Only Your Mother Knows for Sure?

Hello Folks! — A man can no more talk about something he doesn't know than he can come back from somewhere he hasn't been.

—o—

Seems that we will just have to relearn that civil responsibility comes before civil rights.

—o—

I walked into the court house in Mellette County South Dakota and was re-aquainted with my former classmate Alvan Laird, Clerk of Court. After a few greetings, I told him I had come for a birth certificate. Figured I might need it someday and wanted it handy.

I told him it was May 5, 1916. He went into the vault, got out a huge but ancient book and proceeded to look up the vital information.

There was my sister Margaret and Evelyn, a year older than me; my brother Clarence whose name they had not gotten until a couple years ago when had had been ther to get his certificate. Evelyns name was just E. Edna, so I got that filed properly. But my name couldn't be found. Guess, I was just never born. Perhaps they were ashamed of me and just never got it recorded; or were they so overjoyed that they forgot it?

Maybe they just found me out of the prairie and I was never born. Anyway I must not be one of the plus two million population. I think I will ask for my income tax payments to be refunded.

Allan carefully explained to me the procedure for getting a delayed birth certificate. It sounded quite easy. "Just get your folks to sign this affidavit. Have it notorized. Get a copy of your baptismal certificate, service record of some such information."

Beings my folks are still living it should have been easy. After all they were there when it happened. At least mother must have been there I have never heard of a time when the mother was absent from such an occasion.

In the excitement of getting it all done up they got their signature on it without the witness. We got that corrected O.K. then we found out that they had to sign it in their own given name. That meant another delay. Dad rummaged through some old papers and came up with an old but still beautiful baptismal certificate. I got a copy made and off they all went for the final act. So I thought.

Today I got a letter from Allan explaining that the baptismal certificate had not stated what day I was born. Therefore it could not be used. He gave me a list of things I could check on to verify the date. Apparently, South Dakota is real fussy about this.

I don't have a thing against South Dakota. I have always said it is a good state to come from. Even HHH came from there, which doesn't make us see eye-to-eye on everything. But when a state won't even take a mothers word for it, that is going a bit too far. Wonder if friend Humphrey could do anything about it?

Tomorrow I go to the bank vault, I will try to find some papers that say I was born when I think I was born. I will get a picture taken of it and off it will go to ye old court house in Rosebud territory. I might discover yet that I was legally and lawfully born when that say I was. In the mean time I will try to be patient. It just might be I will need it someday. In the mean time all you good folks better beat a path to the court house where your birth is recorded and see that all is well there.

Petersen's Use Family Bus

HELLO FOLKS! — The Hollywood idea of love can probably best described as, 'Lust at first sight'.

—o—

THE FINAL report concerning our vacation is in regards to our family bus. When we bought it, it was between that and a station wagon. We let the children decide and the vote was unanimously for the bus. I had reservations about it but though it would be interesting to have one for a while. I had asked several families who had one and the report was all in favor of the family bus.

Before starting on the trip we thought it would be tiresome to drive long distances. We were pleasantly surprised in that is seemed that it was even easier to drive the bus long distances than with a conventional car. That bus is not as resiliant as a car but what with the roads in the condition that are in today it is not a factor and they do ride easier.

In loading it for the trip we found that there was more room in it than we had anticipated. The suit cases all fit in behind the rear seats and on top of them was room for a comfortable bed. It was generally in use; and large enough for two small children. With the suitcases in the back there was plenty of room under the seats for the water jugs, picnic baskets, and incidentals.

We were 10 in the bus and found ourselves very comfortable. The children could move around, change positions and the smaller ones could stand up if they desired.

A nice thing about the bus is that we sit up two feet higher and thus can see the traffic coming and going.

After the first day we found that it was almost as much fun to lunch on the go as it was to picnic. The back of the motor cover became a table when we were eating and a seat always occupied otherwise.

The jump sear over the front of the motor cover was always occupied too, so with four in the front, one sleeping in the back there was often a seat vacant for lying down for someone else. It was easy for the children to play games as we traveled thus they did not get travel or get car weary. This was unusual to us considering that we traveled 1,900 miles three days going out.

In closing I urge you farmers who haven't had a good restful vacation for two years or more to get plans rolling for one. I know as well as anyone how hard it is to get away. There is always more to do than can be done.

However, a vacation has to be planned as much as anything else. Make plans and stick to them. The work will still be there when you get home.

We all have to get away and see things from a different perspective. I don't believe a vacation costs, it pays, at least if it is done right. It gives one a new lease on life. One gets new ideas that make up for the cost of the vacation.

Actually, a vacation does not have to cost a lot. Food we have to eat anyway and that would not have to be much more than what we eat at home. If you have a good auto, the extra cost is only part of the total per mile operating cost. You don't lose any work at home in the long run as one feels more like working after a good rest. Make it a full two - week vacation at least every two years.Pe

A Long Trip With Family

HELLO FOLKS! — It is vacation time again and that is just what we are doing at this writing.

A long distance telephone call from Grandma Barnes brought us to the realization that this was the year of their Golden Wedding anniversary and that they were expecting us all to be there.

Our family is so large that we hadn't expected to take another long trip together. However, this was to be no ordinary visit. After all, 50th wedding anniversaries don't come often.

We talked over a number of different plans and finally decided that the most practical plan was for us to pack all twelve into the station wagon, hook a trailer behind for all the luggage and take off. We would be crowded, but with proper planning and schooling the discomfort would be held to a minimum.

Haying delayed us a bit. We finished haying the afternoon of the 15th, then packed the luggage and took off.

We had decided to try traveling through the night. The children had tested out the idea of all sleeping in the car and felt that it would work. With Vera and I taking turns driving we got along pretty well.

The weather man cooperated perfectly and gave us the weather we wanted. We got to the Badlands at four a.m. The day was just beginning to break, Mark woke up and said, "It it getting daytime?" "Yes" said his mother, "Good, then I won't have to go to sleep again."

The trip was planned with the children in mind and especially for them. After all we don't expect to take such a trip again with most of the family.

They Enjoyed It

THEY ENJOYED the romp around the Badlands immensely. The sun was not yet up and I think that is the time of day when they are the most beautiful. The sun peeped over the horizon just as we left the place and the shadows of the car and trailer could be seen away over on the further slopes. The children got a real charge out of looking for them.

The drive through the Black hills was most memorable. The children had not been there before and by knowing what to expect we could prepare them for each exciting episode. The tunnels were the most exciting for the younger ones and the Cosmos was what the older ones enjoyed the most.

We picnicked along the way and for the benefit of those of you who are planning to take a trip and want to do a lot of eating out, remember that all along the way there are picnic grounds and that are really nice with many of them having water and modern facilities.

Roads are very good too, for the most part. A good share of the new roads are being built on new routes and do not interfere with the roads now used.

We spent several hours in Cody and went through the Yellow Stone Park. I'll tell you about it next week.

Turkey Relives Biblical Story

HELLO FOLKS! — It is tourist time again and our affluent American society will be contributing to other nations of the world, some of our wealth in the form of American dollars.

Turkey is one nation making a big play for these dollars. At first thought it might seem that Turkey has very little to offer the average tourist. However, I ran across an interesting article about one site that offers much of interest.

Near the city of Izmer lies the ruined and ancient city of Ephesus. This city at one time was a great center of civilization and culture. Today it lies in ruins. Inhabited only be a few hawkers eager to make a few dollars from few tourists who travel to this spot.

One of the suburbs of Ephesus which lies high on a hill near what once was the city, is a shrine maintained by the Roman Catholic Church.

According to the information given about this shrine it was the final home of Mary, the Mother of Jesus.

Tradition has it that when the Christians left Jerusalem John the disciple took Mary, and made a home for her at Ephesus. After her death the Christians maintained the place.

