Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-08-24
PICNIC
DRAWS MANY
Continued from Page ~
Harold Peterson Talks.

Harold Peterson Talks.
With the fine gift of an orator Har-
old Peterson, secretary to the state
president of the Holiday Association,
held the audience in rapt attention
for more than an hour while he told
of the injustices suffered by Amer
lean agriculture. Mr.. Peterson stated
in light vein that the farmers had
always planted in faith, harvested in
hope and marketed in charity. They
have been selling for five years on
an average of SO per cent below cost,
but he asked how long this could con-
tinue. He stated that if one receives
one dollar for each one dollar ex-
pended, trading could go on indefin-
itely but if only GA cents came back
out of each one dollar there will be an
end. He stated that "if everyone
would work together, we farmers
would take our proper place in So
ciety."
Mr.. Peterson delved back into his
tory and said that the colonists, like
the Holiday now, were called radi-
Gals, but they were not; they were
merely fighting for their God-given
rights. The American Revolution
was fought on the principal of taxa
ton without representation" Mr..
Peterson stated that political democ-
racy is meaningless and insane jum-
BILE of words unless economic democ-
racy goes with them.
Mr.. Peterson commented briefly on
the Iowa case where number of
farmers were charged with flogging
a judge. In this regard he stated
that the Declaration of independence
says that we can change our govern
ment if it does not give us life, lib
erty and pursuit of happiness. We
are not guaranteed happiness in this
historic document, said Mr.. Peterson,
but laughingly said we must catch up
with it if we can.
Discusses Interest.
In talking of interest Mr.. Peterson
stated that the government could not
arrange to accept the Frazier Bill
because three per cent interest was
too low, but it did see fit during the
war to accept one-eighth of one per
cent from nations on money borrowed
from us to buy our ships.
In further discussion of usury, the
speaker stated that the Bible states
that he shall die who has taken usury
or interest and calls it dishonest
gain. In another place, Mr.. Peterson
quoted that usury should not be taken
from brother so the beginning of
the taking of interest was when the
Jews didn't recognize the Gentiles
as brothers and therefore charged in
terest. The National Farmers Holt
day Association is against the profit
system, said Mr.. Peterson.
In speaking on the governments
plan of curtailing production, the
speaker stated that for long time
we have been learning from county
agents and others how to make two
blades of grass grow where only one
grew before and now we are asked
to forget this. This is against Gods
plan and intimated that we should
withhold the surplus in preparation
for drouth so that humanity might
be fed. He stated that the per capita
wheat consumption is five bushels. The
Holiday believes, not to destroy pro-
duction but to withhold surplus from
market.
While talking of the cost of pro-
duction demand, the speaker told of
an instance in the western part of
the state where a druggist told him
that it would never work; that the
farmer could not set prices; that it
| just wouldn't work both ways. Be-
| fore leaving the store without being
| able to convince the druggist that it
would and could be made to work,
Mr.. Peterson stated that he asked
| for an ice cream sundae. When the
item was set before him he rendered
six cents in payment of it and was
flatly refused. The druggist had his
set price to get and he received his
| Is cents or cost of production plus
| little more. 1t should work the
| other way as we'll, said the speaker.
| I'VE can't keep on buying on what
will-you-take basis and selling on
what-will-you- give-me-basis."
The government, which has the
power to coin money will vote three
| billion two hundred million dollars
for river improvements and then bor-
row money or sell bonds bearing four
per cent interest to pay for it. In
this light he stated that government
today is of the people, by the politi-
clans and for the capitalists.
The speaker stated that the Ma
tional Farmers Holiday Association
cannot cure all but it is step in the
right direction. 1t is not dead as
many will make believe and will not
be until justice is had for American
agriculture.
| Lots of Red Tape.
To State Treasurer julius Schmall
and State Auditor Stafford King, Mr..
Peterson gave much credit for the
monkey business" and red tape at
tached to the getting of hay by the
farmers in drouth sections. He told
| Of tho Holiday Association m a L ipu ~