davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-12-27
INSULT ACQUITTED
INDIANAPOLIS NeWS)

The third trial of men connected
with the collapse of the insult ''util-
ity empire" and the second involving
the insults, resulted in the acquittal
of Martin ]. insult, who was brought
back from Canada to answer the
charge. He was accused by the state
of Illinois of having exceeded his au-
thority under the charter of a corpo-
ration. The specific offenSe named
involved the use of a corporations
money to purchase stock that had
been deposited with broker to secure
private account. The state alleged
embezzlement. The jury decided that
insult acted within his authority. and
brought in a verdict of not guilty.
In discussions by the jurors after
their verdict was read, some admitted
transaction. Both the state and the
defense had offered elaborate charts
and surveys of business customs to
prove that the act was, or was not,
within the law. But apparently nei-
Their was able to reduce the intricacieS
Of the situation to a plain display. 1t
was not that the jurors lacked COM
prehenSion, for their records showed
that they are men of experience and
self-reliance in their personal affairs.
AS in many such instances, it seems
probable that they fell back on their
judgment of men to reach a conclu-
sion compatible with their consci-
ence. They ratified Martin Insults
declaration from the witness chair
that he had no evil intent.
While it is assumed that the fed
eral government offered its strongest
case against Samuel insult and the
state followed the same course in the
trial of Martin insult, the acquittals
have not concluded the effort to eX-
plOre all the criminal possibilities Of
the situation. Samuel insults state
trial on an embezZelement charge is
set for January 9, and the state has
scheduled another embezzlement case
against Martin insult for trial week
later. 1t is clear that both federal
and state attorneys have striven to
obtain verdict of guilty. While they
have failed of their purpose, they have
rendered a valuable service in max
ing public record of business
practices against which it is expected
investors will hereafter take care to
protect themselves.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-12-27
SPEAKS HIGHLY OF SHORT
COURSE

Editor AskOv American:
So they put me on the committee
to secure new members for the Home
makers Short Course. If telling you
about my trip last year was all it
took, l know most of you would go,
but no, it takes much more than that
For 10 years l had wanted to go. but
like the rest of you l knew my hus-
band and children could not survive
one whole week without me. But last
winter my husband said l was going.
He sent the three year old girl and
myself off on the Sunday noon bus,
and for one week he sent four chill
dren, with lunch, to school every day,
besides doing the cooking and all his
chores, and when we came home Sat
urday evening they were all well and
happy.
AS for me, have never had trip
like it. Just one whole week of going
to school, and you have no idea how
much there is to learn until you have
been there. How to do your canning;
to cook or roast your meat, how to
cut it, it's value, how to serve it.;
how to take care of invalids; what
food is best for children, also books,
and toys; how to use patterns. make
curtains, and buy goods; how and
what groceries to buy; color scheme
in your home, and many more things.
Besides there are many subjects on
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-12-27
MOVING TO BETTER FARMS
(The St. Paul Daily News)


Minnesota will be the scene of a
most interesting experiment in $50
cial planning" next year.
Largely through the financial as
sistance of the federal government
some 300 farm families are to be
taken bodily from so-called submar-
ginal lands in Roseau and Lake of the
Woods counties and moved to better
farms. Their present farms are to be
acquired by the AAA at an estimated
cost of $350OO0 while the SERA is
going to provide $3S0,OOO to put them
on the new farms. The land which
the government is buying from these
farmers is going to revert to forest
area.
At present it seems somewhat il
logical to take farmers from poor land
and put them on good-to increase
further the products which the AAA
is engaged in curtailing in order to
maintain better price level.
But in the long run, if and when
purchasing power increases, the ma
ton will be better off and farming on
sounder basis if only the best land
is used. This particular venture is
then most interesting step toward
the realization of a longtime program
of national planning.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-12-27