In the city of Ephesus lies ruins of two churches named after Mary and John. The oldest church is the church of Mary. It was built the year 351. Later about 400, to accommodate the growth of the Christian community, the church of John was built on the end of the older church. They were sometimes called the "double church".

They were destroyed about 500 AD by invaders. About 600 AD the church of John was rebuilt.

It is obvious from the pictures that these churches and especially the church of John were extremely well built. Some of the walls, floors and pillars still reman. Imbedded in the floors of the baptismal rooms are the fonts with steps leading down to them.

...

a whisper of its past glory.

Tradition has it that, except for the time he was banished to the isle of Patmos, John lived here and directed the affairs of the Church after the death of Peter. He lived to a tremendous age, that was the marvel of all who knew him. It is believed that he lived there until 105 AD.

An interesting sidelight to all this is: Why did Jesus have John take Mary? We know from scripture (Matt 13:55) that Mary had four other sons and at least two daughters. Did they not accept the divinity of Christ? Or were they not considered be Jesus to be worthy enough to care for his mother?

At any rate it seems that while Jerusalem is the birth place of Christianity; Epheus probably could be called it first permanent home.

Something Like Having No Hair

HELLOF FOLKS! — The manager of a small town telephone exchange told a middle-aged farmer? "With those two teenage daughters you have, we ought to double your telephone rate."

"On the contrary," the farmer replied, "you ought not charge me anything, since I never get to use the phone."

—o—

A DRAFTEE was awakened by his platoon sergeant after the rookie's first night in the barracks.

"It's four-thirty!" bellowed the sergeant.


"Four-thirty!" gasp the rookie. "Man, you had better go to bed. We got a big day tomorrow!"

—o—

THERE IS a lot of discussion these days about the so-called "right to work" law. It is in effect in 14 states and is up for voting in six others.

Labor officials in general are for it because it gives them a tailormaid way of collecting dues and leaves them free of the responsibility of maintaining membership by their own ingenuity.

Some have called it a "right to scab" law. By that they mean that some laborers will refuse to join just to get out of paying dues. This is true, we have in every element of our society people who do as little as possible to help out a good cause. This is only natural and is no more true in labor circles than anywhere else. For instance among famers in Freeborn county there are more than one-half of them that belong to neither of the two farm organizations.

Is this bad, however? I think not. It is the trademark of a free society. If the farmers do not feel that either farm organization is doing the job it should, they should most certainly have the right to do something about it. That is a God given right that should never be taken from them. It is the very thing that keeps the organizations on their toes and makes them either produce or die. It is the thing that keep them clean, for if the officials get corrupt the members soon find out about it and will refuse to support them. It is that very principle that makes our country great and prosperous. The people in public service have to stimulate themselves into action or get out.

The right to work then is as essential to the American way of life as the freedom of speech, press assemblies, worship, right to own property or any of the other great freedoms.

Because an organization does not have a majority of members in it does not mean that it cannot be heard or have it's influence felt to as great a degree. To the contrary; does it seem right that an organization that forces its members could necessarily sway public opinion? No. The very fact that the membership is based on forcing a worker to either pay up or starve has within itself the seeds of its own destruction. In the same way the all the tyrants of history have sown their destruction.

We need strong unions, not brittle ones, and the way for them to remain strong is for them to remain free and get their membership by virtue of their benefit to humanity.

I think that if we analyze the reason for the wholesale corruption in such organizations as the Teamsters Union it all goes back to the fact that rank and file members have to ante-up or lose their jobs, which means they starve.

Unions did not get their strength under compulsory membership. Figures prove that in the states with right to work laws the labor members have actually gotten higher increases in pay than in other states.

Because a man or woman refuses to pay into an organization it does not make them anymore of a scab than is the person who wants to have a soft touch by not having to work for his position. No organization ever gained respect by name calling and if you notice that when we point our fingers at someone else, there are three fingers on the hand points back at us. So let's be careful how we [use] our pointing

Force corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

I think the wise labor leader will recognize what is causing the terrible corruption in their union and welcome laws guaranteeing the right to work. There are many other things that need to be done to help labor get on the right path again; they will have to be discussed at some future time.

We All Need Good Politics

HELLO, FOLKS — Middle age is that time of life when the fellow Peck used to look more like a bushel.

—o—

ARE POLITICS really important? To that question many will answer yes, some will answer no, and too many of us just don't care one way or the other.

There are a lot of things about politics that are revolting. A good many people don't want anything to do with it because of the seeming inconsistencies, shallowness and sometimes sordidness of politics.

Despite these things; as they are to be deplored; politics are important, very important. When we stop to realize it, there would be no freedom of religion were there no politics, for it was politics, and good politics at that, which guaranteed it. Were it not for politics there would be no civil laws to create a favorable climate for religion, learning and the things that go along toward developing the inner man.

There are comparatively few who take an active part in politics; many too few. We should all help contribute to political parties, the party of our choice, for in so doing we help encourage better government.

Politics has gotten to be big business and is getting bigger, just as government, business and every thing else has gotten bigger. The trent to bigness has been forced on us whether we like it or not. It need not be a bad thing, and won't be if we all take a more active part.

Time was when we could s[it] back and with a comparatively small force tend to the business of the state and nation. While government has grown out of necessary proportion in many ways the fact remains that we can no longer have a stable economy without government taking an active part. For this we need dedicated men who will learn the affairs of government and use their talents, personalities and give a lifetime of service for the public. This requires big, well financed political parties who have definite policies and go a[bout] and will search out these men and women.

By everyone taking part in least some small way we can wield a great influence in getting good career politicians who we hope will measure up to be statesmen. We can contribute financially to their support and in fact owe them that respect. For we are only paying back a tiny interest in value received. The great standard of living we have (nearly twice that of any other nation) is largely a product of good politics, based of course on Christian policies.

We can all be better informed and thereby vote more intelligently, thereby putting the poorer politicians on the run.

We can all be better informed economically, thereby stave's off severe depressions and recessions. For many of our economic trials of the part are the result of poor politics, or were at least aided by it.

None of us are too poor to contribute our bit. For instance; Would a penny a day be a high price for the privilege of living in a nation where we have freedom of election? You know it isn't. That would be only $3.50 a year.

Think it over and if someone suggests that you contribute, do so for the party you think stands for greatest individual freedom.

Members Start Own Library

Hello, folks! The Farm Bureau Executive Board attended a district meeting Jan. 27 at Janesville. Mrs. L. O. Gustafson, Doug Vadegrift, Cora Torgerson and myself drove to Janesville for the day. Henry Iwerks conducted the meeting. Those in attendance from the state office were Mrs. Lewis Minnion, Delbert Wells, and A. C. Mereness. They gave us some very interesting information and help that will make our county Farm Bureau a better organization if we follow through on it.

Lewis Larson had intended to go along to the meeting, but when the time came to leave Albert Lea he was not there. He told me later that he forgot about it until it was too late.

—o—

At the January meeting of the Farm Bureau directors we decided to start a library for use of the members in the county. Mansfield township is the first to contribute toward it. Henry Schmidt is director from Mansfield. By the way, the next meeting will be Wednesday, Feb..4. Yours truly plans to attend.

—o—

A good slogan for the dairy industry —"A milk dispenser next to every Coca-Cola dispenser."

—o—

The average corn yield in Minnesota is 40 bushels per acre. This may seem pretty low for us here, but includes a lot of marginal areas.

—o—

John —My hair has a lot of electricity in it.

Jim —Do you know why? Because it is connected to a dry cell.

—o—

And then that old one about the Moron who took a saddle to bed with him — so he could ride his night-mare.

