One of Three Use Blue Cross Plan

Hello Folks — Minnesota was one of the first states in which Hospitals and doctors sponsored the Blue Cross-Blue Shield Plan.

Seven hospitals in St. Paul contributed $800.00 toward establishment of the plan, This was considered as borrowed funds and later paid back to the hospitals.

It was found that an enabling act was necessary. This was passed by the Minnesota legislature, without a dissenting vote in the Senate and by 7 dissenting votes in the House of Representatives.

The Blue Cross Symbol, which is now being used by all plans, was designed in Minnesota by Mr. E. A. Van Steemwyk.

Today over one million people in Minnesota are covered by Blue Cross — in other words, over one third of the population. It has paid out to hospitals for subscribers, approximately $72,000,000.

Blue Cross is available to farmers through Yarm Bureau. Nearly 100,000 farm people are covered by it.

One of the things that has spurred Blue Cross-Blue Shield is the threat of socialized medicine.

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Heads are like teakettles — the emptier they are, the quicker they boil.


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The higher a man gets in life, the more humble he must walk.


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A fact that many Americans do not understand is that the profit and loss system is as necessary to the American constitution as the pulse is to the body. Destroy that system and you destroy America just as surely as if you stopped the heartbeat of a man. If you try to take out the loss, you also take out the profit.

The enemies of America are fully aware of that fact, which is why they are so anxious to see a controlled system in America. America stands almost alone as the bulwark of freedom — without her the rest of the nations would soon crumble under the weight of aggression and slavery.

The profit and loss system places a man at his best, and therefore, develops character, fore thought, industry and thrift. These things, in turn, create a high standard of living.

One thing the enemies of the capitalistic system fail to tell us is that even at the ebb tide of the cycle, we still enjoy a higher rate of prosperity than can be gotten by a controlled system.

We should not try to stop the pulse beat of our economic system, but even it out, so it will not work too unevenly.

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Voice on phone: "John Flanders is sick and can't attend class to day. He asked me to notify you."
Professor: "Al right, who is this speaking?"
Voice: "This is my roommate."

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"All of you men who are fond of music", the top sargeant called out, "step forward two paces."
Six men responded.
"Now then," said the sargeant, "you six men get busy and carry that piano up to the top floor of the officers' quarters."

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Dave: "Why are the snowflakes dancing?"
Betty: "They're preparing for the snowball."

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Surpluses Are Killing Our Markets
LET'S LOOK AT THE FACTS: During the war, the government helped stimulate needed production for defense. By not removing these factors at the end of the war, overproduction in SUPPORTED farm commodities was invited and surpluses grew, Since the government cannot consume. . .(can only store) huge surpluses accumulated.

These heavy surpluses in the hands of the federal government depress the normal market by lightening consumer demand. Government, under law, was required to purchase supported farm commodities. . .  and government storage bins began to replace usual markets.

As these surplus bins filled, a price support formula approved by Congress in 1949 should have gone into effect. This formula called for dropping price supports 1 per cent for each 2 per cent over normal supply acquired by the government. Congress did not do this — with resulting surpluses.

These surpluses bring acreage controls and allotments. For example, the wheat and corn farmer must take acreage cuts with penalties imposed under law, if they are not obeyed. This limits the basic American freedom to produce and places GOVERNMENT IN YOUR BUSINESS OF FARMING.

Remember, farmers pay taxes, too! Cost of supporting artificial markets comes high, plus the cost of federal supervision on all acreage and marketing controls.

America has grown strong by being able to adjust itself to the changing needs of its own people . .and those of the world. Agriculture will weaken itself if it insists on producing without regard to effective market demand, and WITH government support. The consuming public is aware that surpluses cost the government (us) $7,000,000.00 DAILY to store. . .another $400,000.00 DAILY for handling and spoilage. .totaling $1,100,000.00 DAILY just to keep these things!