Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-09-20
ADVISES STRAIGHT THINKING
Editor AskOv American:

ADVISES STRAIGHT THINKING
Editor Askov American:
Once more we hear the terms rad
ical and conservative. These terms
are applied at random to those who
either agree or disagree with us. l
will again define the words to the
best of my ability and then you can
decide whether you want to be termed
as a radical or a conservative. Ac-
cording to WebSter'S dictionary, a
conservative is one having the ten
dency or power to preserve; that
which preserves; one opposed to hasty
changes in political, religious or civil
institutions of the country. A radical
is defined as one; pertaining to the
root or origin; fundamental; original;
underived; extreme; one of the ultra
liberal party.
After thoroughly diagnosing these
terms we can decide what we would
like to be. And even although the
Republican or Democratic party lead
ers call us radicals it is not so bad
after all. Show me one thing con-
structive done in this good old world
of ours, and l will show you it has
been done by, what the world then
called radicals; some one who dared
to think originally and to blaze the
path for better things.
There is a rule in politics, I be-
lieve, that those who force new issues
to the front, in so doing-make so
many enemies that when their ideas
become recognized as having any
merit to them, they can not reap, so
in other words,-'Virtue is its own
| reward" He who is not willing in
/ these crucial times to give every
thing in him, to at least try to al
leviate the terrible suffering of body
and soul of his fellow men has no
place in the service of government.
He should be ashamed to seek place
of responsibility unless he feels he
is thoroughly qualified to perform the
complicated duties which the office
| he seeks demands at this time.
The Farmer-Laborite candidates of
this state, who seek office of any
great responsibility, are men of the
| type, who in the old vernacular-
will put out-and by that l mean
men who want to serve their fellow
men unmercenarily, without any hope
of reward. They just want to help.
Of course they epXect that in so doing
they are secured a decent living. But
outside of this qualification no man
should expect any more. If the flu
ture is not worth while, nothing can
be saved. Those who have not at
heart got the definite expectation
that right will eventually triumph
as that goes. at any time, have no
place in the public service.
In my opinion men should not be
separated into conservatives or rad
icals. l should think that better
classification would be negatives and
positives. In other words those who
want to rest on past laurels, either
personal or ancestral, or those who
have nothing but their future deeds
to rest on in claiming a place in
the sun.
We are fortunate at this time to
have at the head of the United States
government a man who is good at
heart; a man who actually wants to
do something for the under dog"
He is a man who was born in riches
and as far as actual want, knows
nothing personally. But he has tried
to do everything possible to help those
not so fortunate. Outside of the Econ
omy Act passed in the early part of
his administration and later modified
l know of no legislation that he has
sponsored-not for the welfare of the
masses. This Act was later modified
and amended. But l will have to
admit that it is a black mark against
the administration, which in a way
can be overlooked as conditions were
very bad when our President took
office.
But on the whole there is no pres
idential election this year, but we
are electing a senator to the United
States Senate; nine representatives
to the United States House of Repre-
sentatives, and governor for Mime
sofa and other important officials.
Within another two years, the depres-
sion must be solved as it cannot go
on forever: either one way or another.
Things can not go on much longer.
1t is of extreme Importance that ev-
eryone having vote think clearly
and thoroughly. There are any num-
Der of candidates to choose from, but
be sure you vote for your material
and moral welfare. Don't think be-
cause you may have a good position
now, that you are exempt. Within
the next two years, you may be on
the bread line, forced into the rolls
of the unemployed, your money and
property destroyed in the deluge.