The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1937-03-18

right to prohibit the sale of skim
milk paint to protect the flax
growers? And SO we find numer-
Gus other products that are in
competition with each other, but
since they are all American pro-
ducts, can we prohibit one and
favor another? That is the i'm
portant question that we must de-
eide on this oleomargarine legis-
lation. Such prohibitive laws
would benefit no one, but would
harm the general public.
'There is, however, competition
that the dairy farmer has which
should be stopped, and that is the
competition from foreign coun-
tries in the importation of butter
and other fat products. These i'm
ports have increased since the pre-
sent administration made its trade
agreements with various nations"
The consumer now holds the
pole position as the forgotten
man." Heretofore 1 have alluded
briefly to the fair trade practices
act, which is now before the SEN
ate committee on general legisla-
ton. The bill, in its original
form, was vicious in the extreme.
1 well realize that the merchant
must be protected against unfair
competition, but the proposed leg
islaion would place him in the
gilded seat to the disadvantage of
the consumer. Everyone wants
: to see the merchant fair we'll. The
Lord knows his path has not been
strewed with roses, but those
who buy must likewise be pro-
tected. l prophecy that the bill
will come out in such form that
it will be fair to all, and after all
that is sensible.
The Farm Bureau has been the
real agency that has fought for
the best interests of the farmer
for these many years. Unwilling
to be controlled by politicians,
forces are at work to enact leg
islation that will bring the bureau
under the control of politicians.
To keep fences up and in good
repair the Farmer-Labor party
must have lot of good jobs to
give out. The agricultural extern
sion service and the All club
department embrace some good
jobs, not particularly well paid
when qualifications are weighed,
but good jobs nevertheless. Gov
ernor Benson would like nightly
to control the patronage on these
positions, by giving hire and fire
authority to the state commits
sioner of agriculture. So house file
1917 was drawn, the Farmer
Labor steam roller was started
and SO representatives went on
the bill following the most inten-
sive lobbyist campaign in years.
There's a new element around
the state capitol these days,
known for want of better name
as ''Elmer's stooges." Some of
them, such as John Bosch, and
other agricultural department UNI
derlingS, are on the state payroll.
Others represent organizations
that have always been opposed to
All club and extension work.
They're working harder than any
of them ever worked before, try
ing to crowd the bill through be-
fore the farmers of the state wake
up to what is going on.
The Farm Bureau, which has
always supported the extension
department literally, through
cash contributions and the volun-
teered services of the membership
is naturally opposed to the bill
and the thousands of members
throughout the state are making
it quite embarrassing for the
house members who hope to
please both the administration
and the farmers of the state. Min
nesota farmers seem to be waking
up, abruptly, to the fact that it
just can't be done. Elmer's stoog-
eS saw their last argument In
favor of the bill blasted away
when officers pointed out that the
Farm Bureau subsidy" the
stoogeS have been prattling so
much about does not exist-that
the Farm Bureau has never
sought or received one penny of
public funds-that the Farm
Bureau has augmented appro-
priations for extension work by
donations of hundreds of thouS-
ands of dollars to help with office
expense, mileage bills, All lead
ers salaries and the like.
This is the first time the Farm
er-Labor administration has felt
itself strong enough to come out
in open opposition to the organ
lied farmer of Minnesota. The
administration may get lesson
that will make this the last.