The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1928-09-21
FAILURE TO VOTE
SERIOUS MENACE
GOVERNOR ERICKSON URGES
USE OF BALLOT; REVIEWS
TRADITIONS

Failure to use the ballot is
menace to free government, Go
S j. E. Erickson told the Scandin
t Wan Brotherhood in an adore,
s in the Knights of Pythias hall,
4 Great Falls. The governor, speaI
ing on Fraternity and the Hi
, tory of the Scandinavian People,
said that it was easy for thes
people to adapt themselves t
American institutions. their fore
fathers having fought hundreds @
years to establish and maintain
democracy.
After reviewing the part which
the Scandinavians in Americ;
have played in the pioneering anC
development of the northwest and
their general contribution to the
progress of this nation, the gov.
ernor said that the opportunity
for patriotism and courage still
exists. Through the exercise of
the ballot the citizen can protect
his property, liberty and life and
preserve the constitution, accord
ing to the governor.
Thinks Real Test Near
The real test of the career of the
democracy is near at hand, the
governor believes. He quoted an
English writer of Is years ago.
who declared that the United
States would prosper and grow so
long as there remained a frontier,
so long as there was free land and
the opportunities for expansion
continued, but that the real test,
the vital test, would come when
there was no longer a west, when
great industrial centers were es-
Lablished and corruption inciden-
al to congested population be
come evident.
That time has come, Governor
Erickson believes, and because it
has come the duties of citizenship
are the more stressing. He EN-
DhasiZed that the neglect of the
nallot imperils free government.
because indifference in the respon-
sibilities of citizenship threatens
he foundations of government.
At the outset Governor Erick-
son commented that for many
ears he has been a member of
he Scandinavian Brotherhood. He
'ecalled that nearly 20 years ago
lie attended a convention of the
society in Spokane and there met
or the first time ]. NJ. Pensen of
treat Falls. who presided at Fri
lay evenings meeting.
Keep Traditions Alive
1t is a wonderful thing for the
eople of this great nationality /,
nth its magnificent traditions and :
istOry, to have an organization of
his kind to keep alive these ira
itions and this history, the gov p,
said. For 1000 years these :
he pointed out, have been
,aders in the contest for free gov
rnment. He recited that 10 CEN :
lries ago people of this national
Y, in order to have the opportun-
for self rule, sailed for Iceland
nd on these barren shores estab-
shed many of the principles
hich have descended to this day, :,
nong them trial by jury and leg :
independence. :
Five hundred years before Co :,
INDUS, the Scandinavians, sail :.
lg to the ends of the earth, dis
overed America, said the COVER :
or, who believes that if the print :.
lg press had been invented by :
lat time and means of spreading !
information available as it :.
as later. the story of America
.onld have been different and
lis continent would have been
Dened to the old world centuries
efOre Columbus sought his route
India.
Progressive Nations b
The scandinavian nations are Fl
ie most progressive nations of b
urope, Governor Erickson said. G
eferring to the agricultural prob e.
m rs Illustrative of present diff IL
in the United States, the
vernon expressed wonder that
e national government does not
nd a commission to Denmark. 81