lions trust has been using the gov
eminent to peddle it's wares. The
army and navy departments. it seems,
have been working hand in glove with
the DuPOnts in years gone by, the
former even going to the extent of
lOaning nearly all Of it's supply of a
high priced chemical to the DuPonts
so they could make a sale to Japan
without having to wait until they had
time to manufacture supply of their
own. Investigation of wartime con-
tracts between the government and
the DuPonts showed one instance in
which they cleaned up two million
dollars on government contract
without a dollar of investment them
selves. The investigations also dis
closed that the munitions trust CT
ficials were in such close contact with
the federal government that they even
stopped to sell army secrets to Japan
in exchange for munitions sales. If
even half the crimes against the gov
eminent which the Investigators
charge to the munitions trust heads
are true, the name DUPONT should go
down in American history as few
points lower than that of Benedict
Arnold
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-12-27
VAAGN OP KVINDE!
(Blooming Prairie Times)

AS the MOntevideo News so fitting
ly pointed out and viewed with alarm,
the women of our Lutheran church
seem to be falling from the faith.
Things have come to a pretty pass
when it takes a German like w. F.,
Schilling to sound the alarm and ask
the women of the Lutheran church at
Mortified why they are not serving
lutefisk dinners any more. The sly
old deutscher gives the church women
little nudge with his clarion cry:
"Vaagn OPP Kvinde"
This we are sorry to relate seems
to be national trend. Gone is the
pioneer spirit and the rugged indi-
vidualism of the old prairie days. We
will never forget the shock when we
picked up our newspaper down in Wis
cOnSin to read the announcements of
two church suppers. The Lutherans
were serving a regular roast beef sup
per but the Baptists had gone Nor
wegian advertising lutefisk, lefse, Ber-
liner kranser, lignon Der, fatigman
and bakels. Our old faith is return
ing but it will take years until we re-
cover from that body blow. o tenn
pora, o mores!
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-12-27

the Farmers Course of interest to
women, as poultry and gardening.
And while you are learning all this
you are mingling with from 200 to
300 women from all over Minnesota,
who all have the same interest in
life as you have. l met three women
last year who had come all the way
from Canada.
My expense for noon lunch and car
fare to my brothers home, where my
little girl stayed, was $500. When l
go again l hope to rent a room near
the University and stay there all
week, then l can also enjoy the free
movies and other entertainment,
which is given every evening.
If there are any questions to ask
about the course 1 will be glad to
help you. | live two miles north Of
Sandstone, on the highway.
MRS. SIGURD MOSBEK.
Sandstone, MINI.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-12-27

condenses the Christian faith and
mode of living. Glory to God Is ex-
emplified in an upright life and peace
on earth is the expression of a
sublime and sensitive humanity. The
world struggles bravely toward the
goal and Mans inhumanity to man"
yields to the mellowing grace of civil
lied society
Civilized society is most intense in
the family group, focused around e
common remembrance, however far
scattered it's members may be. The
home at Christmas time is the symbol
OF that peace and open-hearted living
for which the world so wistfully
seeks. The gifts. the gay cries Of
happiness, the sweet union of kind
ness together form the cradle of man
kinds better destiny.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-12-27
NOT so BAD

The OwatOnna Public Utilities COM
mission presented the people of Owa-
tonna a christmas gift" of approx
mately $4,000.
The gift includes receipted bills for
December for all electric current
used, and marked the second success
sive year the municipal utilities has
presented receipted bills. last years
total gift being $11,160.66.
The municipal light and power
plant was built at Owatonna about 10
years ago and has been money
maker for the people of that southern
Minnesota city right along. They
burn natural gas riped up from the
state of Oklahoma which by the way
now serves many Minnesota commun-
tiles. The heat from the gas produces
the steam which goes to the turbine
and produces the current through the
dynamo. Not only does the municipal
plant furnish electric current all over
the city but the business portion and
part Of the residential sections are
afforded heat from the steam The
are all we'll lighted and the
citizens there are proud of their mum
icipal plant which now represents an
Investment of over a million dollars.
A visit to the plant is interesting,
for it is a good example of what can
be done by we'll managed public
utility. 1t gives work to about twenty
people and is the last word in eff
ficiency, orderliness and cleanliness.
That sort of public ownership spells
economy and service.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-12-27
THE CHECK TAX

