davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-03-29
THE NEW PRIMARY BALLOT

The Mile Laos County Times
comes forth with a convincing
argument in favor of the cOnSOl-
idated primary ballot which the
Farmer-LabOr party has advo-
Gated and which was passed in
the last regular session of the
Legislature. In the coming pri-
mary, voters may go to the polls
and vote their honest convictions
without exposing their party af-
filiations. Following is the edi-
torial from the Times:
There was one law passed by the
last regular session of the legislature
that will do much to protect the vOt-
erS in their right to secrecy of the
ballot and to prevent adverse inter-
ests from calling them to account
I'm a political way. Ever since the
FarmerLabor party was organized it
has had to contend with the schemes
of big corporations for intimidatins
the voters at primary elections. For
under the old law the voter had to
reveal his political affiliations at the
polls of a primary election by calling
for the ballot of the political party
candidates that he wished to vote
for at the election. This revealed
the political party with which he af-
filiated. This gave the big corpora
tions an opportunity to find out the
political affiliations of their employees,
and gave them chance to intimidate
them by threats of discharge of any
one found voting for the progressive
party candidates. Even threats were
not necessary, just casual reports that
anybody found voting for the Farmer
Labor party might lose their job was
enough to keep many Farmer-LabOr
wOrkingmen away from the polls, or
if they went, forced them to vote an
old party ticket in order to not jeO-
pardiZe their job under some big cor
poration. The steel corporation on
the iron range, which has always
been bitter enemy of union labor,
was particularly vicious in this re-
spect.
So through the efforts of the Farm
er-LabOr members assisted by other
progressive members of that body, for
the FarmerLabor party was far from
being in control, the new primary
law placing the list of candidates
all on the same ballot was passed.
Under the new law nobody is obliged
to reveal their party affiliation at the
polls, but will be handed a ballot
containing all of the party tickets of
the candidates that have filed. Each
ticket will be separate and properly
labelled, and the voter cannot vote
for more than one party ticket on
the ballot. To attempt to vote for
the candidates of more than one party
will invalidate the ballot. The tick
cts are put on one ballot for the pur-
pose of saving the voter the neces
sity of revealing his political aftili-
atiOns, and thus he can select his
party ticket and vote freely for it
without jeopardizing his job or his
economic prospects. This is one of
the most important pieces of legisla-
tion to improve the ballot that has
been passed for some time.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-03-29

A young city boy was hired out to
work on a farm. In the morning he
was called at 400 to get up and eat
his breakfast. After breakfast the
farmer saw him walking down the
road. He called after him, You don't
go to work that way"
The boy hollered back, 81 am going
somewhere SO 1 can sleep all night"
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-03-29

The hard word hurts; why utter it
A grumble pains; why mutter it?
Your heart is kind; why shutter it;
The world is sad enough.
The soft word helps; just say it;
A hand grip cheers; don't delay it;
"A kindness shown: will repay it;
And help the world along.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-03-29
OPINIONS OF OTHERS

(Short timely letters on topics
of public interest are welcome.
whether or not the writer's opin.
ions conform with those of the
American. All letters must be
signed with the writer's name for
our information. Signed articles al
ways are more effective, but II the
writer does not wish to have his
name used. 1t will be withheld.)
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-03-29

A friend of Ours-a beginner at
golf-when asked how he came out
ON the first day on the links, replied
that he made it in eighty.
Eighty" calculated Buck, that's
really remarkable. Most old timers
would envy you that score. You'll
surely be an enthusiast from now on"
EYES," said the novice, condescend-
ing, I'm going back tomorrow and
try the second hole"
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-03-29

Easter this year falls on April 1.
The whole civilized world will observe
the resurrection of Christ. Easter is
always the first Sunday after the full
moon that falls on or first after
March 81.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-03-29

In China you pay the doctor only
when you're well. In this country
you call him when you're sick and
let him try and get it when you're WE'LL
-Baudette Region.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-03-29

Let our schools teach the nobility
of human labor and the beauty of
human service, but the superstitions
of ages past-never.-Pete Cooper.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-03-29

81 want to get some photographs
of my children; what will it cOst?"
asked a woman in a photo gallery.
-Four dollars a dozen," replied the
photographer. well, l guess 1 will
have to wait a WHILE" said the Lady,
1--WE only got eleven"
Montana labor news., 1934-12-27
Textile Boss Makes Workers
Kick Back For Stock
subscription.