—o—

Roy Little and his Little Green Valley Gang are going to entertain at the swine institute at the Albert Lea Armory Feb 27. You won't want to miss hearing them. They really do a bang up job of entertaining what with songs, accordions, guitars of all sorts and colorful costumes.

Don Paarlber of Purdue University, assistant to the Secretary of Agriculture, will be the guest speaker at the Barrow Show. Your Farm Bureau is sponsor for the Institute. 

—o—

Continuing on our discussion of farm policy the question might be asked, "Well, why a farm program at all?"

Here is the reason. Under a completely free economy prices often fluctuate so wildly that the poor man was often forced to sell his crops or produce when the prices were at their lowest. Often he was fleeced by unscrupulous men who got rich just playing the market.

I remember Dad telling about one year corn was so cheap that a number of foolish framers were burning it for fuel. The next year a drought hit, and corn prices soared to unreasonable heights. Even if there had been no drought, there was not enough corn planted to keep prices in line. It is to eliminate these extremes that farm programs were started. 

The idea of all sensible programs is to satisfactorily harness the law of supply and demand to the benefit of consumer and producer alike. Under the completely free economy prices perhaps averaged parity, but statistics don't show the guys that are getting hurt somewhere between the two extremes. The man with heavy commitments had a hard time making ends meet and the fellow that once got ahead and sold wisely got rich. 

Nearly all farmers believe that a program is necessary. Most of them believe it should be a government sponsored program but a few believe it could be handled better by organization. 

Next week we will discuss one of the major farm views —perhaps the 90 per cent of parity view. Our standard for evaluating them is: Moral —30 points; Loyalty —30 points; Financial —20 points or Parity; Foreign relations ——20 points.

—o—

 Your Farm Bureau will hold a rural - urban conference Feb. 22 at Albert Lea. Plan now to attend. Delbert Wells, secretary of the Minnesota Farm Bureau will explain the farm program in relation to the Consumer. A question and answer period will follow the speech. 

Corn Crop The Best Yet

HELLO FOLKS — The geography teacher asked Bobby a question about the English Channel.

"I don't know," answered Bobby. "We can't get that station on our TV."

—o—

WHAT A terrific corn yield this year. I knew I had the best yield I ever had but I wasn't quite prepared for such a harvest. I had set my expected yield at 5 bushels per acre. I upped that a couple times and I am not even going to state that actual yield until I get a load of it weighed to be sure my wagon holds as much as it measures up to.

The stalks are short, probably due to the early drought, but that probably became an asset as the ears made up for the growth when we started getting the rains. This is one year that heavy fertilizing paid off very well.

—o—

I AM STILL keeping tab of the precipitation and for those of you who are interested we had three inches of rain in October coming in two showers.

According to my figures we have had a total of 24 inches of precipitation this year. It was all in the form of rain, except for a bit of October in snow.

—o—

MY WIFE HAS made a lifelong hobby of collection meaty bits of poetry and prose. Here is another one of hers.

OUT OF LUCK

When the Lord gave out brains—I thought He said trains and I missed mine.

When He handed out looks— I thought he said books and I didn't get any.

When He handed out noses— I thought he said roses and I ordered a big red one.

When He handed out ears I thought He said beers and I ordered two long ones.

When He handed out legs I thought He said kegs and I ordered two fat ones.

When he handed out heads, I thought He said beds and I ordered a soft one.

Boy! am I a mess!

Corn Planting A Big Task

HELLO FOLKS! — We got the corn in the ground. It took two weeks to do it which wasn't at all bad; considering that we had 300 acres to plant. We got 200 acres planted the first week. Then we had to plow about 80 acres before we could get the last of it in. I don't believe I have ever planted corn with the top soil in nicer condition.

The sub-soil is the biggest concern. It is about as dry as it was last year at this time. That means we will have to get more than the average amount of rainfall this summer to be assured of enough moisture to carry the crops through an extended dry period.

I DIDN'T let anything interfere with my planting of corn. Worked from daylight to dark and sometimes into the night in order to get in the hours. With the late start and 400 acres to cover this column went by the way.

I am shooting for higher yields and that can surely get expensive. Figured out the cost of the attempt. It runs to $77 an acre. That means that I will have to get at least a 75 bushel yield to break even. I have good land and under average conditions shouldn't have trouble getting such a yield. However both the banker and I are anxious about the cost of producing an acre of corn.

WOUDLN'T IT be nice if big girls fixed their hair as nice as little girls usually do?

One of my young daughters had been listening to us talk about out voice box along with something about losing one's voice. One day she asked her mother, "Mother, is someone cut off your head and the voice box fell out on the floor, could the floor talk?"

—o—

EVER HEAR of the revised 23rd Psalm? Here it is.

"The Government is my shepherd; Therefore I need not work,
It alloweth me to lie down on a good job.
It leadeth me beside still factories. It destroyeth my initiative.
It leadeth me in the path of a parasite for politics' sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of laziness and deficit spending.
I will fear no evil for the government is with me.
It prepareth an economic utopia for me by appropriating the earnings of my grandchildren.
It fileth my head with false security. My misery runneth over.
Surely the government should care for me all the days of my life.
And I shall dwell in a fool's paradise forever."

Corn, Milk, Egg Pictures Better

HELLO FOLKS — Got three and one-fourth inches of rain in September. Total for the year is over 26 inches. This appears to be the wettest fall that we have had for quite a few years.

—o—

TWO MORE parties have been to the Rebild National Park in Denmark. Pete The (South Broadway) Welder states in a note that he was there at the dedication in 1912, and still has a program.

Also a letter from Nora Jensen stating that she was there a few years ago and is very proud of being of Danish descent. —So am I.

—o—

THERE ARE a lot of people worried about the corn program as it now functions. Most of them seem to think that with controls off we are going to produce too much corn. I'll admit that we are going to have a lot of it around for some time, but is that bad? I think not, at least not at the price it is. I would say if we had two prices on it, one high support price way up there and another at the market place we would be in a pickle. However, when the price is not too far out of line (and I think the price is about right) a good hefty supply is a mighty healthy thing for the farmers, consumers and the nation as a whole. It helps to stabilize the supply and price, which is a good thing. It also has a healthy effect on the rest of the crops. It cut the soybean crop which should help to stimulate the price on beans. At the present prices will not encourage the marginal producer to go heavy on corn. 

I think the corn famers have used good judgement in voting for the present program. The only hitch is the 65 per cent of parity floor which may get cumbersome if we get much more efficient in producing the corn. 

If we could convince the rest of the farmers that their best interests would be served to have such a program for the other basic commodities we would be well on the road to a sane and sensible farm program. 

—o—

IT LOOKS as though the dairymen are just about "out of the woods." We have had dead milk prices for so long that it seemed that the dairy farmer was doomed for poor incomes. Right now the government is buying neither butter nor cheese, and the amount of dried milk is not too burdensome. Already most of the prices are about the 'floor'. The number of dairy cows is still going down and the production has leveled out. Along with the greater efficiency of the dairy farmer and the increasing population I feel very confident that there is reason for confidence in the dairy barns. I for one am very please about it. I know what it means to head for the barn 14 times a week whether one feels like it or not and knowing full well that unless you are an exceptional dairyman there is less than a dollar an hour in it for you. It doesn't take a very big raise in prices to get that net over the dollar mark; a cent a quart might do it and it should not make the housewife unhappy to know that the farmer who is producing one of the most nourishing foods (and one of the cheapest) is getting a fair return for his efforts.

—o—

THE POULTRY man, too, seems to be heading for better days. Too, liberal credit in the south has been a thorn in the side of the corn-belt farmer. It has given him unrealistic competition which has hurt, especially lately. Actually we can produce eggs cheaper here than they can anywhere in the U. S. but the southern farmers were sold a bill of goods and went over their heads in production and debt. That credit, as it now seems, has dried up and there will be room for the egg producer around here to get a fresh breath. I look for more expansions of laying hens around here and I think we can do it profitably. I know that the people in the 'Twin Cities' would welcome the chance to buy really fresh eggs the year around and are willing to pay the price for them. Incidentally, it costs about 33 cents to produce eggs efficient;y, and allow a fair return per hour. 