The two cent federal tax on bank
checks has not been SO popular,
though it has produced needed rev.
enue in these depression times. II
more people were writing checks as
was the case back five to ten years
ago, the tax would be less popular.
If it is a tax that is necessary some
consolation may be gained by remem-
boring how valuable checks are as
receipts. When mailing a check you
have a receipt for the price of two
cents which you pay in the federal
tax upon the check. If the receiver
of the check was to send an outright
receipt it would cost a three cent
stamp to do that.
If Congress does not continue The
check tax it will automatically be off
next Tuesday.
This tax produced Sal, 3S3,19S last
fiscal year. but the opinion is ex-
pressed in many quarters at the ma
tional capital that it will not be re-
vived.
Some House members, however,
have received intimations that Con-
gress may be asked to levy new taxes
on other thingS-though a decision
on their nature, these legislators un-
derstand, will not be made until the
administration completes it's budget
and relief plans.
More than a score Of taxes expire
or change six months hence unless
they are re-enacted. After a recent
conference with President Roosevelt,
Chairman Doughton, Democrat, of
North Carolina, of the ways and means
committee said he feared it would
be necessary to extend the expiring
nuisance" levies.
Estimates by committee tax ex-
perts say these temporary levies will
produce S416,000,0O0 in revenue in the
present fiscal year, ending next
June 80.
This does not include the bank
check tax nor the extra cent on first
class postage. Incidentally, reduc-
tion from to 2 cents in such postage
becomes effective automatically next
July 1.
Levies that will expire June 80
and the revenue they are expected
to bring in during the present fiscal
year are:
Lubricaing oil, $25,239,OOO; brew
ers' wort and grape concentrate
S1,283,OOO; matches, $3,216,OOO; gaso
line, S185,O43,OOO; electrical energy
$32. SS6,00O; toilet preparations, $40,
$4,000; fur articles, $2,O0O,000; jew
elry, $1,500,00O; radios and phono
graphs. $3,7S2.OOO; mechanical re
frigerators, $5,SS3, 900; sporting goods
$4,831 900; firearms and shells, SASS,
900; chewing gum, 100000; teleph, ne
telegraph and cable, $2O,981 900
transportation of oil by pipe line
$9,388,00O; import excise taxes OF
coal. copper, lumber, malt and petro
leum, $1O,OOO,OOO to $11,OOO,OOO
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-12-27
USING THE SAME TACTICS

Editor Askov American:
According to reports, Baby Face"
Nelson used his wife as shield to
protect himself against the gunfire of
U. S. agents.
The big utilities corporations and
holding companies are usng similar
tactics: frantically pushing the wild
ows, orphans and small stockholders,
to whom they have sold their worth
less stock, to the front as shield to
protect their own greedy, selfish in
terests.
If these small investors (all of
whom are consumers of light, gas,
telephone, etc.) who have been "roped
in" to buy these worthless stocks,
would just figure up the excess rates
they are paying to these over-capital-
lied utilities corporations and hold
ing companies, on the utilities they
consume, they would soon discover
that they are not only paying what
little dividend they themselves receive
but that they are actually contributing
a far greater sum towards paying
multiple salaries, bonuses and divi-
dends to the promoters (or shall we
call them exploiters) who control and
operate these holding companies and
their subsidiaries.
After all, it is not wise to try and
save drowning investment by
throwing good money in after it. Far
better to forget about it.
S. o. SANDERSON.
Rochester, Mimi.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-12-27
GOOD WISHES
THE WaSeca Herald)

Regardless of the party affiliations,
the people of Minnesota will wish
Governor Olson speedy recovery
from the effects of serious operation
which he recently underwent. No
matter whether We agree or differ
with him politically, we must realize
that he is the legally elected head Of
great commonwealth, and that he
has the qualifications to represent the
state with tact and dignity at home
and abroad. Many matters of vital
interest to our taxpayers will be
brought before the next session of the
Legislature. With a conservative ma
jority in both houses and the governor
leading the liberals, a compromise
which will safeguard the interests of
the common people should be reached.
So, here's hoping His Excellency will
be in good health when Lieutenant
Governor Petersen and Speaker john
son WELD their gavels.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-12-27

