Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-04-07
A PEOPLES MEETING

The state convention of the Farmer
Labor party held at st. Paul last
week on the days of March 90 and
30, was real peoples gathering
Folks were there from all corners of
the state-including about 1900 dele
gates, alternates and visitors-all. it
seemed like one big family. bent on
having the government function for
the best interest of the greatest num-
Der of its citizens. There were few
prepared speeches, most of them be-
ing eXtempOraneOuS- the spur of
the mOment-a pouring out from
their hearts. Every delegate had the
opportunity to be heard and to be
sure many were heard. 1t was the
greatest convention in the history of
the party said old timers like former
Senator MagnuS Johnson and A. c.
WEIGH. president of the Farmer-Labor
Association.
Governor Floyd B. Olson gave the
principal address of the second day
dwelling for an hour and a half on
issues of the day and the coming
campaign. He spoke with vim and
vigor and put his soul and body into
the talk. If there was ever any doubt
on the part of those who heard him
that day as to his ability and knowl-
edge of affairs of state it was dis
PEELED then and there.
Il think | can say in all sincerity
he began, that this is one of the
happiest and most thrilling moments
of my life. | come to you in the
best of health. | come to you with
the greatest confidence in victory be-
cause | have great confidence in the
intelligence and integrity of the peo-
pie of Minnesota. My happiness has
been enhanced greatly by the splen-
did convention of the women of our
party held yesterday, and | was in
spired, as you must have been in
spired, by the knowledge that they
are behind us, lending us their active
support in this great movement
Attacking loose statements re-
garding appropriations by the last
legislature, Governor Olson said they
were $1,500,OO0 less than in the pre-
ceeding legislature in 1929, although
AZ per cent of the total 1881 appropri-
ations were to pay for projects au-
thorized by the previous legislature
while my Republican friends are
attacking the financial situation Of
the state administration, it would be
well to point out that the Hoover
administration in Washington has a
big deficit and there is no deficit in
the FarmerLabor administration in
Minnesota
In 1929, under the economy reign"
the state tax levies amounted to S45,-
100000, while in 1881, under his ad-
ministratiOn, Governor Olson said the
levy was only s44,OOO,OOO.
I'VE have served notice on the state
Of Minnesota that the Farmer-Labor
party is not a machine for the sale
of patronage" said Mr.. Olson.
Concerning President Hoover, the
governor declared the Republican
party in 1928 told the people they
held the key to all prosperity and
had the only means for bringing
about universal employment. They
promised to put agriculture on a
parity with industry. If industry to-
day is on a parity with agriculture,
| weep for it. On the strength of
those promises, the people elected
Hoover president.
There have always been two
groups in this country, one of which
confers the benefits of government at
the top and the other which has al
ways desired to confer the benefits
of government or the great masses
of people Every act of the Hoover
administration has been to benefit
those at the top of the heap. He
turned two billion dollars over to in
dustry to help the big banks, which
was sterilization When the mass
needs help, it is a dole"
When politicians start a whispering
campaign against opponents, running
down their character and the like OF
that it is a sure sign of lack of issues
or lack of courage to come out and
tell the people where they stand on
problems confronting the electorate
Regarding hidden issues and the
whispering campo gn, instituted
against him, Governor Olson asserted
IL say to you that the Republican
hierarchy has been sending out paid
men and women for the purpose oil