The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, March 8, 1917, Page 10

i North Dakota Jolts N ADDITION to the passage by both houses of the North Dakota I legislature of a resolution requesting the United States depart- ment of agriculture to cure market abuses by a system of grades based on the Ladd tests, John N. Hagan, North Dakota commissioner of agriculture, clected by the farmers through the Nonpartisan League, has written a personal letter to the United States secretary of agri- culture. Mr. Hagan comments on the attitude of the federal investigators who held hearings at Fargo and Minneapolis and who indicated plainly their prejudice against Dr. Ladd and contempt for his milling tests and recommendations. He requests that relief from present evils be given producers and declarves the farmers of the Northwest are stand- ing back of Dr. Ladd and his findings, which have aroused the ire of the milling and grain combine interests. PRODUCERS RESENT ATTITUDE OF GOVERNMENT DELEGATES Mr. Hagan'’s letter in full is as follows: Hon. David F. Houston, Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. Dear sir: As has been manifested repeatedly by farmers’ organizations throughout the state of North Dakota, there is a general dissatisfaction with the present Minnesota grades under which our wheat is sold. Farmers have hoped to get relief and a more just system of grading from the United States department of agriculture. The producers of this state were very much grieved by the proposed grades in table 1 page six of circular 19, and I feel sure that the producers in this state under such a system would be penalized; also the system could be a - very material advantage to the buyers at terminal points. The percentage of so-called ‘‘inseparable foreign material’’ allowed is too low, making it practically impossible at local points to market No. 1; also in wheats of other classes, the percentage allowed “Put One Over” the U. S. Secretary is too low. Your system also reduces the percentage of moisture, and besides, you have raised the weight per bushel. LIKE SELLING CREAM BY QUART INSTEAD OF-BUTTERFAT TEST The producers present at the Fargo hearing were practically unanimous in favor of the grades proposed by Dr. E. F. Ladd, which are based on milling values instead of _physical values. Under your present system it would be just as fair to force us to sell eream by the gallon or by the pound, instead of by butterfat test. ; The producers of North Dakota also resented the attitude of Mr. Brand, as it is almost parallel with the attitude of the legislature of two years ago, which told the farmers to go home and slop their pigs. Mr. Brand demonstrated to the satisfaction of the producers that his plan was the outgrowth of the system now so universally condemned by the farmers of the Northwest, especially by men of Dr. E. F. Ladd’s caliber. ALL THE FARMERS ASK IS ; SYSTEM BASED ON MILLING All we askis that a fair system be established on the milling and baking values. We are coming to realize that taking the crop money out of its just course causes suffering among the producers and con- sumers of food, which is a great moral wrong, and we believe that your department can and should assist in correcting the already exist- ing evils. There is, however, one point for which we feel thankful: that is, the manner in which the representatives of the United States depart- ment, as represented at Fargo, showed plainly that nothing is to be cxpected from them toward relief.of market injustice. I am sure any relief from the present proposed standards would be appreciated by the producers of the Northwest. Yours very respectfully, JOHN N. HAGAN, Commissioner of Agriculture. ‘"The Old Guard Gets Caught in Its Own Trap and in Trying to Kill a Good Bill, Puts the Clincher on It HE Old Guard-of the North Dakota senate has become so accustomed to putting things over on the people, that they have fallen into the habit, and the other day they put one over on themselves automatically so hard there was no way of undoing the dreadful deed. - The senate has a way of making its actions certain by passing what is called the “clincher motion.” This means, that when a bill the senate is particularly fond of is passed, some interested senator makes a motion that “the vote by which bill so-and-so was passed be reconsidered,” and then im- mediately it is moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table. That settles it. When the ‘“clincher” mo- tion is carried, it requires a two-thirds majority to reconsider the bill after- ward, and as neither the Old Guard, nor the Nonpartisan League have two- thirds, the “clincher” is final, some- times fatal—but not this time. Then came House Bill 174, This looked perfectly good to the Old Guard senators. It looked just like any other “better farming” bill. It provided that 50 farmers’ institutes a year be held; that farmers should be instructed in maintaining the fertility of th=z soil, in the principles of breeding, making and handling of dairy products ard so forth. These 50 institutes should be under the direction of the deputy com- faithful to their trust.” N. D. Farmer: ing Trust?” The Faithful The Old Gang Political