WASHINGTON. (FP)-A new type
of kick-back racket used by employers
determined to chisel on wages is re-
ported by Vice Pres. F. J. German of
the United Textile Workers. This
kick-back is in the form Of stock
subscription" docked from wages.
1--WE have received sample pay
envelope from a cotton mill at St.
Pauls, N. c." German said, Showing
a deduction from the week wages of
the employees on account of a stock
subscription indicated by a rubber
stamp on the envelope. "The wages in
this case amounted to little over $13
for the week, and the deduction
amounted to 80 per cent of the total
weeks pay.
1T seems that all employees at this
mill are compelled to sign a paper,
which later turns out to be a sub
soription for stock in the company cor
poration and they find that they have
agreed that 80 per cent of their pay is
to be applied to the account Of this
stock.
"The tale is told of one man who
worked for few hours after being
taken, on, when he somehow broke his
arm. When he received his pay for
the few hours he had worked, he found
this stock subscription deduction from
his pay put into effect"
Montana labor news., 1934-12-27
Corporation Heads Get
Big Salary Boosts

WASHINGTON. -(FP)- Corpora
ton executives have no intention Of
letting their salaries be overtaken by
rising living costs, as has happened to
workers wages. Reports filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission
show that the big bosses have looked
after themselves well, with salary in
.creases in 1884 running as high as 200
per cent in addition to their increased
profits under the New Deal
Steel workers will feel in line for in
.creases themselves when they note that
Pres. r. M Girdler of the Republic
Steel Corporation has raised his salary
by about $4,000 to $129,372. Increases
from $58713 in 1888 to $64,692 are also
shown for two vice presidents of the
corporation.
The record increase Of over 200 per
cent when to Daniel K. Weiskopf, a
vice president Of the National Distiller
Products Corporation, whose salary
has been raised from $15,640 to $47,-
286. In general, distiller heads have
not done badly, Seton Porter, president
Of the National Distillers has boosted
his salary from $4,000 to $5,62O and
those of two vice presidents were in
creased from $21,l56 to $34,593 and
from $l1 ,O73 to $32,74O respectively.
The United Aircraft Corporation
nonexistent in 1888, has started its
president with salary OF $45,000 and
two vice presidents with salaries Of
$32,4OO and so, 500 year.
Montana labor news., 1934-12-27
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL LABOR PAPER

Not every community has labor paper and many that
have do lend full support the publication The fault
may sometimes be with the paper that sufficient energy
demonstrated by the editor manager to make the pub
caon representative of the is supposed to spouse
More often however lack of interest the part of members
of organized labor the main for the failure of both
the paper and those should represent to attain place in
the But when labor paper evinces serious attempt to
cedtaby represent organized labor the duty of all union
and lend whoehearted support Only through
bona de labor papers may organized labor and principles
represents receive the publicity earned by long and
ageou fight for public recognition The daily press what
its stand regarding organized labor in its plant
caters general class of readers labor paper appeals
but section of the and in turn has right to look
to that section for encouragement and support
Never the necessity greater for coordination between
the labor press and labor Get behind your local labor paper
if you fortunate have in your community and
help yourself and your organization by aiding those who aid
you in editorial and wayThe Typographical Journal
Montana labor news., 1934-12-27
M. E.S. A. THREATENS
new YORK STRIKE

NEW YORK. (FP)- -Four thousand
workers may be called on strike in
New York City as a result Of chiseling
on members of the Mechanics Educa-
tional Society, J. ]. Griffin, national
announced on the eve of
mass meeting to talk strike
-Four companies are laying Our
off by the hundreds while
they work other employees overtime
and pay them less than the rate pre-
scribed by NRA codes" Griffin said.
The four companies involved are the
General Instrument Co., the Federal
Radio Co., the Dejor Ampliscope Co.,
and the Arma Engineering Co. Crit
fin predicted the men would offer arbi-
tration and if that was refused would
walk out.
Montana labor news., 1934-12-27

DRIFTS AND RAISES
(This column contributed by Butte
Miners Union No. y

In the Montana Standard Of last Sun
day, there appeared a review Of Sean
O'Casey's play "Within the Gates, by
a critic named Leonard Arnold. The
play is supposed to present a cross
section of life Quoting from the re-
view. "And on the stage you meet peo-
pie you know and yourself as we'll As
the figures come and go in the four
settings of the four seasons and as
they speak their lyric lines, the drama
of life is unfolded. There is the dream
er**+***there is the young prostitute,
symbol of young women whose fullness
OF life is repelled by conformity and
who are driven to wickedness out Of
hatred for a virtue that is pinned up
by fear"
A course on these people like Arnold
and their PHILOSOPHERS. The reason
given by Arnold for women becoming
prostitutes is actually one of the rea-
sons but only a minor one.
The pricipal reason has to do with
the economic factor, the matter Of max
ing a living. Women as well as men
must have food and clothes and shell
ter. If they can't get job, or have
no man to provide a living they are
faced with a stark struggle for exis-
tence and prostitution offers way
out
Most women are inherently fine, they
would prefer to be good" women if
they have the chance. A good way to
prove this would be to go to the red
light district and offer the girls there
a decent job at a living wage. My
guess is that 90 per cent of them would
take the job. The other 10 per cent
would be the drunks, perverts and
psyciatrics that we will always have
with us.
Prostitution is called the oldest pro-
fession" and is mentioned in the Bible
and the oldest human documents. This
might be used as an argument that it
is a necessary social evil that will al
ways be present. To me it only means
that all thru human history, economic
conditions have existed that forced wo-
men into prostitution as means OF liv-
ing. And when we remove those con-
ditions, when we set up system un-
der which every normal woman can
have a decent job or husband and a
home, there will be fewer prostitutes
and more women living as normal wo-
men like to live. Let US mention in
passing that prostitution is being great
ly reduced in Soviet Russia, not by
social workers, not by police persecu-
tion, but by the simple expedient Of
giving every woman the chance Of hav-
ing job or a home.
I could go on about the constant
pressure brought on girls working in
stores and other places of business on
meager wages. But that should not be
necessary. Enough to point out that
in a rational society, where every wo-
man could have a decent job or home
there would be few prostitutes.
Montana labor news., 1934-12-27
CONSOLIDATION.

