The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1938-05-12
ONE PHASE OF ALL THE CURRENT

taxpayer agitation which is quite noticeable
is the change of target; where such associa-
lions were lambasting local officials with
some punches below the belt) few years
ago, today state and federal spending is the
principal topic of meetings, particularly as
related to those functions of government
once entirely under local control which now
by statute or because they hold the purse,
are under the thumb of some far away board
or director.
While the county board is still an ex-
ceedingly important group and great care
should be taken in choosing it's members, it
no longer has county matters within its
jurisdiction so completely as it did few
years ago. One thinks of relief first because
the states interference with it's administra-
ton has been so thoroughly publicised, but
it is only one field in which the board finds
it's wings plucked-the say-so taken out of
it's hands.
Surely here is basis for taxpayers asso-
citation activity. At least it should be posi-
BILE to stem the trend, preserve enough of
the power of local boards, of which the
county board is only one, so that they do
not become mere fgureheads, someone to
pass the buck to and sign the checks.
ONE OF THE JOKES CONGRESS
might do something about is the postoffice
regulation on lotteries which is so rigidly
enforced in some offices that papers dare
not mention the winner of the quilt rattle at
the Ladies Aid and so fagrantly violated in
others that screaming headlines announce
public drawings.
And the weekly press is only minor
violator. Many metropolitan papers pub
hsh in detail the, news of race tracks and
the "betting Odds which certainly should
come in the lottery class. The winner of an
Irish sweepstakes fortune was the subject
of numerous stories in Twin Cities papers
not long ago. Tickets to such events are
"bootlegged" in this country in violation of
federal statutes
Outside the postoffce field in the dis
semlnatlon of lottery advertising, yet de-
pendent upon the postal service for delivery
OF replies, is the radio lottery business, in
direct competition to more or less regulat-
ed newspaper lottery advertising, yet there
seems to be little government concern about
this field
DRAMATIC PROOF OF THE AVER
age Americans determination to achieve
security through thrift and self reliance,
and of his faith in American institutions
and democracy is the fact that last year
citizens of this country invested in Is bill
lion dollars worth of life insurance. 1t is
eoClIldIeu IudC dC Cne emu OF 1851, 64 MIL
lion Americans owned ITO billion dollars
worth of life insurance.
This last figure dwarfs even the nation
al debt While benevolent government
borrowed to support the needy, the insur-
ance companies paid 10 billions to Ameri-
cans in depression without mourning obliga-
tons to be met by future generations. Tru-
ly insurance is the financial backbone of
the nation, wise investment for those who
would achieve security.
TUESDAYS DAILIES CARRIED THE
alarming news that war draft lottery sys-
tenn has been worked out by army officials
to draw large groups of civilians into the
standing army upon the declaration of war
without the delay of high-powered enlist
ment campaign.
Such news naturally stirs discussion as
to how near the next war is, who the enemy
will be and whether the army and navy are
preparing so the nation may play the role
of world policeman.
In this day of enlarged war budgets, the
government would do we'll to advise the pub
lie whether the preparations are strictly for
defense or so that we may take more i'm
portant place in international politics, which
almost certainly would involve us in any
foreign struggle.