Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-03-01
PROPERLY LABELED

In criticising the Farmer-Labor
party a conservative writer puts it
this way:
The whole tradition of the
Farmer-Labor party is one OF dis
regard for the non-party theory
of Minnesota elections"
The Farmer-Labor party has gone
on record against the no-party system
of the state Legislature. Not only
has it been plank in the party
platform TO elect the legislative MEM
bers on a party basis but party men,
bers in the Legislature have so voted.
And why has the progressive patty
taken this stand? Because conserv-
atives and reactionaries have often.
through handshaking and posing as
being quite liberal here and there
amongst the voters, meeting them in
dividually or in small groups, gained
their votes and the election. Those
fellows would have hard time Sc
curing the endorsement from leaders
of the Farmer-LabOr party or at party
conventions, in fact they would not
get the o. X. That's where party re-
sponsibility comes in.
The Minnesota Legislature has been
OF a no-party basis for 30 years. Ex-
perienced politicians in the state and
those who spend some time in the
egislature-the newspaper writer's
the members themselves and others.
can tell where each member belongs.
A person informed on the membership
and who has watched few votes can
soon tell whether the individual men,
Der is a Republican, Democrat or
Farmer-Laborite, or whether he is
reactiOnary, conservative. liberal, or
progressive.
That being the case. why not have
him labeled right from the home dis
trict, so everybody knows more about
him? The voter will know more about
who and what he is voting for if each
and all of the candidates for the
state Legislature run as partisan can
didates-Farmer-L Republican,
or Democrat.
Having observed how very partisan
are the conservatives and reaction
aries when it comes to voting on pub
lie ownership of public utilities, saving
or exploiting the natural resources of
the state, important tax measures, and
other legislation of statewide impor-
lance, one naturally concludes that
they ought to be labeled properly.
The powerful interests of the state
know who goes to the Legislature
even if many of the voters do not.
Don't forget that.
The interests make their check-up
through their lobbyists and other rep
resentatives and they know whether
the candidate is reactionary or pro-
gressive, though running as nom
partisan. 1t is not so easy for the
hundreds or thousands of voters to
check. Therefore have them labeled
and the voters will know more about
the candidates and what principles
are being promoted by the selection
The Farmer-Labor party is for a
Legislature with party designation so
we may know what's what and who's
who.
ChuSI lHe present system tOO HldLy
slickers get in. 1t works to the adj
vantage of the fellow who can be one
thing here and something different
there-whO sets his sails to the winds
and is all things to all men.
1t is not necessary to know how a
candidate for the Legislature is going
to vote on all bills, especially the
81 !, &c
on fundamental issues should he
known and that can best be known if
he carries a party label. 1t makes
for less confusion to the voter.