For Controls Or Against?

HELLO FOLKS — The nicest thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.

"When you speak of Heaven" the lecturer on public speaking advised the class, "let your face light up with a heavenly gleam, let your eyees shine with reflected glory. But when you speak of Hell, your ordinary expression will do."

—o—

FARMER'S WILL have a chance to vote on the choice of corn program they want to have for the next year and future years at a referendum to be held next Tuesday, the 25th.

The choice will be whether we want the same program that we have had the past years with corn, grown under the government controls, set at a prices of around $1.25 a bushel, or whether we want a new program that will abolish all alottments and set the price at approximately $1.10 for 1959.

The old program is the number 2 choice. The new program is the No. 1 on the ballot.

This year farmers have planted mostly as they pleased, with only about 20 per cent of the farmers staying under the allotment and getting the higher price. The number of farmers staying under government controls planted approximately 13 per cent of the total acreage.

Those figures show pretty much what farmers are thinking. That are not at all satisfied with controls. They have seen the cotton farmers lose their markets to foreign countries and plant corn instead. They have seen the tobacco market go off to South Africa and the wheat acreage go to non-wheat states. While they sit there and can't get off first base with their own crops.

The corn farmers have watched the rice, cotton, tobacco and wheat farmers grow corn and feed up the livestock that they would ordinarily handle. They now see the cotton farmers calling for lower supports on cotton so that he can get the market back that he lost to synthetics and foreign growers.

Farmers left with a free hand in this will probably vote government controls. However, there is a good chance that special interest groups will pour on the heat and get many to vote against their best judgment as happened in the last referendum when a two-thirds majority was required. Then more farmers voted against higher supports but the heat applied by the special interest groups who stood to make fortunes on grain storage was enough to keep the referendum from passing.

My suggestion is for all farmers to vote for Program No 1. at the election Nov. 25.

—o—

The Weather Man

Consider calmly, if you can. The weather-beaten weatherman.

If he says rain and it is sunny, we ridicule him, think it's funny.

If he said fair and skies are grim, our day is spoiled, and we b[la]me him.

If he said fair and fair's the clime, we say we knew it all the time.

Although he charges his highs and lows and studies figures ranger in rows.

And telephones a friend long-distance and checks with capable assistants.

And takes a final hurried glance, he knows he doesn't have a chance.

Controls Not The Answer

HELLO FOLKS! — The mink in the closet is sometimes responsible for the wolf at the door.
"Elmer, Do you love me?"... "I'll say"... "Do you think I'm beautiful?"... "You bet"... "Are my eyes the loveliest you have gazed into?"... "Shucks, yes"... "Is my mouthlike a rosebud?"... "Sure it is"... "Is my figure divine?"... "Uh-huh"... "Oh, Elmer, you say the loveliest things! Tell me some more!"

—o—

HOG PRICES are in a depression right now for the first time in four years. Should they and cattle prices remain that way for long the nation as a whole would be in a depression in a couple of years. But I don't hear farmers calling for government intervention and the reason is obvious.

Nearly eight years ago hog prices were really in a bad way. They slipped to $10 a hundred and farmers and politicians were ready to go for government supports. Wiser heads prevailed and in the intervening seven years hog prices have averaged about $4.00 hundredweight more than they would have had the government stepped in. Besides that, we would probably have had pork supplies up to our collective ears and politicians clamoring for controls.

This is just another incident of how the free market works to get all concerned more for the money and hour than any other system.

We will ride this one out and have a higher net income than a politically manipulated market can ever give.

—o—

RECENTLY ON TV a nationally known figure, in order to prove his point that farmers are the only group that have to take what the consumer offers, said that when one goes into a store to buy a hat he pays the price that the storekeeper sets. When he sells a product he takes what is offered.

I didn't know if the man really believes what he says but the fact of the matter is that nobody sets his own price. There may be selected instances when that is not true, but for the most part we are all in a competitive world. Even labor, which has had a monopoly in setting wage prices, has come to realize recently that they are in competition with other workers. Sometimes it is the workers in their own town, some times it is the workers across the continent and if not then it is the workers in other countries. 

For a nationally known figure to make such an untrue statement can be very harmful. He is expected to be factual and his statements bear a lot of weight. His following will be misled and much hard feeling can be generated because of not knowing the facts. He will do himself much harm if he persists in such untruths whether he believes it himself or not.

The saying that what you don't know won't hurt you is false. What you don't know can hurt you just as bad and sometimes more than what you do know. What you do know you can avoid.

Control Boys At It Again

Hello Folks — The old sage says that God needed only six days to create the world but he had the advantage of working alone.

A Woman is the only being who can skin a wolf and get a mink.

The battle of the sexes will never be won by either side; there is too much fraternizing.

A gossip is one who talk about others. A bore is one who talks to you about himself. A brilliant conversationalist is one who talks to you about yourself.

The man who wakes up to find himself famous has not been asleep.

—

The new administration is going full steam ahead to prove to the world that it too can solve the farm problem, and do it through the control method.

The advocates of the control method threw every conceivable roadblock in the way of the Eisenhower administration to keep

My idea for sucha program is that it would be just for the summer. The age is about right, but these youths should for the most part be in school the rest of the time. If a permanent force is needed for such work it should be on a career basis.

If we encourage young men to go into such jobs for the early years of their lives we are severely penlizing them for the time when they will no longer be eligible for the program.

With the advent of automation and highly skilled occupations there is more need than ever for education and the time is here now when the man without a skill or an education is hard put to find a good job. Therefore if we let them stay in these camps the year

Considers Bus Question

HELLO FOLKS! — Our government has launched a program of planned deficits. This will probably create some inflation. The inflation has a definite impact on items purchased.

To the wage earner one per cent inflation will see his costs go up $10 per $1,000. For the farmer, who has to spend at least $20,000 in order to have a $5,000 income, this means his cost of the inflation is $40 per $1,000 of income.

—o—

ONE OF THE big issues before the State Legislature concerns transportation for parochial schools. This is generating a lot more steam than the news media indicates.

Roman Catholics are generally the ones pushing for transportation to non-public schools. Their argument is that they are educating children while still supporting public education; thereby maintaining an overburdening amount of the total cost.

There is truth to their statement. It should be easy to see their point of view. When they see busses go by and cannot ride them, but have to pay the transportation out of their own pockets they are bound to feel that something is not quite right.

Main Argument

Those who favor parochial schools say they do so because they feel that their children do not get enough religious instruction in public schools.

The core of the matter, then, hinges on the answer to this question. Do parochial schools give the children better religious training than they can otherwise obtain?

We may readily agree that children who go to parochial schools get a deeper indoctrination than do the others. This seems natural when students are exposed to it each day in school. However, history positively indicates that citizens education in non-parochial schools, and consequently get their religious education through Sunday School, Bible school and preaching services, get a better Christian education and are better qualified for leadership.

It stands to reason that a child who is reared among children of various beliefs is more apt to be tolerant than one who is reared in a close doctrinal atmosphere. He is also apt to learn more of the true concepts than one reared without the contrasting beliefs.

Others Pay Bill

Non-Catholic Christians maintain a very effective and quite complete system of religious training. They pay their own costs and do their own transporting. While it is not as burdening as those who send their children to parochial schools, is done without thought of state renumeration.

I understand that Catholics are beginning to have Sunday School supplemented with home instruction. This might eventually eliminate the need for parochial education. Judging from the success of other denominations, this would be a step in the right direction.

