The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1937-10-07

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GOVERNOR BENSON'S COMMENTS
at the opening session of his farm problem
conference Monday are extremely interest,"
ing, particularly since they must be taken
to represent the Farmer-Labor party's view
of the situation.
In disagreeing with the Democratic
partys crop curtailment plan, while at the
same time protesting considerable friend
ship for the president and his objectives, the
governor is following the lead of his late
friend and benefactor, Governor Olson.
"The problem that faces the farmer is
seeing that what he produces is distribute
ed" the governor declared. Rather than
curtail production, he sees the solution as
market control with price fixing: 40 not
see how anyone can object to price fixing on
the grounds of fairness. Manufacturers have
not hesitated to use tariffs for price fixing
.. :" the governor argues.
Carefully analysed, the better distri-
button theory of farm salvation leads to the
idea of better wages for the working man
and his use of more farm products through
greater purchasing power While the idea
may be sound, it is indirect and II pursued
to logical conclusion, higher wages involve
higher prices for things the farmer must
buy and perhaps no bigger net for the farm
er than he now receives.
In invoking again the argument that
manufacturers fix prices, therefore it can
soundly be done for the farmer, the COVER
nor ignores the fact that manufacturers also
keep a more firm hand on production than
any the government can hope to hold over
farm production, affected as it is by uncon-
trollable factors such as the weather. 1t is
this influence, so clearly demonstrated IN
the drouth era, which causes many former
AAA enthusiasts to wonder if the govern
of Ton tinr 10 irnn
efforts to regulate farm output. This is re-
sponsible for the shift to the ever normal
granary plan through which advocates hope
to avoid glutted markets by storing up sur
pluses, to be saved for lean years.
scarcity programs will shut the door
against further development of national well
being and succeed in freezing the farmer in
his present condition L. L think we have
duty to ourselves and our posterlty to work
toward abundance and not scarcity This
is pure poppycock. No program being con-
sidered is of such long standing or can pro-
duce such definite results.
To avoid farm tenancy the governor re-
commends 1.-The right kind OF loans and taV-
orable re-financing terms" as well as tax
exemption and tax graduation" The latter
is as close as the governor ever comes to tax
reduction as a party objective. His declara-
ton for rural electrifcation is warranted ex-
c6pC CQdC Wuou lie CdlhS VI HlchluS CACSClA-
city available to "all farms" any REA di-
rector will agree he speaks of the impossible.
Again he speaks in popular vein in men
tioning producer and consumer cO-opera-
tives, although state aid to co-operatives
which he suggests, involves their par
ticipation in politics which wise co-opera-
tives have avoided and sound co-operatives
have found unnecessary.
In stating '"the present federal farm
tenancy act provides for soil conservation
but funds are entirely inadequate he might
well have added that no one denies this con-
tention but it was deemed wise to start on
a small scale to determine what can be &C
complished before involving the government
in another extremely expensive project.
1t is not our purpose to belittle the gov
errors conference. Naturally political in
nature, it's results may still prove of value
Certain it is that consideration of the prob
lens facing agriculture is important and
that more conferences on the subject may
well be held. Nor is it our wish to pick holes
in the governors program with the idea that
it's weaknesses warrant that it be scrapped.
Rather we would call attention to the fact,
now generally recognized, that the theories
of Wallace, other brain trusters, the farm
organization heads, the governors of farm
states and all others in position to guide
farm programs should be subjected to the
closest scrutiny to avoid costly mistakes.
WITHOUT BELITTLING THRILL
day, it is safe to say that the biggest thrill
the fair board members got out of it was
the size of the crowd. They get very little
pay for the work they do and none for the
kicking around they take. Some day this
community will awaken to the fact that
while they make mistakes, they are running
the best show they can with the support
and cooperation they get and are striving
to improve it in every way possible. We hope
the awakening doesn't come too late.
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S TOUR
of the west where he was cheered by great
crowds everywhere was marred by only one
thing, his own obvious snubbing of numer-
GUS men with whom he has differed on poll
cies in recent months. Much smaller men
have shown broader tolerance of the opin-
ions of other men, particularly their friends.
A VISITOR BACK FROM NORWAY
SAYS American cigarets over there cost SO
cenfa q nackape He hadn't heard of any