davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-03-02
IN DEFENSE OF THE WILLOW
RIVER SCHOOL AND
TAXPAYERS

Editor Askov American:
am sorry that MIR. Frank Stepan
mentioned my name several times in
his article Facts About Willow River
School" Why pick on me? The only
article presented for publication was
the one on state aids. This should be
welcome by all people interested in
knowing the truth.
Now that | have been pulled into
rections of some of the very notice.
able errors in his article:
1. The first article that he referred
to ('Willow River High School vs..
What?") was signed by a taxpayer,
freebooter and long time resident of
Willow River He also actually
signed his name to it as your copy on
file will prove. He is by no means
dreamer"
2. The points expressed in that ar
ticle included a summary of the So
called Tax Reduction Meeting The
summary was very correct and
opponents of the present school dis
trict organization cannot deny this
honestly and publicly. The whole
meeting was an attempted misrepre-
sentation of facts.
3. He states that my article on
state Aids" was amusing and mislead-
ing, but he fails to mention anything
to lead anyone to think so. He must
have forgotten to mention the points
he referred to. Surely people like to
hear at least some of the facts. Sure
ly Mr.. Stepan in his position cannot
afford to try to prevent the truth from
being told. 1t would be untactful to
misinform honest people? They will
surely find out all the facts some day.
| just can't believe that he is inten-
tionally trying to mislead or cover up
the facts. but it looks to me very
much like the old-fashioned bar-roOm
boss system of political control.
4. Yes, the state law, Number
2S65A, states that the state aids will
no longer be forthcoming to us. In
spector Engum admitted this. He also
admitted many other things that are
very detrimental to the radical plan
now engineered to destroy our school
district. Mr.. Stepan heard this and
also heard it admitted by several
speakers, that our case was entirely
different than that of Bruno. So why
not, flor the sake of taxes and good
schooD and in the name of common
sense and community harmony, with
draw this action to dissolve and give
away that which has taken twenty
years of conservative management to
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-03-02

poses a memorial to Congress calling
for federal unemployment insurance
program.
The more discussion of unemp'oy-
ment insurance the bet 1t is a
complicated subject and right now,
with the disastrous effect of unem-
ployment clearly in evidence. is the
best time to get attention for it.
"A federal law would avoid the dis
elimination from which Minnesota
employers would suffer under such a
law as is now before our legislature.
employers and employees have so
many common interests in such law
that their organizations should ge. to-
gether to lay basis for practical
legislation instead of working a
cross purposes.
There is so much good to be had
from well devised and sound pro-
gram to provide for unempl ,yment
and so much danger in an unsound
program that all directly concerned
should unite to obtain action and the
right kind of action, whether state or
national"
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-03-02
FOR IMITATION
4 SkOY American.

Editor ASkOv Amerlcan:
Volumes are being written against
initiation of currency: dire calamity
is being predicted if an actual infla-
ton of currency is put into effect;
nearly every paper person picks up
has some propaganda against infla-
ton in it and the radio emits loud
noises against any meddl1ng with
money, etc. However, nothing is being
said what will happen If nothing is
done, with farm strikes, labor threats
and bonus parades any one can see
who can see as far as his nose, what
is going to happen if something tang
ible is not done to remedy the con-
ditions which are destroying the eco
nomic structure of the country.
In my opinion, as large farm
owner in the state of Minnesota, hav-
ing property that has not paid me
one cent the last ten years, but has
been operated at a loss, l want to
say that currency initiation is more
important than even farm relief or
refinancing of farm loans, important
as they are. 1t will not help to arbi-
trarily boost up farm prices unless
people who have to buy farm products
have the price to pay for them. Our
foreign market, in general, for farm
products is gone forever and therefore
if the farmers are to prosper they
must have a good home market for
their products. With over twelve mil
lion wage earners out of work and
most of the rest working part time
little can be done for the farmers
until this condition is remedied.
Very few people understand the pur-
pose of money as a medium OF eX-
change. The people who do are
against initiation because they would
be adversely affected by it, therefore
they of course work against 1t ana
have succeeded so far to brOWDeat
congress into not doing anything. Tne
authorization for a billion dollars OF
new currency authorized last session
of Congress was not put into erect,
not one fifth of this amount OF new
money has actually been issued. Any
bills sponsored by the conservative
members of congress will null1fy
themselves.
If any actual initiation of currency
took effect the following things could
be expected:
Farm commodities would gradually
increase in price, making it possible
for farm owners to pay their debts
and retain their property.
Business would be stimulated caus-
ing more employment, taking up some
of the slack of unemployment they
would therefore be able to buy what
the farmer has to sell instead of liv-
ing off charity or the taxpayers as at
present.
The credit situation would be re-
lieved and made easier, due to the
effects of the debtor being able to
pay interest on his loans and his
taxes. This feature is the most i'm
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-03-02