With this view in mind, allowing bus transportation to parochial schools, and thereby encouraging this form of education, would be a step in the wrong direction.

Compelling Reasons

HELLO FOLKS — A man in Ohio rammed his auto into a tree, rather than hit a skunk. Pretty strong reason for his action, I'd say.

The cost of living is even higher when you are constantly living it up.

—o—

PRESIDENT KENNEDY in his message to Congress proposed the establishment of a Youth Conservation Corps.

I am wholeheartedly in favor of such a plan if it is set up and run properly. We could create a lot of jobs in the community that would go a long way toward beautifying our country. The past few summers there have been many youths who could not find but little work to help them save up for future education. With the Federal Government contributing an equal share of the cost of such a program with the State and County we could put them to work and benefit them and ourselves.

I am against doling out money to people without them working or earning it. It is destructive to their character.

—o—

Think smiles, and smiles will be;
Think doubt, and hope will flee;
Think love, and love will grow;
Think hate, and hate you'll know;
Think good, and good is here;
Think vice, its jaws appear;
Think joy, and joy ne'er ends;
Think gloom, and dusk descends;
Think faith, and strength's at hand;
Think ill—it stalks the land;
Think peace, sublime and sweet;
And you that peace will meet;
Think fear with a brooding mind,
And failure's close behind;
Think this; "I'm going to win."
Think not on what has been,
Think "Victory." Think "I can."
For so God builds man.

Commies Want 100% of Parity

Hello, Folks! We have two little boys at our house. Dana 1 and Randy 2, who are about as different as brothers can be. My wife said Dana is like me, always into something, while Randy is a lone-wolf type of boy. They quite often get into fights and the only time Dana wins is if he can use his teeth as a weapon. Never-the-less he always comes back for more. One night we all went to the Drive-in theater. Randy probably had fresh in his mind the battle of the day. When the hero grabbed the heroine and planted a torrid kiss, Randy exclaimed, "He's a biting".

—o—

The Butcher was weighing up a roast when his customer observed, saying "You're giving me a lot of bone there, aren't you? "Oh, no," answered the butcher "You're paying for it".

—o—

I have had the opinion that the idea of high price supports were slipped from under the "Iron Curtain" however I never had any proof of it. Now I have the Communists own word for it. Before me I have a pamphlet put out by the Communist Party, with their ideas on "The American way to jobs, Peace and Democracy" (as they call it).

The ideas expressed in it are captivating and sound alright, UNLESS you know the catches in them. Among the many views expressed (which by the way are all ideas that would destroy the nation) is a government guarantee of 100 per cent price parity and crop insurance. I am not going to tag anyone a Communist just because he recommends policies identical to the Communist beliefs, (after all they may have some good ideas) but we know that they are setting up nights thinking up good was to destroy all that is good and progressive, and I think we ought to weigh very carefully any program that is as contrary to the American way of life as 100 per cent of parity guaranties.

We all have neighbors, friends, and possibly relatives who believe in the idea of high price supports, they are for the most part sincere in there convictions and certainly have a right to their views. To criticize them and possibly involve personalities and cause hard feelings is the worst thing we can do.

What we should do, however, is to be so well informed in American economics and principles that we can talk it over with them and show them the right way, then if they are open minded we are gained, if we just believe in a flexible program but don't know why then, if I may quote Roger Flemming "Brother you are a part of the problem."

—o—

At the annual meeting of the "Minn. Spring Barrow Show" July 20th, we had a delicious dinner served by Wilson & Co. After the meeting we were invited to play golf or it you want to put it in the vernacular "cow pasture pool." I don't think any farmers stayed for the game. I guess they figure it is tiresome enough chasing cows out of the pasture, let alone a tiny ball.

—o—

Some men thirst after fame and some after money. But I know something all men thirst after. What? Salted peanuts.

—o—

President Eisenhower has signed into law the "Trade Development Act of 1954" This is principally Farm Bureau's baby. It is a big step in the right direction and one that every Farm Bureau member can be proud of. This is just one of the ways that Farm Bureau serves you and makes your $10 dues pay big dividends. There are few places outside your church where $10 will be better spent. We need foreign markets and we need friends. The Trade development Act promotes both. Joining Farm Bureau is one way to help keep America strong and free.

—o—

That P.M. at Virginia City we visited the stores. At the barber shop the barber was sharpening his straight-edge and singing merrily while the patron leaned back in the chair with his cigar between his fingers and harmonized with the barber, thru the lather. All the old perfumes and shaving mugs were lined up neatly.

Upstairs a woman was looking out the window, clad in a negligee. The hardware store was well stocked with all sorts of mining equipment and looks common for that day. The shelves in the Dry-goods store were lined with long-flannels and piece goods that made you almost forget that you were living in the 20th Century. The Stage coaches were on the street and we all had a "ride" in them. The livery stable where the Vigilantes met to plot there strategy to catch the outlaws was also fascinating. Club foot George Harris was one of the Outlaws gang that invariably follow the boom towns and live as parasites off the populace.

It seems that the outlaws got so powerful they were terrorizing the town of Virginia City, consequently a Vigilante group was organized and plans were formed to capture the desperadoes. The outlaws had informers as did the Vigilantes, so it was a life and death struggle. Finally the ringleaders were caught and hanged to death. They were buried on boot hill along with all other vagrants. Wooden markers were placed over their graves with the engravings burned into the wood.

A few years ago when the town was restored the grave of Club foot George was dug up to ascertain the fact that the markers were correct. As a result George's Club foot was carved off and preserved in a huge glass jar of alcohol. It is now at the museum.

The most interesting of the stores was the drug store. It is full of old time articles to stimulate the imagination. We had an old fashioned drink of mint julip. In the basement of the drug store was many more interesting things. In one corner of the basement was a closed door. On the door was a sign saying that in the closet was a skeleton of a man. Of course we had a look. It seems that one of the outlaws was a Negro, he was captured separately and hanged. The druggist was also somewhat of a doctor, he needed an anatomy to study on so he received permission to use this convict.

The story goes into the gruesome detail of how he boiled the meet off the bones and rebuilt the skeleton. At the lower end of the town we found a log cabin that also has weathered the years. Vera and I decided that when if ever we retire we are going to stake a claim to it. Thus ended a long and enjoyable day at Virginia City. When we got back to the Valley it was still 90 degrees.

Oh yea! Meet an honorary member of the Virginia City Vigilantes Organization, and I do mean yours truly. I have a cirtificate to prove it.

—o—

Captains for the 1955 membership campaign have been selected. They are Fred Miller for Freeborn, Carlston, Hartland and Manchester townships. Webster Lair for Mansfield, Alden, Nunda and Pickerel Lake townships. Marlin Brandvig for Freeman, Albert Lea, Bath and Bandroft townships. John Nordby for Geneva, Riceland, Newry and Moscow townships. William Lyle for London, Shellrock, Oakland and Hayward townships.

Commandments Most Important

HELLO FOLKS! — If we abide the principles taught in The Bible, our country will continue to prosper.

True liberty consists of the privilege of enjoying our own rights, and not in the destruction of the rights of others.

—o—

THE WORLD literally makes a beaten path to one's mailbox. The great literature of all ages can be at our fingertips if we but will. Yet, prejudices, indulgences and taboos keep so many of us ignorant in many ways.

Of all the great literature in the world it is hard to pick out which is the best. As for me, I think the greatest piece of literature in the world is also one of the earliest — the Ten Commandments. The brevity clarity and forthrightness of The Commandments, make them easily the leader of all literature.

The Ten Commandments' negative laws were given to a chosen people, who had been kept in slavery for nearly 400 years. Laws given to them, had to be easily understood.

