Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-05-31
THE NATIONAL
GOVERNMENT
nv CONG. JOHN PAUL KvALE

nose. Two weeks ago 1t was the pidch
cloud of wind-driven soil which had
been bodily lifted from the normally
fertile fields of the midwest states.
This week it has been the rioting OF
desperate wage earners in our largest
city, Minneapolis.
In these columns two weeks ago 1t
was pointed out that the graphic les
son of the dust cloud came at pecu-
liarly appropriate time. and the lesson
has really been learned. The result
has been that, as never before, the al.
ministratiOn has set to its task Oh
providing immediate and adequate re-
lief, in cutting red tape, in seeing
the urgent needs are met ana that
comprehensive and intelligent pro-
gram is laid out which will continue
after Congress has left for the year.
True enough, any program Will fall
to satisfy all the needs and require
ments, and will have its shortcomings.
Yet, with a fair-minded appreciation
of the limits to which the federal gov
eminent can go mindful of the re-
strictions set by law and the avail
ability of money, drought-stricken
areas may safely feel that the ad-
ministration is doing and will do all
il humanity can to see that the people
in the grip of this tragic blight will
be given real and sustained help as
long as the need shows itself.
That program will take care of the
absolute minimum requirements or
the actual farm operators and their
families and stock, it is stated. Nat
urally, it cannot include the large
groups who have been left without sup
port or work in each community where
the discrimination of the CWA work
has left many people unemployed, I'M
able as yet to find any work-through
no fault of their Own-and reduced to
the soul-searing necessity of depending
upon straight relief funds.
Such a situation can have only one
result. These groups are desperate;
they are unreasoning. they cannot
think normally. Their patience has
collapsed. They make impossible de-
mands, and negative reply only in
creases their desperation and their i'm
patience with conditions as they now
exist and their pessimism as toward
any improvement that may reasonably
be expected. In demanding amend
ment of present relief money distri-
button and resumption of civil works,
they are met by flat refusal of the ad-
miniStratiOn even to consider it. That
reply they regard as unsympathetic
and they resent it. For that they GER
tainly cannot be blamed.
They fail to recall what has been
recorded in these columns at length
in past weeks as the sessions story
has unfolded. The administration,
from the President down, simply can
not take any other position in view of
the fiscal program and the required
annual appropriations. These leaders
have done the next best thing; they
have pledged that no citizen will go
hungry, and that the newly-created
joint drought committee and the
drought administrator will see that
farmers in the crippled areas may
have assistance to put in crops to
carry them through, to be given ac-
cess to feed and supplies that will
keep at least the best part of the
herds that have so carefully been
built up to good quality over long
period of years, and to see that they
are given credit assistance to meet
their needs.
Further than that, they are now
planning to resume some kind of CWA
of similar activity with the advent OF
cold weather, to see the unemployed
through the next winter season. And
by that time the New Deal, they hope
will make it's effects felt on business
throughout the nation. In that con-
nection, regular readers of these let
tiers will soon see the climax of the
fight which has quietly but forcefully
been going on behind the scenes fol-
several weeks to increase the est1-
mates for public works expenditures
for the coming year. Some progress
may possibly be made in the House
but the chances are that the real
constructive effort will come on the
Senate side, led by Senators LaFol-
lette, Costigan, Couzens, Shipstead
Norris, and other Progressives.
Then, this weeks news of the Min
neapolis truck drivers appalling set
to with the strike-breakers and police
forces has had a telling effect or
Washington officials. Apparent failure
of the national and the regional labor
boards to conclude a prompt settle.
ment satisfying, or at least acceptable
to both the employees and the employ
ers has demonstrated the weaknesses
of the existing law just when that ha:
been desperately needed in Congress
1t may be terrible price to pay fOl
the awakening, but it is nevertheless
the truth that the awakening seems
to have resulted. Then, of course, the
Toledo riots and other disturbance:
have followed or have taken place a
about the same time.
So the rather small groups in boil
the House and the Senate which have
warned against exactly such a situa
ton arising, and which have beer
pleading for the enactment of thu
Wagner labor disputes bill, do no
have their hand strengthened. The bill
will give MIRA authorities the powe
to bring EMPLOYERS, whether large o