The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1938-10-20
Observations
from Washington
A New Suggestion
BY Congressman Knuttson

A New Suggestion
Secretary Wallace has come for
ward with a proposal that surplus
agricultural products be sold to
low.income persons at bargain
prices" or for their purchase by
the government to be distributed
free to the needy. Mr.. Wallace's
proposal is worthy of earnest con-
sideration because If we are to
take a loss in the distribution of
such SURPRISES it is much better
that the needy Of our own coun-
try be made the beneficiaries
rather than foreigners who would
buy them at bargain prices.
However, in working out such a
plan great care must be exercised
to prevent chiselers from benefit
ing; otherwise the local price
structure of agricultural products
would be further demoralized by
being compelled to meet the arti-
ficially fixed low levels, VIII h
would naturally follow the opera
ton of Mr.. Wallace's plan.
More Misrepresentation
My readers will recall that in
troduced a bill last winter which
proposed to levy an excise tax on
imported eggs and egg products
most Of which come from the
Orient. This measure has the
hearty approval of American
poultrymen but it seems that some
individuals have taken it upon
themselves to spread the report
that the proposed tax would also be
levied against domestically pro-
duced eggs. OF course, one can
expect most anything in compaign
times but in order to- clear the re-
cord I would suggest that anyone
Interested in seeing the bill that I
introduced in behalf of the Ameri-
can poultry industry, may secure
a copy by writing the Document
Room, House of Representatives,
Washington d. c. and requesting
a copy of HR 10635.
Anyone in doubt as to the need
for further protection for the
American poultry industry should
write to the House Ways and
Means Committee at Washington
for a printed copy of the hearings
held before q Committee to
consider this and similar legisla-
ton. At this time it may be per-
tinent to call attention to the fact
that the poultry industry ranks
next to dairying in dollars and
cents in the entire country and we
should de everything possible to
foster and protect it. Last winter
when importations of eggs and egg
products from the Orient were
quite heavy the price of eggs on
the local markets IN Minnesota
dropped to II and IA cents per
dozen which was considerably be-
low cost of production.
Another gross Misrepresentation
was made by man named Soltis
at meeting Of the Workers AL
liance at Little Falls last Friday
evening. Mr.. Soltis, who Is said to
be an organizer for the Alliance,
told his audience that / spend most
of my time in the West Indies
where I own thousands Of acres Of
land and hundreds Of slaves. The
statement Is too absurd to war
rant an answer.
This man Soltis was the Commun-
list candidate for alderman in Mimi
eapolis back in 1881 ad managed
the campaign for brother Com
munist candidate for alderman In
1887. I am told that he is an en-
ployee of the State Highway De-
partment at a salary Of $3.50 per
month, plus expenses. The question
that arises I'M my mind Is this
is Mr.. Soltis drawing $3.50 per
month and expenses out OF the
State Highway Department fund
for the purpose Of going about
and spreading falsehoods in order
to assist the candidates Of his party
in the present campaign?
Two Departments Fight
Evidently all Is not harmonious
between the State Department and
the Department Of Agricultural in
regard to the Administrators
foreign trade policy and the Wal
idCc WucdI SuOoioy PAo6Ao AA' OAAS
day last week Assistant Secretary
of State Francis B. Sayre leashed
out at Mr.. Wallace's domestic
wheat subsidy program during a
lengthy defense Of his reciprocal
trade program and stated that the
foreign trade program is the only
logical means of bringing about
permanent peace in the world
through a lowering of tariff bar
riers.
1t looks to me as though Secre-
tary Wallace Is on sounder ground
than Is Mr.. Sayre because there
can be no such thing as free and
unrestricted trade between nations
so long as there Is such a great