The Commandments are given in sequence to their importance. The first one: Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods Before Me, meant just that. Lest these poor ex-slaves tried to get around this one and so that they would better understand the significance of it, the second third and fourth Commandments were given. Thou Shalt Not Make Unto Thee Any Graven Image, Thou Shalt Not Take The Name Of The Lord Thy God In Vain and Remember the Sabbath Day To Keep It Holy.

The other six of the negative decalogue have to do with man's relations to himself: Honor Thy Father And Thy Mother. Thou Shalt Not Kill, Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery, Thou Shalt Not Steal, Thou Shalt Not Bare False Witness and Thou Shalt Not Covet. These are all given in relation to their severity.

Killing and adultery are listed in close proximity because they have to do with the taking and giving of life.

Cecil B. DeMille made the statement once, that "The Ten Commandments were given to be kept and lived by, and not to be broken." However, because men delight more in breaking them, than in keeping them, we have to have several other laws of the land to be used as guideposts.

As the next most important piece of literature, I would place the answer that Savior gave to the young lawyer who asked Him: "What is the greatest commandment?" He said, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all the might, mind and strength. With the second being like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy self."

This law is the positive supplementation of the decalogue. It is positive and all inclusive. It needs neither interpretation, nor explanation.

The Golden Rule, The Beatitudes, or any other are but furtherances of what Jesus called the "Perfect Law of Liberty."

Columns Have Increased Mail

HELLO FOLKS! — I have been getting a lot of mail lately, some in favor of what I have been writing and some against. In fact it is divided right down the middle, with half for and half against. The two columns that have generated the interest are the ones on how to punish car thieves and the Welfare state.

Some of the letters are long. Going into details concerning the writers' beliefs, I am going to start with the first letter that I got recently and I hope the writer will consider this a reply to his fine 'treatise'.

The writer takes exception to my suggestion that the offenders should be put on a well balanced diet of gruel and water, sent to school and church and the rest of his waking hours be put at hard labor. Says it will cause them to be bitter against society and be like some of these boys that have taken revenge and went on a crime spree that has landed them permanently behind bars and in many cases caused them to murder some one.

Our jails are not suppose to be torture chambers, but neither are they suppose to be places where the offenders are coddled and fed appetizing food. They are there because they have committed crimes against society and are being punished for it in order that they will have a remorse of conscience and thereby be returned to society as assets to that society and ready to carry on their fair share of the load in helping to build a better civilization. Criminals start as youths, and because they are not brought 'out of the kinks' when they are still in the formative stages, they many times go on and develop into criminals or at the best fail to develop into profitable citizens.

I know a minister who lived near a reformatory. He had charge of all the boys and girls who came to this reformatory and were of his religious faith. He was never interested in their background. To him they were not case histories, just human beings who had stepped over that imaginary line and landed where they were in his charge.

On only one occasion did he look into the past of these young people, although he had free access to the files all the time. That experience taught him differently.

It was with a young girl. As she grew to respect her minister, she became brave enough to ask him one day if he knew hey past. He had looked into the files on this one girl and told her so. The reaction left such a horrifying complex on this young woman that he determined to never use the files again. After all, it was the future that counted.

As he met these young outlaws, he would verbally tear them from limb to limb for not going to church or not doing this or that, that had in the end landed them behind bars. He would get them to feel thoroughly ashamed of themselves, then he would start building from there.

As a result of his attitude towards them and his forcefulness in teaching, the Rev. B. R. Lange stands out with men such as Father Flanagan; for of the more than 200 youths he came in contact with in his teaching and praching at the reformatory, not one of them returned to the institution as second offenders. That is a phenomanal record, considering the calibre of those he had to work with.

Rev. Lange didn't coddle them. He just followed the Biblical instruction of Solomon: "A wise father reproveth his sone and he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes."

What I am trying to say is that it is our attitudes toward our fellowmen that counts, and a diet of monotonous but nutritious food will probably go a long way toward giving them that remorse of conscience that they need to humble themselves.

——————————————

The Egg Shampoo

For those who haven't tried an egg shampoo and would like to this is how it is done.

Take a well-beaten egg, pour it over the scalp a couple of times and then rinse. You'll get a more thorough rinse if you don't use hot. Many use just the egg whites but both yolk and whites may be used although the yolk is harder to rinse out.

College Need Being Filled

HELLO FOLKS! — There are 4,000 more people in the world now than were an hour ago.

One fifth of the world population is white or Christian.

We in America are six per cent of the worlds wealth. Of that six per cent, American farmers are in the upper two per cent. This is because of the capital necessary to produce enough to earn comparable income with the balance of the population.

—o—

IF WE WERE TO consider the world from the creation until now as a 24 hour day, we have made more progress in the last 15 minutes until midnight than in the whole 23 and three fourths other hours.

At one time it took 90 per cent of the population to produce enough food to feed the world. Today it takes less than seven per cent to feed everyone on a far better diet.

—o—

THERE IS IN Albert Lea a group of citizens dedicated to the creation of a new college. They are in the process of gathering enough funds to get the program underway.

These men deserve our deepest respect and loyal support. Albert Lea needs a college and a site has been picked on one of the most desirable pieces of land one could imagine. 

It is easy to criticize and laugh at such a project, and while I have heard very little negative thought concerning it there is sure to be some. It could come from well meaning citizens, too.

It might be well to take a look back and see what has been the result of lack of foresight in the past. Then if there are any who want to go ahead with ridicule, let them know what they are doing to themselves and the community.

Had One, Once

Years ago Albert Lea had a college. Had the success of it been pursued with vigor it would have been a great asset to Albert Lea all these years and a greater asset for the future. We will all readily agree that it should never have been allowed to die.

Also, years ago the State educational Department wanted Albert Lea to install a vocational school. Albert Leans failed to take action and it went to Austin—currently a great asset to that city, much to Albert Lea's chagrin.

Today there is a revived effort to try to get such a school started. Nothing but Herculean effort can get the job done today. Albert Lea just missed the 'boat'. It may not be around again.

These are just two of the major things Albert Lea has missed in the past. It is not a pleasant thing to have to mention these things but if it will help us in the future and keep us from listening to the 'knockers' who are pretty apt to come along, it will have been worth it. 

We are just in the infancy of the educational boom. I am sure that in the future we will find ourselves more and more educated. 

If it is the least bit important that we have a college in Freeborn now it will be many times more important 10, 20, and 30 years from now. 

Let's Get College For Albert Lea

HELLO FOLKS! — The burning question of the day; "Should Albert Lea have a Junior College?" I answer a definite YES for many reasons, and I can think of very few reasons why not. The few I can think of don't even come close to balancing the asset side.

We need an Albert Lea Junior College because there are many area students who otherwise probably won't get a higher education.

It would keep money in local circulation that would otherwise go to other colleges and cities, and be lost to our economy.

It would go a long way toward keeping cultural standards high and raising them from what they are now.

The instructors employed would create a demand for housing which would create work, and help stimulate the economy.

The higher education attained by local people would in itself create a higher standard of living.

An industry trying to decide where to settle would take into consideration the fact of a college being here.

There will no doubt be a greater demand each year for higher educational training so if the need is here now, it will be much grater ten or twenty years from now.

Let's all get behind the drive for a Junior College and have one soon.

—o—

A YOUNG graduate of St. Olaf College married a girl from Carieton College. He confided to his older brother who had done the same thing, "there is only one thing bothering me. I simply don't know how to address Margret's mother. I don't think it's right to go around calling her motherinlaw, and I don't think it proper to call her mother, in due respect to our own mother. How did you get around this when you married Susan?"

"Simplest thing in the world," his older brother replied. "The first year I addressed her as 'hey'. After the first year we called her 'grandma.'"

