Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-07-12
HAPPY TO LIVE
IN THESE DAYS
Continued from Page -

VerSlty men, nlSn ScnOOl people, news
papers, ETC., were subsidized, which
all came out in the Senate investiga-
tion a few years ago, said Mrs. Le-
Sour.
Minnesota is the first state in the
Union in producers co-operatives and
yet there is not a word about it in
the text books, said the speaker.
There must be an increase in democ
racy. There is an undermining in
the faith of the child if the teach
ing does not square with what is
going on outside. Labor saving ma
chinery is bought to keep up with
the progress, but social institutions
trial development. The social study
has been history-the past-but there
is an awakening amongst educators.
A five years work was undertaken by
the American Historical Society with
an investigation for a social study
curriculum, the 16 volumes published
on the work being very comprehen-
sive.
| Emerging of New Society.
I'VE are living in an age where
we are witnessing the merging of a
new SOciety-a society of cOllectiv-
ISM continued the speaker. 1T may
go to public ownership of all property
or private ownership more widely
distributed amongst the masses. 1t
| is time for the Farmer-Labor plat
form"
The Tennessee valley project is the
American experiment in a planned
society. 1t affects directly about two
million people and indirectly about
six million people, taking in seven
or eight states. Electric current is
sold by the Tennessee Authority, the
federal government body, to munich
palitieS at wholesale for two mills
per kilowatt hour. In turn it is sold
by the municipalities to the consum-
ers for three cents per X. H. and
down. the average being ~ cents
per X. H., said the speaker.
Mrs. LeSeur went on to explain
that in Norway they have electricity
on every farm and so it should be
in America. The American text books
would have the child think that cleo
tricity can not be had on every farm
in America because of lack of nat
ural water power. Plenty of power
in America, she explained, and fur
thermore steam produces cheap cur
rent. Besides furnishing current, the
Tennessee Authority also sells electric
appliances to the consumers of cur
rent at greatly reduced prices.
Back to Rural Districts.
Good roads will aid in the decen-
tralization of industry and put a sort
of stop to the continuous growth of
large industrial centers, said the
speaker. Early in the United States
history the population was 95 per
cent rural, now it is about SO per
cent urban. Electric power becoming
more available the tide will be back
to the rural districts and away from
the congested centers. The children
should study what is happening to-
day. They should be exposed to the
truth and nothing but the truth for
they must make mOmentous decisions
in the next few years.
Mrs. LeSeur said there are too many
attorneys with a property rights
psychology and training, and not
enough with the human rights view
point-the social viewpoint. They
should be looking forward instead of
backward. Some years ago she and
her husband became interested in a
school at Fort Scott, KanS., for the
training of young people with social
viewpoint. At this school she taught
English and for that act in peoples
college, she was called a Communist
by reactionaries she said, adding also
that there is need for good English.
The speaker went on to say that
she is happy she is living in this age
and can take part in the changes
for the better, for she said, Il hate
competition, it is unchristian this
going at the brothers throat"
Throw Off Yoke.
In the middle ages, said the speak
er. people in Europe lived in bondage
under petty barons. Then arose the
strong central powers under leaders
like Bismarck and Napoleon who rem
dered social service in their day.
Capitalism has built rapidly and
we'll, for only rs years ago there was
little settlement and improvements in
| Minnesota. 1t is a wonderful trans
| formation that has taken place in
that short time. But today, said the
speaker, America has its industrial
monarchs like Europe had its polit-
ical monarchs and there is a new
struggle for democracy. The people
must grid themselves for battle. Why
should there be any princes of prop
erty and 5000 men ruling the destinies
of the people? The yoke must be
thrown off, she said.
AS a member of the Minnesota
Board of Education, Mrs. LeSeur said
material is being prepared for dis
tribution in the schools, such as So
cial studies work bulletins and
amphlets-factual material.
The able speaker concluded her adj
dress by stating that the ancient
Greeks stood on the backs of human