Insurance Corporation, is not based
on per capita.
There are 49,9OO,00O small depos-
itors who own total of 100000 O,-
600, or an average deposit of $240.
COntrasted with this group is the other
class of depositors numbering 100000
who own total of $24 1000
an average of $4,000 each. In other
words there are 74,3O0,0OO people in
America who have no money on de-
post in state or federal banks.
Yet some people wonder why there
are depressions, why there are closed
factories, bankrupt farmers, bread
lines, insolvent cities, towns and town.
ships-and why public demands for
collective ownership of the basic in
dustries are growing by leaps and
bounds.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-12-27
WANTS THE REVENUE
(Pine County COurier)

wet by a two to one vote and opened
their village liquor store last Satur-
day. Pine City made $500 per month
for the first nine months their store
was in business. People here, who
want the strong drink, can now get it
at Hinckley or Finlayson and the SEN
timent is getting quite strong that
Sandstone might just as we'll make
the revenue from these sales by hav-
ing a liquor store of our own. We
doubt that the presence of such a store
here would make liquor any more
plentiful than it is at present.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-12-27
The AskOU American 1tlShes all
ats readers Happy NeaU Year.
MAYBE, MAYBE NOT

Our forefathers came to the Amer
lean shores because they wanted to
get away from the rule of the kings
because they wanted to live in a
democracy. Men have bled and died
on the fields of battle to uphold and
maintain this democracy; and a dem
ocracy where man can live an in
dependent life. where he is king. is
worth fighting for.
A king, born to power. may be bad
and he may be good 1t is really
laughable to a person living in a re-
public to read about children some
times becoming kings, in cases where
the father dies young or whose life
may be taken by an enemy of the
country. The child is not old enough
nor has he had the necessary ex-
perience to be a good and able ruler
Naturally some other person provides
the brains. But the king must of
course be the SON or a near relative
of the one before him. That is the
custom and the course in a kingdom,
which nevertheless is an improve
ment over the old feudal days.
The king, however. may be very
sympathetic person and may be good
and very popular with his people.
Money is worse. A financial auto
cracy is worse than a kingdom, for
there is no sympathy in money. Too
much money in the hands Of the
few-concentrated wealth-power-is
the thing to guard against in a re-
public. No student of economics, ir-
respective of political party affilia-
tions, will dispute the statement that
it is necessary to have a better dis
tribution of wealth in America if we
are to have buying power on the part
of the masses, more comfort, happi-
ness and contentment. Concentrated
wealth has too much power over the
lives of people.
1t would be far better for the coun-
try as a whole if fortunes were lin
tied and so much money could not
be accumulated in the hands of few
men. The man with a fairly good
nest egg may think he is Independent
and that he is safe, but not always,
for as above stated, money has no
sympathy.
At a recent meeting in the city Of
st. Paul story was told by former
Mayor Short of Sioux City, Iowa.
which brings out this point forcefully.
A banquet was held in Sioux City
about eight years ago at which time
and place twenty-seven millionaires
were present. 1t was called a thirty
million dollar dinner. Since that
time six of those millionaires have
committed suicide, some have gone
into bankruptcy, others have failed
in business, and there are just a half
dozen left who can still pay their
grocery bills, said Mr. Short.
The smaller fellow, financially
speaking, who may be rated as S1O,-
600, $4,000, $4,000 or 100000, may
think that he is secure and on top
of the world, but he cannot be too
sure. The Millionaire in keen compe-
tition will get the millionaire if it is
to his advantage, and so in turn the
millionaire will get the smaller fell
low if he thinks it will add to his
money pile and power
We can't take the money with us
when we depart from this world and
so a little dehorning of the money
lords will not be amiss. Cooperation
and more of the spirit of live and
let live is always in order.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-12-27
What Indeed?

