Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-12-06
FARMERS DIDN'T DO 1T
Editor AskOv American:

Editor Askov American:
Well, see our old friends, the Re-
publicans, are at their old trick of try
ing to antagOnize labor and the farm
ers. According to the old adage figures
don't lie, but still there is nothing to
prevent liars from figuring. Have just
been reading one of the reactionary
papers of Minneapolis and a certain
political writer goes into details to
show that the farmers have definitely
split with the Farmer-Labor party.
In order to attempt to prove his con-
tentiOns he has made out an analytic
chart showing that the urban counties
went Republican. In his argument he
valves the fact that some of our
counties are controlled by the large
villages in southern Minnesota He
admits that the large cities of Mime
sota-Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Du-
luth voted by large majorities for
Olson, but wants to leave the impress
sion that the farmers have turned re-
dictionary. Let US analyze a little. and
see where liars can nearly make fig
ures lie.
Take for instance our home county,
Pine, where the population is largely
farmers. Olson carried, but he failed
to carry the larger villages. Take
Ottertail county where the population
is mostly in villages and small cities
like Fergus Falls, Pelican Rapids,
Henning and others, Nelson carried,
but if you look up the votes Of the
townships you will find that Olson car
ried as far as the farmers are con-
cerned.
l have analysed everything that l
could get ahold Of and l find that in
every county that went reactiOnary,
it was the voters of the villages and
small cities which threw it that way.
Why most of the merchants and the
inhabitants of the villages will vote
against the interest of the farmers on
whom they depend l am unable, to say.
There may be a certain amount of
ox-like ignorance connected with it.
But on the whole | have noticed after
good many years of experience in
large and small villages throughout
Minnesota, that some people who live
in the villages look down on the farm
ers. They want to play them for
suckers and make out that they are
superior in intelligence and that the
farmers are not to be supported po-
litically but are to be fooled and
| double crossed in all things. In other
| words they think it is fashionable tC
vote against the interest of the farm
ers, and parrot-like talk like big bust
ness men. In doing this they get
good support from the powers that be
In other words when some urban peo-
pie get a hair cut, a shave, a few
cents in their pockets and a new
Sears-ROebuck suit they think it i;
smart work against those who are
feeding them and on whose welfare
they themselves depend.
While Olson and Petersen won, Their
good intentions and power for the goot
of the masses will be largely nullifieC
by a reactionary House as well as {
reactionary Senate. The reactionaries
are lining up great; they have the
speakership of the House and have ap
pointed a Mr.. Johnson from Duluth
who is alleged to be closely associ
ated with the Steel Trust.
A MIR. Dunn from Pelican Rapids
apparently is going to run the whole
show He represents the very worst
in the reactionary line.