cumulated by the issuance of shares
which may be paid for in cash or in
regular weekly or monthly install
ments. The installment unit is small,
generally 25 cents or SO cents or $1.O0,
payable weekly or monthly i'm the
average credit union. the insistence
being on the regularity of the saving
rather than on the individual amount.
In addition a shareholder may deposit
small and large amounts. The money
may be withdrawn at any time the
same as from a bank.
From the funds loans are made to
members for provident purposes (Of
real benefit to the bOrrOwer) at low
rates of interest, payable on a weekly
or monthly installment BASIS prOrated
over such period as the credit COM
mittee in each case may deem wise.
Loans are subject to such conditions
as regards security. ETC., as provided
by the rules and votes of the particu-
lar credit union and as required by
the credit committee.
1t will be noted that each credit
union is organized within specific
group of people, for example the en-
ployes of a factory, the employees OF
department store, and community
credit union within a well-defined
rural district
A member is one Of the group who
has subscribed for. at least one share
of par value of $500, payable 25
cents week or $1.00 a month.
The money is exclusively the saw
ings of members; it is used exclusive
ly to create credit resources for the
members at legitimate rates of in
terest for provident purposes: the
management is within a board of di-
rectors and committees chosen by and
from the members. Interest rates Oh
loans to members are fixed in each
case by the credit union with a gen
eral limitation that the rate must not
exceed one per cent Il month on bal
ances and all earnings revert to the
members as dividends on what they
have put in. except that 20 per cent
of the net earnings each year are set
tSlue dts ii guaranty luHu WHICH, De-
longs to the credit union creating it.
No one outside of the membership Of
the individual credit union can have
anything to do with it or participate
in any way in its earnings. Each
credit union operates under state
law and is examined annually by the
state banking department.
AS stated above. rural credit
union must be limited to well-de-
fined rural district The Askov Com
munity Credit Union is limited to Par
fridge township including village OF
AskOv: Finlayson township east OF
Kettle River; Sections %, 26, 80, SO
and that part of Section % and 81
east of Kettle river of Kettle River
township: Sections % to 36 inclusive
in Norman township; Sections 5, 6.
8, II, Is, 10. 20, 80, 80, 81, 81 il
Fleming township: Sections 1 to 1:
inclusive in Sandstone township, AZ
10: and Sections /, 2, IL, ~ and thai
part of Sections 3 and 10 east of ket
tie river i'm Sandstone township 42-2O
J. r. PETERSEN.
Askov, Mimi, Feb. %, 1888.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-03-02
THE RIGHT SPIRIT

