The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1937-11-25
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1T HAPPENED AT THE
CAPITOL


1T HAPPENED AT THE
CAPITOL
Edited This Week by Victor A.
J0hns0n)
The spotlight of public attention
in state administration affairs
swung to Northern Minnesota this
week where Governor Benson is at
tempting to settle a feud between
farmers of that area and the Tim
Der Workers Union.
This feud is of long standing, dat
ing back to last Winter, but the
present flareup, according to re-
ports, came about when striking
lumber workers at the Cloquet
Mills blocked the public highway
during the past month to farmers
seeking to deliver pulp wood to the
mills. Pitched battles ensued with
the pickets using rocks and stones
as ammunition against the farmers.
This was a serious matter to
hundreds of small farmers in that
territory who get a substantial part
of their cash income from the sale
Of timber they cut on their own
land. The farmers appealed to Gov
ernor Benson but according to their
story the Governor wasn't interest
ed in their plight. Finally, how
ever, last week, the farmers decided
to bring the whole matter to pub
lie attention by doing some road
blocking themselves and they tied
up all traffic for several hours on
Highway 81 by leaving their parked
trucks on the road.
This action Of the farmers STIR
red the Capitol with Roger Rut-
chick, Secretary to the Governor,
Immediately getting in touch by
telephone with Mr.. Benson, who
was at a Northern retreat near Lut-
zen, and the highway patrol being
ordered to escort the farmers truck
to Cloquet.
Farm Leader Explains Situation
One view Of the situation which
prevails in Northern Minnesota was
presented in a recent radio address
by Frank T. Ronkainen, of Kettle
River, President Of the Associated
Farmers Of Minnesota.
In this radio talk, Mr.. Ronkainen
said the organization which he
heads was formed last winter dur
ing the first strike of the Timber
| Workers Union when similar sit
uation to the present one prevailed,
and that the organization was form
ed to protect Northern Minneso-
Ia farmers who depend on timber
products for part Of their Living.
"The farmers" said Mr.. Ron
kainen, appealed to Governor Ben
son for protection. Did he give
them any help? He did not. The
Governor let the strikers have an
open season on the farmers. A
gang Of strikers would chase poor
farmer off the roads like pack of
dogs would chase rabbit"
THE Governor never raised a
hand. Instead he telegraphed these
Communists and IWW's a promise
of support.
THE International Lumber Com
pany at International Falls, for
/ many years has been hiring farm
ers in it's logging operations. This
Spring the Timber Workers Union
forced the company to fire every
farmer in its camps.
1T may interest you to know
that these timber workers, possibly
in gratitude to Governor Benson
for permitting them to beat up the
farmers, are helping to build fine
cabin for Governor Benson on the
North Shore of Lake Superior.
These timber workers are on
strike again. Northern Minnesota Is
alive with outside racketeers and
agitators, who are making threats
/ of violence. The union has been Of
fered a scale of wages, commenc-
ing at the bottom, Of $4,000 q month
for common labor, and running uI
as high as $165.00 a month for q
cook in large camp. The men
however, refuse to work.
1.-THE official paper Of the Timber
/ Workers Union for October is, 1881
contains the following statement
Committees from the union have
gone before the Minnesota State
Relief Administration and ar.
rangements have been made to reg
lister the woodsmen for relief. Re
! lief has been issued to some of the
jacks. Others have been put on out
of town relief projects and should
the lockout continue, transfer,
camps will be opened for the
men,
i These men," Mr.. Ronkainer
said, "can get work at once on 9
basis of 5000 a month up, but
they refuse to work. Why should
they? Governor Benson Is giving
them the taxpayers money FOL
their support"
i The Booing" Of the Governor
| Much talk is still being heard
about the "booing" of Governor
Benson at the football stadium pre-
ceding the Observation-Disclosures
game. Most thinking people. irrss
pective Of their personal feelings
toward the Governor, agree tina
the dignity of his office 8 entities
to respect and that the 'tbooing" In
cident was disgraceful. These PEG
pie are also equally agreed. how
ever, that the comment on the Incl
dent by Abe I. Harris, Administra
ton spokesman, in the Minnesota
, Leader, Is also uncalled for and pa
tently an attempt to stir class hat