Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1931-08-13

housed they are content. Unlike the
people of many of the European and
South American countries, they lack
the fire and the imagination which in
spires the masses to take over the
machinery of government. The pres
ent day American is not an idealist;
he lives for the present moment only;
as long as he is contented he follows
the leader and is not much concerned
about the economic problems that he
may be called upon to face next year
or the year after-This Is the present.
day average citizen of the United
States.
Economic depression, concentration
of wealth, Capitalization of govern
mental authority, social inequalities.
are today forcing the contented citi-
zen of two or three years ago to think.
The peoples of all nations become
dangerous when they begin to think.
Can it be possible that our present
day political leaders who follow the
dictates of the vested interests in this
country do not realize this? 1t is
this feeling of discomfort in the
United States which is turning the
people by millions away from those
once stable standards to the shrine
of those progressive and forward
looking public men who are sincerely
and honestly interested in the welfare
of his country and in the preservation
of the Republican party. But once the
people begin to move, all the Borahs
and all the Norrises and all the La
Follettes in Christendom will not be
able to stop them!
From somewhere must come another
Roosevelt, a man of courage who
dares defy the present system. From
somewhere must arise a man who
dares place human rights above prop
erty rights; who will inspire the con-
fidence of the great masses who love
this country and who believe in the
laid down by Lincoln and Roosevelt.
Such leader may re-establish a
great party for the good of all the
people.
1t is only through such an agency
that the United States can once again
be made safe for democracy; that a
wholesome respect for law and order
can be realized and that sincere re-
spect will be shown to public men in
high places. In that way, and in that
way only, can. the great mass of the
citizens of this country be led back
into those safe channels which make
for normal, stable government
In the United States today presi-
Dental elections are only a matter of
form. The great industrial and finan-
cial interests dominate the two great
political conventions which make the
nominations for chief executive, and
once every four years the people be-
come excited over the outcome of the
election while the fat boys laugh up
their sleeves. The great issues which
are so vital to the people of this coun-
try are submerged in the interest of
political expediency.
Prohibition has become phantom
issue for all political parties and all
political leaders. Behind the tattered
coat-tails of John Barleycorn the arch
conspirators for the special privilege
group maneuver for this or that adj
vantage in the scheme of things. The
voice of Norris, who from the house.
tops decries the despoilation of the
great natural resources of this coun-
try, is like a voice in the Wilderness
Public men who love their country
and fear for its future, protest against
the concentration of wealth, the ever
steady soaring of taxes, but to no
avail.
The Moseses, the Fesses, the Luz
cases continue to hold fast to the
wheel that steers this nation.