—o—

I'VE JUST made a big discovery! I am married to a poetess. It's a fact; and to prove it to you I am going to print it in this column.

I know that she doesn't have a copyright on it and if she doesn't know I am printing it until she reads it in the paper it is OK with me.

The way it all came about is because we have a good friend by the name of George Kurth.

Last fall George was telling Vera that we would have a mild winter. The reason he knew it was because of the way the muskrats were building their mounds.

When the cold weather came along Vera chided him with 'you and your muskrats'. Then when the weather warmed up real nice, George called up and asked "What do you think of my muskrats now?" Vera answered that they were probably dead from the cold they had to endure before the warmup came.

Then came this recent 20 below weather and Vera wrote him a letter that went something like this:

You better head for the hills,
I'm tired of the cold, shivers and chills;
So contact your rats and get on the run,
 I am a coming with a great big gun.
Those meadowlarks, too, were singing a wrong song.
So I suggest you take them along.
Head for the hills and don't dare stop,
cause a few warm days won't save your mop (hair).
Run real fast and don't stop to rest.
I took your word and left my flannels in the chest.
I'll never again believe those ol' beaver tales.
From now on I'm hunting the long flannel sales.

—o—

A FRIEND of mine just returned from California. I asked him what he thought about the west. He replied, "Well, take those California drivers. They figure that if you travel less than 60 miles per hour you are double parked.

—o—

I SUPPOSE that most of the farmers in the county got a county directory in the mail. Might as well throw it in the stove, fellows. It isn't worth the paper it is written on, much less the cost of advertising that the publishers got out of it. It is not a bit accurate.

—o—

I SEE THAT THE Austin Police have been arresting auto owners for leaving keys in their cars. Must be they are trying to create more delinquents. It c[er]tainly is not a good policy to leave an auto open to theft. But when we take the attitude that a car deserves to be stolen becau[s]e the keys are left in it we are really driving the nail from the wrong end.

There is one sure way to cure delinquents of theft and that is to give them one year's prison sentence at hard labor, on a well balanced diet of gruel and water, giving them only time off from the work to go to school and church, and of course a few hours sleep. After a few first offenders, the rest of the gang will think the pursuit of a legitimate career is much more fun, and then in a few years we wouldn't even think of taking our keys out of the cars. The youths of the community would be developing their talents instead of concentrating on mischief, and that diet of gruel would, in most cases, be the healthiest (though not the most interesting) food they will have had since their infancy.

Of course there will be problems arising from such a plan. The law officials will have to find other jobs.

—o—

THE DAIRY industry, which had been made sick by government neddling through price supports, is gradually mending itself back to health. While prices are still too low, they are on the ment. The numbers are going down at a rate of 4 per cent per year, and production is holding about st[eady]. This means that if dairy is [left]alone it will be on its own in [about] another year. The most serious[ly] depressed are is right here [in] Minnesota as we are in a su-- area and can't find a close ma--.

For the most part the price [of] milk is about 10 cents above support level and butterfat at one cent above. That means any raise in support prices w[ill] have to be considerable in order [to] raise the income for farmers -- would only tend to stop the [ad]justment in supply and dem[and]. Rather than appeal for an inc[rease] in supports, the dairy farmers best try to get the Govern[ment] out of the game so that the d[airy] man can again proser along [wiht] the rest of the economy.

Perhaps the supports are a[t a] place now where they might [not] do any harm, but the dange[r of] leaving them is that the ene-- of free markets will continu[e to] attempt to use them to rob [the] farmer of his just place in an -- and competitive market. 

Class Proves Enlightening

HELLO FOLKS: — A group of Freeborn County folks have been driving up to Waseca each Thursday for a course in "economics of Government," sponsored by the University of Minnesota.

The League of Women Voters has been sending different delegates each time. Some of them who have attended one of more of the classes are Mrs. Lou Gordon, Mrs. Melvin Gordon, Mrs. Lynn Stoker and Mrs. Lloyd Peterson.

Others who have been attending are Ellis Christianson, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Kuiters, B. F. Muldown, E. J. Narverud, Eldon Senske, Rev. O. A. Rust, Dr. Lynn Stokers, Al Cuppage and myself. As this column is written there are two classes yet to be held. Therefore the list of students is not complete.

These meetings are extremely informative. They present various economic and political thinking. The general rule is to have one hour or less of lecture, then one hour or more of question and answer.

One thing the lecturers have found out is that they had better know the answers to their field of discussion, because with a group such as this there are plenty of questions from many angles and it doesn't take long to find out where the weaknesses of the point of arguments are.

One thing I am sure of is that we have all come away with a greater understanding of economics and government, and with a greater respect for the other fellow's viewpoint. The instructors are the best the institute could find.

This is the second year such a class has been held. Last year the topic was "Minnesota Economics." I am quite sure that from the success of the two Institutes we have had we are apt to have another next year. What the course will be I do not know, but it might be something on the order of "Foreign Aid Programs" or "Foreign Policy."

If any of you readers are interested, please put in an advance application with our County Agent, Eldon Senske, by letting him know that you are interested.

WHEN EZRA TAFT Bensons was Secretary of Agriculture and Orville Freeman was governor of Minnesota, there was a wide diversity of Farm Policy. The then Governor Freeman was one of the then Sec. Benson's bitterest critics. He puller no punches in his criticisms of Benson's lowering of dairy supports, and freeing corn acreage. Freeman and his colleagues coined a phrase called "Bensonism", which was suppose to be a derogatory connotation. This word was the 'bad' name for the free-enterprise views of Benson, and everyone who espoused this view was something of an odd ball.

I suppose there is still plenty of difference of opinion, but for the most part Freeman has -------- his actions vindicated the policies of Benson. For instance, when the new feed - grain program was introduced, was it drawn up under the old acreage allotments? No sir! It was drawn up under the planning history of the Benson era.

When Freeman entered office he immediately set about upping the dairy supports that had been lowered by Benson. Immediately the surpluses that had disappeared under the Benson program. This year, after three years of higher supports and with the program in danger of reaching the 'smelly' stage, Freeman has followed his predessor by reducing supports, not just to the level that Benson had set but to new lows not even allowed by law. This was done by changing the formula. In the past the support price had been based on 3.5 milk. The new formula is based on 3.7 milk. This has the effect of changing the price of 3.5 milk from $3.05 cwt. to $2.95 cwt. Thus with nearly secret actions, Freeman, who had criticized Benson so unmercifully, has now admitted that Benson was right. Changing the formula for milk does not seem as drastic as dropping support prices to under $3 per cwt.

City Praised For Celebration

HELLO FOLKS — The city of Albert Lea is certainly to be congratulated for the fine July 4th celebration. The parade, the boat show and the fire-works were commendable.

The children especially enjoyed the fire-works. Linnea, who is nearly two, was frightened at first but tried to be brave and smiled. A bit later while she was sitting on my lap her mother looked at her and she had her hands over her eyes. She had been very quiet and I thought she was watching it. I think she was probably seeing some of it through her fingers; but she didn't like all the noise and flashes.

—o—

THE BIG game hunter, exhibiting some trophies to friends, pointed with pride to a picture of a prone elephant.

"See that elephant? One night I shot him in my pajamas!"

"Mercy," cooed the sweet starry-eyed, dumb young thing. "How in the world could he get in them?"

—o—

I THINK I mentioned a while back that it costs the average business man $2 to write a business letter. It doesn't seem possible that it could be that much until you break it down.

Christian Turmoil Can Bring Results

HELLO FOLKS — Man who would be man must rule the empire of himself.

—o—

SOME TIME ago I read a column of Dr. Gilroy who used to write for the Tribune. His topic was "Christians fighting with Christians." He bemoaned the bickering going on within the church groups and those who are supposed to be thinking alike religiously. The column interested me so much that I clipped it out, as I do with so many, and tonight I ran across it again.

