be held
over a day were caught unaware,
and accordingly were marked as not
voting. The writer Shamefacedly ad-
mitS he was one of them. 1t is the
rule, however, that in lulls in de-
bate and pending final vote on
any measure, many members absent
themselves from the floor to visit de-
partments and administrative offices
and conduct the errands which are
also part of this work.
The bill was passed and is now
before the Senate. 1t seeks coopera-
ton of the land grant colleges, of
which our state university is one,
in replanting or newly planting farm
forests and shrubs over long range
of time, and requires the beneficiary
to donate the land without cost to
the government. Of course the econ
omy argument was invoked, but it
did not stop the successful emer-
gence of the measure
Until the ghastly disaster at Lake
hurst that destroyed the airship Hin
denburg just at the moment of ar
rival, local papers have carried much
front page news regarding the revel-
ations that have been coming out of
Senator LaFollette'S special commit
tee which has been investigating la
Dor disputes, most recently directing
its activities toward conditions in
the notorious Harlan county, Ken
lucky, coal mining area.
While the evidence has been so
voluminous and so conflicting in its
nature, with some witnesses facing
probable perjury charges, it can be
stated with complete safety that the
operators of the coal mines, working
together, have established a reign
of terror and corruption that seems
unbelievable in this free country.
Everything from wholesale fraud to
open murder has been demonstrated,
with prosecutions invoked only when
they proved farce. Miners have
been a rough lot, of course, but their
efforts to organize and secure the
simplest of their constitutional and
industrial rights have been ruthlessly
trampled under foot. When there
has been a better opportunity to di-
gest the evidence and scan the hear
ings when they are printed, the writ
er may devote an entire letter to this
hair-raising story. 1t is eloquent
warning of what can happen if a
powerful group of industrial employ
ers get their grasp on the law en-
forcement agencies of any section.
The week has been frightened for
Minnesotans by the visit to Wash
ington of the Robert Page Lincoln
family. AS the majority of readers
know, this noted writer and conser-
vationist and sportsman writes daily
for one of the larger Minneapolis
papers, in addition to doing consider
able other literary work.
Just now he is rounding out tour
which has taken himself, together
with his wife and daughter, deep
into the south and east of the coun-
try, in research regarding the best
methods to conserve wild life and
natural resources in addition to per-
mitting reasonable amount of out
door recreation for both kiddies and
adults. AS yet he is rather cautious
in his comments and conclusions, but
his articles and his final decisions
may be looked forward to with keen
anticipation.
Living in their trailer home, they
are interested more in study and in
conferences with government eXecu-
tives and legislators than they are in
seeing the sights of the city. And
it goes without saying that the latter
is a temptation at this time of the
year, for with the entire city and
countryside mass of blooms and
fragrance and soft green, the place
is almost worthy the name of para
disc. A little later, when the heat
and humidity arrives, and shrivels
plans as well as humans, it may be
called by another very short but very
descriptive name.
And speaking of the weather, read
ers may have noted the proposal of
Senator Norris that Congress plan
re in cr,oL focbioy, fLof II,