Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1938-09-15
State Capitol News
BY A. I. HARRIS

John j. Kinzer, Stearns county
farmer and Farmer-Labor candidate
for acknowledgement, has thanked
leaders of the Minnesota All move.
ment for their quick squelching Of ar
attempt of workers for Harold E
Stassen, Republican candidate fol
Governor, to involve the clubs in q
political maneuver for his own bene-
fit.
Upon receipt of a protest from Kin
ger, who helped organize the Stearns
county Farm Bureau in order to gel
county agent and All work, Exten-
sion Director P. E. Miller of the Uni
versity of Minnesota wrote all ex-
tension agents advising them to have
absolutely nothing to do with any
movement that has political impli-
cations, as it would only result ir
harm and detriment to the All pro-
gram.
State Senator George H. Lommer
of Eveleth, back from a seven weeks
study tour of Norway, Sweden, Den
mark and Finland, conducted at the
personal request of Governor Ben
son, stated that economic depressions
have been averted in these NordiC
countries through liberal governments
which are in the control of the Labor
and Farm parties.
Other factors according to Senator
Lommen that contributed to social
and economic progress have been ex-
tensive educational campaigns, the re-
markable growth of both producers
and consumers cooperatives and the
rapid extension of the trade union
movement.
1T is significant" he said, ''that the
combination of Labor and Farm po-
litical groups in the Scandinavian
countries has done much to keep the
countries out of economic chaos
while here in Minnesota the Farmer
Labor party, with a like working
agreement, has accomplished much to
make Minnesota the bright business
spot of the nation"
Senator Lommen while in Norway
visited Governor Benson's ancestral
home in Dalen, Telemark, and also
the home of his own forebears in
the province of ValdriS.
With a letter of introduction from
Governor Benson to the rulers of the
four countries, Senator Lommen met
and discussed with ranking officials
taI i,,a ,>0ccil>1n
to get him information he desired.
He also talked with persons in every
walk of life to get real croSS-Sec-
ton view of economic and social con-
ditions.
There are no extremes in wealth
or poverty" Senator Lommen said,
sin any of the four countries, with
an equitable system of distribution of
the revenue derived from all produc-
ton. The workers get just share
of what they produce and labor trou-
bles as consequence are rare. Farm
ers enjoy high standard of living"
Governor Benson conferred with
the President last week about the
serious farm situation due to low
prices, and upon his return to St.
Paul by plane was greeted with the
announcement that the AAA had de-
sided to pay a subsidy of 80 cents
a barrel on exported flour in order
to relieve the wheat market
The Minnesota Governor has been
pressing for subsidized wheat export
for two months, since it is the only
crop which we produce above our
needs. For relieving the other mar
kets he has advocated outright pur-
chases for distribution to those who
are in need
Benson arrived in st. Paul in good
spirits following his airplane trip,
despite the fact that his plane en-
countered storm on the way back
and was almost forced down in Wis
consin. He had good visit with the
President at his Hyde Park home,
where the nations chief executive had
invited him to talk over the farm
problem, and expressed confidence
that the President would take effec-
tive farm steps.
Gratifying to the Governor, too, was
the backing labor was giving to the
effort to raise farm prices. A few
minutes before leaving for the East,
he heard William Wright, represen-
tative of the American Federation of
Labor in the state, pledge the support
of his organization to higher farm
prices on the assumption that unless
agriculture is prosperous, working
men cannot hope for fair wages and