An editorial in Mondays Du-
luth Herald concerning the re-
storation of world prosperity
through international cO-pera-
ton on war debts, disarmament
and the tariff. is very refreshing.
So many conservative daily news
papers have been upholding tar
iff and militarism, so that to
read an editorial with such lib
eral and cooperative tendencies
as the one in the Duluth news
paper, is indeed encouraging and
heartening.
The concluding paragraph is
especially broad and comprehen-
sive when it states that the ma
tions must realize their essential
unity and the fact that they all
share the same burdens and must
meet the same problems. The
editorial clearly brings out that
there must be less mistrust and
more confidence and cooperation
between nations 1t reads as fol-
lows:
World trade is disjointed, and no
single nation, however mighty, can
put it together again. The war debts,
increasing ornaments and an intri-
cate compleXity of protective tariff
systems, are all obstacles to world
recovery.
T,oJ;t,r nations uh FORGIVE
their debtors, but if that were all
there were to it the fruits would not
be large.
No single nation is going to disarm
in the face of world unrest, however
great its hope of peace or how strong
its belief in disarmament as a way to
peace.
And no nation is likely to drop its
tariff barrier regardless of what 9TH
er nations may do. That is too much
like disarming before the other fell
low does.
But if the nations will get together
to slider their common welfare, tC
realize that they are all in the same
boat and that only by unity in a com
mon purpose can there be help fol
any individual nation or the world
they can do great deal to restore
order, repair broken chains of inter
national trade, and get commerce
credit, money, employment and profit:
circulating freely once more.
If the nations once realize theil
essential unity and the fact that they
all share the same burdens and NEE
the same problems, the world will be
in fair way to redeem itself from
the burden of distress which the folly
of war has heaped upon it.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-03-02
LAW STILL NEEDED
Editor Askov American:

Editor Askov American:
was quite surprised to see what
long write-up Mr.. Mosbak could
make with the short paragraph of
mine as text He didn't keep very
close to the text, however, even gave
answer to something l never wrote.
| quoted only the last half of the
mentioned law paragraph and my
statement about crimes no less hide
Gus than theft and murder were not
made in regard to violations of mar
keting contracts but regarding lies,
malicious Islander, etc, and here l
still maintain that I'm right. If kill
ling or stealing of a mans or Organi-
cations reputation and good name is
not murder and stealing, | don't know
what it is. Many people, I'm sure,
will agree with me that name and
reputation is worth as much as money.
still remember of the lies, SANDER.
and mudslinging about the Minnesota
Potato Exchange some years ago.
There was no end to all the crimes
which the leaders of that association
were accused. None of which ever
was proved as far as | know. | don't
know whether or not it was the SLAM
der which killed the exchange, but |
know this much, if those lies could
have been 'cashed in." to the tune of
$500 or less it would have netted "a
good big sum.
Mr.. Mosbak, | understand, claims
| it to be worse than useless to legis-
late along this line at all. Maybe it
| is, I'm not quite so optimistic as Mos
| back: it seems, | think, We still need
good many laws and enforcement
hereof to compel people to do what's
right. Utopia is far off yet it seems,
the day people get to love their
neighbors and only want to do right
and justice, that day we probably will
be able to get along without very
many or any laws at all.
I'm glad, however, to see that Mr.
Mosbak is so optimistic. Optimism
probably goes farther than pessimism
| used to have the idea that optimism
and integrity belonged to youth and
SkepticiSm and pessimism to Older
people. but | guess l will have to re-
wise my ideas ON this matter-or is
Mr. Mosbak the exception which con
firms the rule.
| have not seen much more thar
half as many years go by as Mr.. Mos
back, and still | think l have learned
enough to justify the belief that lit
tie .'Mussolinism' and dictatorship
would be better than some of what We
have; better, for example, than money
and Wall-Street dictatorship.
Mr.. Mosbak may be right in his
opinion about the Minnesota snake
but | have seen plenty of poisonous
snakes in my life to justify the eX
preston | used. / don't know any
thing much more hideous than this
creature hiding in the grass striking
from behind at any innocent child OF
person who passes by. | have beer
told that the rattle snake is fair
enough to give a warning before il
strikes, but | have never seen this
faithful worker" working.
SIGURD ST0VRiNG.
Askov, MINI.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-03-02
UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR
COMMENTS

