Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-04-12
FEAR IS FROM
VERY SELFISH
So Says Candidate for Lieu
tenant Governor on the
FL. Ticket.
Hja1mar Petersen Declares
it Time for Masses to
Assert Themselves.

Having been asked by the press
to issue a statement on the
Farmer-Labor platform, program
and campaign, Hjalmar Petersen
of Askov. and running mate Of
Governor Olson in this campaign
as candidate for lieutenant gov
ernor, promptly did so. Only
small portion of the statement
has so far appeared in the daily
press, but it is published in its
entirety herewith, and follows:
BY HJALMAR PETERSEN.
1t is only the very selfish who have
anything to fear from the platform
and program of the Farmer-LabOr
party-those who demand profits OF
many thousands, hundreds of thou
sands, yes, even millions annually.
Those few and their paid hirelings
and mouthpieces are trying their best
to scare the citizenry away from a
militant progressive party that is not
dealing in palliatives but offers
concrete program that stands for
something's program that is con-
structive and gives renewed hope and
courage.
Furthermore, this platform and pro-
gram emulates from political party
with minority membership in the
State Legislature, but through the
leadership of a very able governor
was aggressive enough in the 1888
nj a;o1 70 y,
placed on the statute books of Mime
sofa some very good laws. 1t is not
wild cry in the wilderness from
idealists and dreamers but comes
| from men of experience who know
what life is and are putting their
shoulders to the wheel to better the
| lot of man.
Reviving Old Scare.
| individuals and corporations who
own and operate factories and shops
have absolutely nothing to fear from
the Farmer-Labor party in the matter
of competition in the ordinary chan
nels of trade. Conservatives and re-
dictionaries are only attempting to
scare the voters with their cry of
"confiscation" and challenge to per-
sonal liberty 1t is the same old red
herring that is being dragged across
the trail as when the state must be
saved from Socialism" in the cam
paign of Burnquist for governor six
teen years ago.
Individual home ownership-the Sc
curity and sanctity of the hOme-is
amongst the ideals of the Farmer
Labor party. The protection of the
farmer and the smaller business man
is naturally also in the program to
help the lot of the masses.
OF course it is to be expected that
there will be the usual propaganda of
business fleeing from the state" if the
Farmer-LabOr party gains majority
control of the Legislature and state
elective offices. Voters will remember
how Minnesota reactionary newspa-
pers tried in the campaign of 1882 to
make out that industry had moved
| from Wisconsin on account of the
state income tax there in the past 20
years. AS a matter of fact-and sta
tistics will bear this Wisconsin
has had wonderful industrial develop
ment during that time. the Develop
ment being far above the average of
the United States.
Income Tax Made Law.
Minnesota got it's state income tax
in the 1888 session of the Legislature.
And the money derived therefrom is
to be equally distributed all over the
state on a school population basis
likely the best distribution of the
money that could be brought about.
Have you heard of. or do you know
of, any industries leaving Minnesota
on account of this tax?
There must be a better and more
just application of the tax burden
taxes to be paid more on basis of
| ability to pay-,and the Farmer-Labor
party is constantly working with this
in mind.
Huge individual incomes running
into millions annually have no place in
| true democracy. 1t makes for want
and suffering on the other hand. Our
course must be changed, there must
be different viewpoint on life. The
idea that those who scrape in the mil
lions to themselves serve best is fast
| changing. But the newer thought
must be carried into action and the
political party that represents the
masses is the one to do it. Individu-
ais, and capable men too, will be lust
as happy and moreso with less of the
huge unearned incomes when they see
the results: more universal content
ment and happiness.
Want Economic Security.
Economic conditions In America to-
day are in a sad plight with millions
(COnffnued m pa~N ~