It does seem strange that there should be such bickering among people who are supposed to set the spiritual pattern for others to follow. We must realize that we are all human and that the closer we come to answers we seek the more apt we are to want to impress our thinking on others. Perhaps that is the reason for a lot of the turmoil in church circles. At any rate it points up the imperfections we all have and that we have little call to become vindictive toward others.

We must realize that tolerance and respect for others is the fundamental virtue of Christianity. It is the lubricant that generates a society in which men can grow and prosper.

Too often we fail to appreciate the value of a minor religion. True, we may disagree with the views of that group and their beliefs may be in complete discord with the things we understand. But let us go back in history and see how a minority and supposedly radical belief can affect the history of the world and actually perform a great service.

One of the great turning points in history was in the 15th century. A man by the name of Martin Luther rebelled against the order of the day. In the turmoil that ensued he drew with him half of the people of Germany and shook the established church to it's foundation. To the view of many this was a great blow to Catholicism. But was it actually? I don't believe so. I think Martin Luther did the church he opposed as great a service as any man within the church.

At that time Christianity had stagnated and there was very little missionary work going on. With the competition that Luther created the Catholic church awoke and within the period of ten short years it had won, through proselyting, more converts that had been drawn away. All civilization benefited from the resulting competition and not the least beneficiary was Catholicism itself.

Going back further we find that in the second century of Christianity a man by the name of Marcion, in his efforts to separate Judaism from Christianity, assembled the writings of Paul the apostle. His idea was to prove that the earth was not the creation of a supreme being but of inferior Gods.

He was summarily excommunicated, but in his endeavors to prove his ideas he established the first Bible, incomplete as it was.

It was not until nearly 200 A. D., 50 years later, that the Bible with it's Gospels and Acts was finally cannonized. Had it not been for the opposition of this man whom Polycarp himself called "The first-born of Satan" we would scarcely have had a New Testament for today. Without that where would Christianity be? Makes us think, doesn't it.

A Chilling Experience

HELLO FOLKS — You can't prove it by me, but there is a story going around about the couple who bought a pickup truck with a camping box in it. They started on a cross country trip.

While out on the highway in the western states the husband got tired of driving. It was a very hot day and while his wife was to be doing the driving he decided to cool off in the camper. He stripped to his shorts and was just about to make himself comfortable. At that moment his started up with a jerk, he fell against the door and it came open. He rolled onto the highway as his wife sped away.

His first inclination was to hide in the brush along the highway. But he was quick to realize that such a move would get him nowhere so he tried to flag down cars. The first one sped past him in disbelief. The second stopped in the next town and reported to the police, who went out to see. They doubted the man's story but radioed the patrol ahead where the wife was supposed to be. When they stopped the pickup and asked the woman where her husband was she told them he was in the camper. They suggested that she take a look. In horror she discovered what had happened.

As I say, don't ask me to prove it. But I hope nothing like that ever happens to me.

—o—

A STUDY by the University of Minnesota reveals the great difference in income of Minnesota farmers. The difference come not so much by area, nor by t[yp]es of farming but by the ingenuity of the farmers themselves.

For instance in the southwest area the top twenty per cent of the farmers keeping records earned an average of nearly $13,000. The lowest 20 per cent lost an average of $1,000.

There are, of course, many factors that influence such a difference. The weather can make a tremendous difference, as can several other factors. However, further study revealed that management of farmers makes a tremendous difference. Some farmers have the knack of making the best of their opportunities while others have a difficult time of it.

Farmers now have the privilege of getting professional assistance in the analysis of their farming operations. This assistance is in the form of the farm analysis service available through the regular Department of Education. Minnesota has taken the lead in this service to farmers and other states are copying or watching Minnesota in that respect.

The results are bearing fruit. The gain in income of farmers subscribing to the service has been substantially above the average of other farmers not in the program.

Some of the farmers have more than doubles their income by having an accurate analysis of their business. It isn't impossible for a farmer to do this himself, but the chance of him doing it is very remote. By joining the service he gets professional service and advice that is hard for him to obtain alone. The cost is very nominal and the analysis is as accurate as the records he keeps.

This service permits him to see what operations are paying off, what his cost of production is, so that he knows where the break even point is, and to compare his own program with that of the rest of the farmers. The individual reports are kept in confidence and only the general information is made public.

The program is divided into six areas in Minnesota. The Winona, Austin, Mankato and Duluth areas are in operation. The program is having the most success in the Austin area, which includes Freeborn county. Anyone interested should contact the local vocational agriculture department and the instructors will no doubt be happy to assist.

Giving Child His Rights (+2)

Hello Folks — A five-year old boy in a candy store was in tears.

"What's the matter, Sonny?" the proprietor asked.

"I had a quarter, but I lost it here somewhere."

Welling over with sympathy, the storekeeper handed the boy a popsicle. "Here" he consoled,  "you can have this one free."

The youngster brightened a bit, but tears still fell. "What about my change?"

—

"Since I have my new automobile I don't have to walk to the bank with my deposits."

"Drive over now, eh?"

"No I just don't make any."

—

I think that one of the greatest weaknesses we have in life is taking our friends and loved ones for granted; also any of our blessings. We forget to use tact, and talk out of turn; we get to expecting too much of those around us or else we neglect kind words and compliments.

We can easily get to treating our children as though we owned them, and we are likely to neglect their proper training until we discover that it is too late. Perhaps the greatest mistake we make is to be too lax with the children when they are very young and then try to dominate them when they are old enough to mind their own business.

Too often we raise our voices at the children instead of teaching them in advance the things they should know. I know it is my weakness, how about yours?

Let's try to be as kind and courteous to our loved ones as we should be. Let's plan in advance the teachings and trainings and the things we should do.

—

Many a small boy is the kind of kid his Mother tells him not to play with.

—

I used to think that insurance men were sort of a nuisance; necessary of course, but less vital than a lot of other people.

Since I have made a study of economics and have come to realize what it takes to make our capitalistic system work, and which gives us such a high standard of living, I have developed a real respect for the men that go around and encourage people to prepare for the future of themselves and their loved ones.

Take life insurance for instance; a man takes out a policy to cover the cost of the funeral and give himself and his wife a comfortable living when the active days are on the wane. That very act of taking out that policy does more than provide for himself and give the insurance man a meal ticket; it helps every citizen in the U.S.A. because it is money put into creating jobs and wealth.

The premiums paid are reinvested where they will draw interest and help provide capital so necessary to keep industry going and encourage the demand for an ever increasing standard of living.

I do have one gripe. Why don't you insurance men go further than just trying to sell a policy? Why don't you put on a big educational program to teach the public what insurance does for the nation as a whole; we need to know those facts and I know of no one who could do it better than You, and it certainly is to your own benefit as much as ours. I wish I had learned those facts years ago.

E. B. Peterson Speaks at Club

Edwin B. Peterson, president of the Freeborn County Farm Bureau, spoke at the March meeting of the Freeborn County Women's Republican Club Thursday afternoon in the Spanish Dining Room. A questions and answer period followed after which Joan Schneider played two organ solos.

Mrs. O. C. Hammond presided at the committee meeting. A nominating committee was selected with Mrs. Alfred Berglund as chairman. Other members include Mrs. Robert Green and Mrs. J. P. Miller. A letter was read from Congressman Al Quie.

A social hour follower the meeting.

31 in County In Who's Who In Minnesota

"WHO'S WHO IN MINNESOTA" has included in its 1958 centennial edition the biographical sketches of 31 Freeborn Count citizens. They include:

... Edwin Peterson, Oakland; ...

Qualifications for this recognition were based on standards of good citizenship and community service. Over 500 persons acted as selectors in determining which persons' biographical data should be included.