The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1938-01-27
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Edited This Week BY
VICTOR A. JOHNSTON

VICTOR A. JOHNSTON
Another special session of the legis-
lature appears to be almost a certainty
and Farmer Labor spokesman are al
ready apparently paving the way for the
calling of this session when Governor
Benson returns from his months va
cation in Southern California.
Opinion is mixed as to just how this
session will affect the political fortunes
of the state administration. The prim-
airy, and probably the only purpose of
calling this session is to meet the de-
mands of relief clients which have
shown a Jump of nearly five thousand
in November and December of 1887 over
the same months of 1886. Figures COM
piled by the State Relief Administration
of direct relief expenditures during the
final six months of 1887 exceeded those
for the same period in 1886 by more
than 100000.
The total case load for December
1887 was 41,000 as compared to 5000
in December, 1886. Inasmuch as the
peak of the preceding fiscal year was
reached in February 1897, when 1886
cases were on direct relief, officials
foresee possible peak of at least $4,000
in February this year.
Now state relief of this nature is
confined almost exclusively to urban
communities with three-fourths of the
total amount going to Hennepin, Ram
sey and St. Louis Counties. Rural
districts and rural legislators have not
in the past felt any too kindly toward
increasing relief cost. This was wit
messed in the last special session where
the fight on the relief bill was almost
entirely city-country fight, with party
lines being broken. The anticipated
special session of the legislature, when
and if it does meet, is likely to be very
spirited one.
Indications that increased relief pro-
grams will be pushed were seen this
week in a statement attributed to
George Blake, of Detroit Lakes, state
vice president of the Workers Ali
ance, relief client organization. When
Blake was asked where the money could
be obtained to meet his demands, he
retorted, 1--WE don't care about that"
The "fair and proper" standard for
relief clients, according to Mr.. Blake, is
as follows:
Allowance of $3.50 a month for
groceries for a family of six with an
additional allowance for milk and
cream.
A modern house at $4,000 month.
A total of $4,000 for winter fuel with
provisions for repairs and purchase of
equipment when required.
Provisions for replacement of house
hold equipment.
Funds for keeping up time payments
on furniture or other household neces-
sites where families have entered into
such contracts.
Clothing budgets of $4,000 a year for
adults and $500 for children, w. P. A.
clothing not to count on this budget.
Carfare, union dues and school sup
plies should be paid out of $4,000
monthly allowance for each adult and
$500 for each child under sixteen.
All medical and dental attention
necessary, with the relief client to have
his choice Of doctor and dentist
Adequate burial grants.
Increase in number in the stats of
relief offices so that clients will not have
to wait long for interviews.
All welfare board meetings to be
public.
No deduction from monthly allow
ances because of incidental earnings Of
clients.
Refusal by a relief client to do such
work as shoveling snow or labor on
streets and highways should not i'm
pair the clients right to aid.
Blake appeared before the Polk
County Board at Crookston with these
demands and when he was Informed
that many Polk county farmers live
on much smaller budgets, Blake re-
piled that that was no concern of his
Mr.. Blake was accompanied to the
meeting by Is Workers Alliance men,
bers and CLIO organizer.
Peterson-Bens0n Feud Flares Again
The Hjalmer Peterson Elmer Benson
feud flared out with new violence this
week when the Farmer Labor state
committee passed resolution censuring
Peterson and charging him with CO.
operating with our enemies"
The committee declared Peterson as
seeking personal vindication at the ex-
penSe of the Farmer Labor movement
and that he "lacks both constructiveness
and decent regard for his group re-
sponsibilitieS.
Peterson has already announced that
he will take to the air on January It'll