The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1938-01-06
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Edited by Victor A. Johnson)
The threat Of another special
session of the legislature came up
again this week when Governor
Benson stated, 1T looks like it
might be necessary" to have a spec
ial legislative session for appropri-
alton of additional relief money.
This session, if it comes, will prob
ably be shortly after the first Of
February when the governor re-
turns from a thirty day vacation
trip in California.
Just how another special ses-
sion of the legislature will be re.
ceived in the rural sections remains
to be seen, but many observers feel
that people in these districts are
strongly opposed to the additional
expense of a special session, not
only because of the actual cost of
the session itself, but because it is
unheard of for legislature to meet
without appropriating more tax
money for one thing or another. In
the present case, of course, the
demands" which the governor says
are being made on him for the spec
ial session are almost entirely
prompted by relief and relief is far
from being a popular subject in
rural communities.
RELIEF FIGURES
The states direct relief problem
is becoming almost entirely concen-
trated in the three large counties:
Ramsey, Hennepin, and st. Louis.
to the figures Of the
State Relief Administration. these
three counties had 21,433 of the to-
tai 28,398 direct relief cases, and
these counties received $653,6 as
compared to $141,491 for the rest of
the state, about three fourths Of the
total. 1t should also be remember
Rochester, Winona, Fergus Falls
and Mankato get the bulk of the
$141,491. Thus it appears
that the rural sections get very
little of the direct relief money and
it is doubtful if they will look with
favor to increasing the tax load in
order to take care of relief prob
lens in the cities.
The need for careful considera-
ton Of the states financial situation
is brought clearly to the front on
the finance and tax survey Of Har-
ry Fiterman. Farmer Labor leaders
claim this report is favorable to
them, but this question Is much de-
bated by their critics. One para
graph of the conclusions in the re-
port, however, points warning to
the people of Minnesota when 1t
says:
"The people of Minnesota should
realize that the economic develop
ment of the state has now reached
a point of stagnation and that no
further expansion Of growth is pos
sible unless every effort Is made to
(a) reduce freight rates, CD stab
lilize taxes, and (c) minimize labor
Responsible leadership
in government, industry and labor
can achieve a great deal by agree
ing to a program to cooperate in
all three directions"
A. F. of l.. ORGAN SCORES
ADMINISTRATION
Indications that labor is far from
with itself was seen in
last weeks issue of the Minnesota
Union Advocate, official organ of
the St. Paul Trades and Labor
It was charged that Joe
Van Nordstrand, recently elected
head Of the Minnesota CLIO. Is a
former communist organizer whose
name at one time was Joe Nor
land" was a district organizer
ivan Nordstrand" or Joe Nor
land" and was a district organizer
Of the communist party in Duluth
and the Range country for a mum.
Der Of years and that he was
"notoriousy" known as a com.
The Advocate article also scored
Farmer Labor Administration lead
ers who have been riding the fence
on the ALL. CLIO. controversy
and in some cases have been openly
friendly to the CLIO. This friend
illness to the CLIO. has been plainly
shown by Governor Benson who
appeared on the same platform
with Harry Bridges. CLIO. organ
izer. on the West Coast recently
and was intensified when Governor
Benson delivered the principal ad-
dress at the State Convention of
CLIO. in Minneapolis this Fall.
A threat that the Governor must
soon show which horse he Is riding
is seen in the following quotation
from the Advocate article:
ut is known that the Minnesota
State Federation Of Labor which
endorsed the entire State and Con-
gressional tickets of the Farmer
Labor Party in 1886 is not disposed
10 remain sympathetic toward
political party which for political
expediency prefers to remain neu-
trail in the A. F. Lie. I. o. contro-
Versy or covertly offers refuge to
those who are waging gorilla war
fare on A. F L. Unions throughout
the state"