Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-10-05

good he has done, FOR It initiates a
new armament race which has al
ready been met by demand from the
Jingoes, Navalist and Imperialists of
Japan and England for increased
naval forces for their countries.
Deems Tariff Paramount.
In the field which is both national
and international, the president has
failed to move. / refer especially to
the question Of tariffs. He has not
yet learned that here is one of the
| major causes of the worlds economic
| disaster, except as far as he has
| agreed to tariff reduction in the world
wheat agreement just arrived at.
Until those tariffs are done away
with, and our world markets are re-
gained for us, there can be no relief
for the farmer and many OF our
largest industries will be unable to
dispose of their surplus or to make
any profits whatsoever. AS long as
the tariffs are not touched, we shall
continue to see such economic mon
strosities as the destruction of por-
lions of our wheat and cotton and
| livestock crops in return for govern
ment subsidies-at the very moment
when millions of our people continue
on the borderline of starvation.
This is eco nomic folly, for the world,
as every thoughtful person knows, is
not suffering from over-production
but nder-distribution. | repeat that
in most of our domestic problems, the
president suffers from the fact that
he has no deep economic knowledge
or understanding or beliefs.
So the liberal looks away from
Washington convinced, more than
ever, of the need of the creation of a
truly progressive party devoted to
tariff reform, to peace and disarma-
ment, to economic and social and
political justice at home. He well
comes gladly and will continue to do
so, as l have said, all that the presi-
dent may do along the line of his
platform-the League for Independ-
emit Political Action gratefully ac-
knOwledges that he has taken one of
it's planks and had the Congress ap-
propriate $3,3OO,OOO,OO0 for public
works. But we have no guarantee
whatever today that the presidents
party will back him in the long run
in What he has done along reform
lines. 1t is not yet even clear that
Congress will do his bidding next
winter. Can he carry Tammany Hall
hn in
in Chicago and elsewhere for his pro
gram? Can he swing the South to
what is called his radicalism? There
is no assurance whatever. And as
have said, those inherent weaknesses
in the man which have manifested
themselves in foreign affairs may
easily sweep him, if our economic
situation grows worse, and the MIRA
fails, in the direction of a genuine
dictatorship and Fascism.
The president is being widely
quoted as saying that if his admin
, stration will not succeed in restoring
America, he will be the last presi-
dent. l sincerely hope and believe
| that this report is not correct, for il
seems to me that would be treason
to our institutions and our inherent
scheme of government. The idea thai
they cannot survive the shock of this
depression fills me with anger. II
also makes me feel that more thar
ever we need radical party to be
: the watchdog over all that we hole
: dear.
: Fight for Liberty.
, My friends, the war to safeguard
democracy struck the deadliest blow
at democracy that could be conceived
, 1t is today jeopardized in Russia, il
, Italy, in Poland, and now in Ger
, many, in a most dangerous degree
5 In Germany they have just undont
, everything that Anglo-SaXons have
fought for since the barons wreste(
Magma Charta from King John. 1t /.
the sacred duty of every American
! who believes in the American idea
t to fight with all his strength ant
5 power against every encrOachmen
of American liberty and to deny the
I theory that the present economic
}, crisis is in any way a proper excuse
! for limiting our democracy and To-
g restricting the liberties of the indi
e vidual. We need a united from
: against Fascism, not tomorrow, bu
S now.
4 Even assuming that the Roosevelt
q enthusiasts are correct, and tina
Roosevelt is going to give us grea
: charter of liberalism and progress
o sivism, that, by sheerest accident ant
: without any previous warning what
I soever, this hitherto conservative
big-navy man, this imperialist, thi
Il advocate Of the existing social order
has suddenly undergone a sea-change
o it is still of the utmost importanc
that this League should remain il
existence, and with all like-minde
organizations carry on its purpose Q
creating governmental opposition
:. for the two great detectives of socia
y and economic justice and the preser
;. walton of the doctrines of the Declar
:. alton of independence and the Bill Q