The roads trifle hard ahead;
What of it?
With shadows somewhat thickly spread;
What Of it?
Since when has life been turned into
A clover patch where dreams come true?
You've got hard work to scramble through
What of it?
You say the luck is breaking tough?
What Of it?
The deals unfair-the scrap is rough
What of it?
The top is always ON hill
With many a sharp and sudden spill,
And if the gales are raw and shrin
What of it?
They've held you to minor part?
What Of it?
Since when, where frowning ramparts barred,
Has any gutter starred?
You may be battered, bruised and Scared
What of it!
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-12-27
SINGLE TAX AND FREE TRADE

Editor Askov American:
l notice what S. o. Sanderson says
in today's Askov American, that the
inexhaustible natural resources of this
country, together with elimination of
interest on the public debt, can break
the backbone of depression.
In the first part l agree with Mr..
Sanderson and if these natural re-
sources, an equal part of which l
consider to be- a natural inheritance
or birthright to every child born, are
accessible, then all of the present
suffering could be alleviated.
What have we done with these nat
ural resources?
In 1888 the U. S. bought 20 million
acres near Chicago from the Pottowa-
tonne Indians at 6 cents an acre.
In 1895 the Georgia Yaroo land
frauds took place-apprOxima 30
100000 acres comprising most of the
present states of Alabama and Missis-
sippi, were sold to four separate land
companies for about one-half cent per
acre; before that time an English
king paid a personal debt with AZ
million acres.
The U. S. government has sold most
of the land upon which Chicago, New
York and other large centers grew up
including valued timbered land, also
where Askov is located today, fol
$125 per acre. The lumber cOmpa-
MES took the large white pine ano
sold me some of the cut-over land fol
Sill per acre with stumps and stones
and brush, which cost from $50 anC
up to clear per, acre. Water power
mines and so forth have disappeared
to private ownership and monopolie:
by which milliOnaires are created.
l agree with Mr.. SandersOn that we
should demand the ownership of nat
ural resources be turned back Il
where these by natural birthright be
long, then by renting out these nat
ural resources as outlined by Henry
George (single tax) in Progress ant
Poverty we would not need to wcrr!
about sales tax or any other taxes a!
has been demonstrated in the Fair
hope single tax colony in Alabama
now over 80 years old. This colon.
is weathering the depression better
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-12-27
UNCLE SAM PLAYS SANTA CLAUS

Editor Askov American:
On December Is the U. S. Treasury
department issued more than $780,
O0O, 900 in long term notes and bonds
running from Is months to Is to is
years.
Upon this huge sum, the forgotten
men and women" who toll. and by the
sweat of their brows produce the
wealth Of the nation, must dig up and
pay more than $325,OOO,OOO in tribute
to the money changers under the
guise of interest.
Rather munificent sum for a
Christmas gift to the money lenders,
from (but not with the consent of the
common people of the nation through
the medium Of their Uncle Sammy.
The forgotten men and women"
whose interest burden is already un-
bearable, have been remembered to
the extent of being saddled with an
addition of more than two billion dol
lars in interest alone on new long term
government financing since Roosevelt
took office.
For more than nineteen months
Roosevelt has had the power to issue
up to three billion dollars in currency
with which to retire interest bearing
government bonds, but that power he
has utterly failed to exercise. Nor
has he ever given any reason for his
failure to do so.
Maybe it would be a good idea if a
million people would write, and ask
him about it. Or, write your con-
gresham.
S. o. SANDERSON.
Rochester, MINI.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-12-27
FOR MUNICIPAL SALE
1.-THE Pine POker)

The state liquor law is coming up
for discussion at the coming session
of the Legislature. Our present law
was more or less an emergency meas
ure passed at the special session year
ago and no doubt can stand a little
revamping. But whatever changes are
made it is to be hoped there will be
no change in the provision for mu-
nicipal ownership and operation. The
operation of the Pine City municipal
liquor store, for off-sale only, has
proven that this is the best system for
controlling the sale of liquor in small
communities.