Boss: “Well, my twenty-eight senators remained “Which Trust do you mean, the Grain Combine or the Mill- deeper, and the flash flashier. Govere nor Kraabel also looked blank. The swhole thing had gone like lightning, and it had stricken the unsuspecting. top of his smooth head with one hand, looked up the rules, and then with a slow smile, faced Senator Hyland, and replied: “I guess that's so, Senator. ‘clincher’ all right. It’s the on the table. It is the ‘clincher.’” the senators dove into their bill books till then did they discover its iniquity. ‘ John N. Hagan, elected by the Non- // partisan League. ‘These institutes will il / be taken away from the “extension de= £kl S partment” of the Agricultural college < - which is under Professor Cooper's di= rection, and given to Mr. Hagan's de- partment. / Jation that has passed ‘this session” shouted Senator Hyland, for the first on T hemselves missioner of agriculture and labor (a perfectly proper official to handle such matters, thought the senate) and then there was another significant little line that some senators apparently over- looked. This line merely said that such in- struction should be given especially ¢as will tend to promote the best marketing conditions, home life, and comfort of the farming population.” But even this wicked provision looked s0 good to the senators on first sight that they passed the bill 37 for it, eight against it, and two not voting. Then someone dropped a note on Senator Hyland’'s desk; he read it with astonished gaze, and ifistantly got the floor and moved that the vote by which House Bill 174 passed be re- considered. Senator Gibbens, who also instantly caught the drift of Senator Hyland’s wish, but who this time was against the senator from Devils Lake, moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table. This looked like re- e s e e e R R A, bellion in his own ranks—and it was— for Senator Hyland’s merest wish is law to the valiant 28 “who saved the state” by killing House Bill 44. The senator glowed red of cheek, and his blue eyes flashed fire. He was mad. Lieutenant Governor Kraabel (al- ways a fast worker in presiding over the senate) put the motion, and—there you have it—motion to reconsider and motion that the reconsideration be laid on the table—*the clincher!” But no one caught the point except Senator Hamilton (League) who shouted a second to Gibben’s motion so loud it woke up every league senator, so that everyone of them saw some-. thing was up and voted for it trusting Hamilton’s tip. Also the two motions being - made by Senator Hyland and Senator Gibbons, trusted and clever leaders of the Old Guard, put con- fidence into the other side, with the re- sult that the chorus of ‘“ayes” with which the “clincher” was put on House Bill 174 was perhaps the most unani- mous and most vigorous vote that has been taken in the senate during the 1917 session. But none of the Old Guard, not even “Governor Kraabel had yet discovered what Gibbens and Hamilton had ac- complished. There is another rule of parliamentary law that when a mo- tion to lay on the table is carried, it takes the subject matter with it Senator Hyland was mad at Senator Gibbens for having interfered, but his first thought was, that this parliamen- tary rule would apply, and that Senator Gibbons had unwittingly helped him to table the obnoxious bill. So he jumped up, still red of cheek, and flashy of eye, and declared with a snap of his teeth: “All right—then your bill goes with it!” He looked triumphant, but only for a moment, “I don’t think so,” replied Senator Hamilton, “that was the ‘clincher’ mo- tion.” : Hyland looked blank, the red got TEN time in 60 days losing his temper, and admitting himself outwitted in the senate. ‘There are 28 senators in this house who can name the very men who will deliver those lectures” he declared, and as the senate adjourned, -his colleagues gathered abeout him, and “cussed” the Nonpartisan League. THE SOFT HORSE ‘When the soft horse is started at heavy work, the shoulders should be given a good deal of care. The horse will need frequent breathing spells and at these times lift the collar so as to give the shoulder a chance to cool and to dry. When it becomes moist from sweat, it will become sore much quicker than if dry. The collar should be kept smooth. If any incrustations form on it, scrape them off. Care should be used in making sure that the horse has the collar that is fitted to its shoulders. A misfit collar is apt to lead to shoulder trouble. When start- ing the horse at hard work, watch its _ Bhoulders and neck too, carefully. The lieutenant governor polished the : It is the motion to - reconsider and lay the reconsideration Then there were smiles, smiles and : frowns, and questioning looks, and half . ) 111750 and began to study the measure.. Mot R /AN It provides that the institutes should Y s give “especially such instruction as will tend to promote the best marketing A \ ] / /1 conditions, home life and comfort of 3N S e—— the farming population.” And worst e 1 /- 7 of al], it provides that these institutes . 53 // i shall be in the department of agricul- ture and labor, over which presides s 4, = o “That's the rottenest piece of legis- :