Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-09-20
WANTS REFORM
Askov, MINI.
Editor Askov American:


S. ]. SimOnsen said in your paper:
'The old line parties of the state Re-
publicans and Democrats claim they
only want to perpetuate American
ISM" They are right in saying that.
They have done it so far and will
keep on doing it. Americanism is
to live up to the constitution and con-
stitutional laws, that give the rich
the right to gather up all the wealth
of the nation for themselves. (They
may have used a little graft and
bride. i don't know but l think SOY.
And a majority of the voters voted
for their candidates at every cleo
ton; so that must be American
ism that a few shall have all the
wealth. No wonder that the old
parties stick to their constitutional
rights and the old Americanism that
made them rich.
Simonsen is quoting extracts from
the Declaration of Independence, but
not from the Constitution; so | sup
pose there is nothing in the Consti-
toSAOh thoS iO iihOo W uoC, uuI IL ID
fact that the Declaration is only
history after the Constitution was
adopted. 1t was to let England and
the whole world know what they
wanted, and to state reasons why.
After the Constitution was adopted
the Declaration of independence has
no more bearing on governing of the
nation than a repealed part of the
Constitution would have. After quot
ing from the Declaration Simonsen
says: 81 claim it was written by pro-
gressives who understood that human
rights supersede property rights" In
contradiction to this we read in
amendments to the Constitution Arti-
Gle 5: nor shall private property be
taken for public use without just COM
pensation." So when the rich once
get the whole thing they shall have
the right to keep it whether the 9TH
ers Starve or not. And he says, that
it is necessary for $40 of the popula-
tion to eat regularly as we'll as the
other three per cent who think that
IiiC GUN SllOuld Ouly LII IllOhl.
Simonsen is right in that, but what
good is it to have it in the Declara-
tion of Independence, but not in the
Constitution as it shall go by? No
law can be built with the Declare
ton as a foundation for it.
The Constitution should be amended
so to be in harmony with the Declara-
ton; but as long as we have it as
it is, it should not be violated when
all officers are by oath held to go
by it and support it.
The Declaration is only history but
good history, and let us work to get
the Constitution amended so to get it
in conformity with it.
Now Mr.. Simonsen, I will ask you
to tell me and the readers where in
the Constitution the Congress is
given the power to give any more
power to the President than that
given to him in Article 2 in the Con-
stitution. l can not find it, and no
body so far has been able to tell me.
If that can not be found then the NRA
is unconstitutional. In Article 1, Sec
tion 8 part 3 we read: mo expost
facto law shall be passed" In Web
sters Dictionary that is defined: A
law which deals with acts done be-
fore it's passage. In same Article, Sec
tion 10, we read: mo State shall
pass any eXpost facto law, or law i'm
pairing the obligation of contract"
Such laws have been passed contrary
to the Constitution. No wonder that
there is so much talk about the Con-
stitution and the violations of it.
l have voted the Farmer-Labor
ticket ever since the party was or
ganized, but l would like to see it a
little more progressive, and l hope it
will be; but 1 don't expect it until