Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-04-05
FL. WELCOMES
FIGHT ON ISSUES
Opposition, Apparently, VIII Wage
Campaign Against Public Owner.
ship Platform.
BY HENRY G. TEIGAN

The Farmer-LabOr Convention OF
March 81 and %, 1884, is now history.
The general story of the convention
has been told in the press, and on
that account / am going to comment
only briefly on the results.
1t is apparent that the Republicans
and Democrats of Minnesota for once
are going to make the Farmer-Labor
platform an issue. In years gone by
it has been virtually impossible to
get our political enemies to discuss
the program. They have confined
themselves to attacks upon the cam
didates and to criticisms of the lead
ers of the movement. Now the situa-
ton seems to have changed.
Old-Party Argument.
The argument of the opposition is
that the Farmer-Labor platform con-
tains too much of public ownership;
that it is, in fact, socialistic in its
detectives and that the Farmer-Labor
party has in view establishing a Co
operative commonwealth for the pres
ent existing capitalist system.
Well, it will be satisfying indeed to
Farmer-Laborites and radicals of all
varieties to go through a campaign
meeting the foe on real issues and
not having to defend our candidates
against villainous attacks of all sorts
against the leadership and the ticket.
Radical by Comparison.
The platform is indeed radical COM
parties. Moreover, it is definite both
as to objective and as to details. The
platform does not, however, differ
substantially from those adopted at
previous Farmer-LabOr Conventions.
The ultimate purpose of the move
ment was stated in more general
terms in former platforms, while in
the present case the program is set
forth in greater detail and in more
definite terms.
Do the Republicans and Democrats
of Minnesota want to defend the pres
ent capitalist system with its bank
ruptcies, closed banks, unemployment
and miseries that it has entailed?
If the gentlemen dominating the Re-
publican and Democratic parties will
consider the situation carefully they
will hesitate before they challenge
the wisdom of the Farmer-Labor plat
form. Perhaps on second thought
they will again resort to their old
methods of mud-slinging, vitupera-
tive attacks and personal defamation
of the candidates.
1920 Campaign Recalled.
1t will be recalled that back in
1920 the expenditure of $4,000 by the
socalled Sound Government Associa-
ton for the publication of booklet
attacking the leaders of the Nonpar-
tisan League brought results. Prob
ably they may be able to secure once
more the services of persons previous
ly connected with the Farmer-Lahor
party to do their bidding in making
such attacks. 1t costs money, but
then, Decker, Jaffray, ct al, will sup
ply that part of it.
Governor Olson has given his APP
prevail of the platform. 1t is equally
certain that the other candidates on
the ticket are standing on the plat
form just as the Governor is doing.
Fight Oh Senator.
The hot spot in the convention, as
it were, was the fight for endorse
ment for United States Senator. Sen
ator Henrik Shipstead was endorsed
by a vote of approximately three to two
for Congressman F. H. Shoemaker
Mr.. Shoemaker has filed for the sena-
torship and will no doubt wage an
active campaign in support of his
candidacy in the primary. Senator
Shipstead it would seem, however,
will have the edge inasmuch as he
now carries the endorsement of the
Farmer-Labor Association.
The ticket endorsed at the conven-
tion is as follows:
Governor-Floyd B. Olson, Mime
apolis.
Lieutenant Governor Pc
tersen, AskOv.
Secretary of Stack. K. Solberg,
Clarkfield.
Attorney General-Harry H. Peter
son, st. Paul.
State Auditor-John T. Lyons, LIE
Center.
State Treasurer-A H. Kleffman,
Hibbing.
Railroad & Warehouse Commission
er-Charles Mum, Osseo.
Clerk of the Supreme Court-Laura
e. Naplin, Thief River Falls.