Following the Bj0rnsterne Bjornson
centennial celebration in the North
rup Memorial auditorium at the State
University in December the Askov
American gave write-up of the pro-
gram honoring the great Norwegian
writer, lecturer and statesman. The
address of President Coffman was
published in full as will be remem-
bered by readers Of this newspaper.
Amongst the speakers was Governor
Floyd b. Olson. DR.. Martin B. Ruud,
from the college of science, literature
and the arts-department of English
was the chairman. A letter received
recently by Editor Hjalmar Petersen
from DR.. Rudd conveys the following:
ION my return to college after an
illness that dragged out for six weeks,
was delighted to find on my desk,
copies of the Askov American for De-
cember Is and December %. Thank
you warmly for your courtesy. l was,
of course, interested in your account
of the Bjornson celebration and 1
shall be glad to have Mr.. Coffman's
speech in full.
But 1 think was still more
pleased to see your excellent paper.
When metropolitan journalism is be-
coming so largely syndicated, it is
good to see a newspaper that gen.
timely expresses community and q
personality. And it is right that such
paper should come from town
bearing the name of Askov, which
connotes the greatest of the forces
that have made the Danish people
what they are. And that in turn
called up in memory eight happy
months which, many years ago,
spent as a student in Denmark.
with best wishes and sincere
thanks once more, believe me,
Cordially yours,
MARTIN B. RUUD."
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-03-02

portant of all; with the indebtedness
amounting throughout the country to
over one hundred fifty billion dollars
it is essential that the debts be scaled
down instead of increased as they now
are being.
not have as much buying power, but
wages could gradually be increased
as conditions improved and more men
put to work, this would be better than
laying off more men and decreasing
the wage scale as at present.
Security holders. including bank de-
positors, bond holders, mortgage hold
ers and all others having a fixed in
come would have lowered buying
power, but this would be better than
a general liquidation of all securities
which is the only thing in sight right
now. All other countries of any con-
sequence except the United States
have inflated due to the large war
debt and have benefited thereby.
Germany, however, did not stop the
initiation soon enough, but this was
mainly due to the reparation feature
having to pay an impossible debt.
Most people will pay when they can,
but if the debt is made impossible
they will just lie down and pay moth
ing. There can be no prosperity until
the debt situation internally and ex-
ternally is solved. Issuing more bonds
extension of debts making them great
er is just making collapse more GER
tain and invites economic suicide.
S. J. SIMONSEN.
Chitina, Alaska, Feb 9, 1888
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-03-02
EXPLAINS CREDIT UNION
Editor Askov American:

Editor AskOv American:
On January Is, 1888, meeting was
held in the Assembly hall for the pur-
pose of forming a community credit
union. The meeting voted to organize
the AskOv Community Credit Union
and appointed committee to apply
for a charter The charter has now
been approved and with a few formal
tiles yet to be taken care of we will
be ready to organize. Another meet
ing will be called soon which will
elect board of directors of five. a
credit committee of three and SUI
perviSory committee of three. The
board of directors will have the gen.
eral management of the credit union.
The credit committee will have the
general supervision of all loans to
members. The supervisory committee
will make an examination of the at
fairs of the credit union at least
quarterly, including audit of its books
and submit reports to annual and
special meetings of members.
Several have asked: What is a
credit union?"
| will give short outline of it. A
credit union is a cooperative society
organized under a state law (under
the supervision of the state depart
ment) within a specific group of peo-
pie, with the twofOld purpose; O To
promote thrift among its members;
(2) To provide its members with
credit facilities.
In its method of organization, oper-
alton and control the credit union
is a blank in miniature" concerned
with the smallest units of saving and
equally small questions of credit.
The emphasis is upon saving in in
stallments at regular and frequent
intervals and the credit union de-
ponds for its success, on creating the
habit Of saving in its members.
The funds of credit union are ac-
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-03-02
TIME TO GET TOGETHER

Unemployment having grown to
tremendous proportions, and the prob
lem having been discussed more and
more as it developed, it is now gen.
orally conceded as being the para
mount question confronting our ma
tiOn today. 1t would naturally be best
if this national issue could be solve
by the federal government and with
this in view a Minneapolis represent
ative of the Minnesota Legislature has
introduced resolution memorializins
Congress to take action. The resolu-
ton will likely be acted upon this
week. Commenting on the far-reach-
ing proposal, the Minneapolis Daily
Star says:
Legislator Dewey Johnson pro-
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-03-02

10. Please explain (Mr. So what
you mean by "muddIe"? Do you
think that well equipped school of
our size and rank, drawing the state
aids as we are, and have cash. on hand,
do you think that that is mud
de? Perhaps you refer to the bonded
Indebtedness? But were you not OIL
the school board at the time the
splendid new building was built?
am told you were You we're proud
of it, | am sure.
IA. Now in regard to that so-calied
$4,000 loss. just finished looking
over the Public Examiners report,
and find that our cash at that time
in the closed bank was $22,641.OO. of
which a total of S20,691.OO was re-
claimed. This made a net loss of less
than $4,000. If the Integrity Bonding
Company had not gone broke" they
would have more than taken care of
that. Now, Mr.. Stepan was on the
board, | believe, when the final set
Element was made. Every board
member signed it. SO these facts
should be very clear to him. Why
not review the case and refresh the
memory?
10. Certainly, | believe that the
taxpayers should decide for them
selves, but Democracy demands that
THE truth, the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth" be presented
to them so that they can safely de-
eide. Thus far this has been denied
them, or as been neglected
16 Although | pay taxes here only
indirectly by paying rent, have spent
an active 10 years of my life time
in the interests of operating good
schools at lowest possible costs and
| for the largest possible state aids.
| | have helped to save and earn more
| in one year for taxpayers than their
whole tax budget amounts to. Who
is more interested in this question?
| find general conditions about the
same everywhere. | am beginning to
doubt the sincerity Of some people
here. Some don't seem to appreciate
what others try to do for them. Some
would tear down in a month what re-
quireS others years to build.
Il. Yes, | appreciate the fact that
Mr.. Poferl was always frank and fair
in expressing his very sound reasons
why the Willow River district should
not consider joining the unorganized
territory. | am also glad to hear that
Mr.. Miller is now of the same opinion.
Is. THE plan has worked in other
parts of the state for years" How has
it worked? Ask kOOchiching and Bel
trami counties. As for Pine county,
it is an admitted experiment. People
should wisely wait and see the out
come. As for forcing" this district
to do this unwise thing at this time.
who is so unwiSe as to think of it?
Certainly no business man would do
it, This kind of step is the right
thing for the sparcely populated ter
ritory, or for the territory that can
not make its own way, but Willow
River is in the other class. on a
sound. conservative basis.
10. | am sorry to have TO be forced
into any community discussion, even
| in self-defense and defense of the
school and taxpayers.
A f. GUSTAFSON.
superintendent.
Willow River, Mimi. Feb. 20, 1888.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-03-02
Editors Note-This column Is

Editors NOte-This column Is
offered to the readers of this
newspaper for the purpose Of dis.
cussing issues and 1t Is offered
with a whOlehearted desire to be
Of service to the upbuilding Of the
country and making progress In
government. However, letters
submitted should be short and
kept free from personalities. Per-
sOnalities will not help to obtain
the desired results I'm discus.
sion.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-03-02
OPINIONS OF OTHERS

(Short timely letters on topics
of public interest are welcome.
whether or not the writer's opin-
ions conform with those of the
American. All letters must he
signed with the writer's name for
our information. Signed articles al
ways are more effective. but II the
writer does not wish to have his
name used. 1t will be withheld.)
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-03-02

Give us kiss" said fellow to
girl in a car parked at the dance.
wait until l see who's with you
she replied.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-03-02

The fellow who does just enough
to get by never earns enough to buy
much
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-03-02

Hard work is the best investment
a man can make.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-03-02

A lot of people are hard to please
Some others are just as hard
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-03-02


Willow River. Mimi. Feb. 20, 1888.