A conference is under way in Helena
sponsored by the Montana Taxpayers
Association, which we shall call the
M. T. A. The purpose Of the confer
ence is to consider ways and means Of
reducing the cost of government in
Montana with a view of reducing the
tax burden. The M. T. A. represents
mainly the large taxpayers, but that is
no reason why we should not care
fully examine their proposals.
One OF these is to consolidate the SC
counties of the state into 13 large coun-
ties No doubt such a move would re-
duce the cost of county government in
Montana, but let us look a little
further.
Montana is the third largest state in
the Union, with an area of about l47,
600 square miles. Dividing that area
into Is counties would give about 11,0OC
square miles to each county.
In dividing the state into IS counties
it would be necessary to take into con-
sideration natural boundaries such as
rivers and mountain ranges, also pres
ent county seats and centers of popu-
lation. But in any event, it would be
necessary to have the counties approx
miately the same size. The most desir-
able arrangement would be to have the
county seats as near as possible to the
centers of each county and that would
mean a distance of over 50 miles from
the court house to the boundary Of the
county.
There are many businesses and oc-
cupations which require frequent visits
to the court house. Briefly, the ques-
ton is this-would the amount the peo-
pie would save in the cost of county
government be more than offset by the
cost OF gasoline and tires and incon-
venience. There is no doubt that a
saving would result from a reduction in
the number of counties and school dis
tricts, but in any such movement, the
people of each county should have a
voice and the material welfare and hap
piness Of all the people in the state
should be the deciding factor
Montana labor news., 1934-12-27
Shelters Ask
l5c An Hour Fight
Is Cents a Day

SAN ANTONIO, Texas. - (FP) ~
Twenty thousand Mexican pecan shell
lers are awaiting the decision Of hear
ing on the constitutionality of the code
recently drawn up for this industry.
FL Nogal, union Of the pecan shelters,
is fighting for a united front to demand
the enforcement of the code. This
union, which has 1000 members, has al
ready been pledged the support of
independent organizations and the Mex
lean Chamber of Commerce.
The code was made after a series Of
strikes. 1t allowed for l5c-an-hour
straight pay and 40-hour week, max
ing a So a week wage.
The Southern Pecan Smelling Co. and
"a other complainants, including the
Pecan Shelters Union, Immediately
filed for an injunction to keep the code
from going into effect. The injunction
was granted and the Mexicans are
still working at 15c-a-day salaries.
While company officials conclude
that even SC day is enough for a
Mexican to live on" these Mexican
workers are starving in bare, cold
shacks. Children continue to work
after school, and far into the night, in
the hope of securing a few cents for
food. In one shack, the home of a
family Of eight and another family OF
three, the meal for day was a frying
pan of red beans for both families. The
children were sleeping on the floor on
rags along with couple of chickens
Rags stretched over the windows and
doors served as window-panes.
Montana labor news., 1934-12-27
'FASCISM WILL Be DEFEATED ON ECONOMIC
'FRONT.' SAYS AN ITALIAN LABOR LEADER

NEW YORK-(FP)-Living stand
ards are falling after eight years Of de-
preston in Italy
Despite the suppression OF workers
organizations, Fascism will be over
thrown by the masses on the economic
front"
These predictions were made for
Federated Press by Giuseppe EN-
manuel Modigliani, one OF the leaders
of the Labor and Socialist Interna-
tional, former Italian deputy in parlia-
ment anti-Fascist now in the United
States as a guest of Local 80, Interna-
tional Ladies Garment Workers Union
and the Socialist Party.
Modigliani had just been handed one
of a number Of threat letters from
anonymous Italian Fascists warning
him to shut up Or Modigliani
read the letter aloud with a cynical ex-
preston. An attorney for political
prisoners in Italy, he had stood before
Fascist judges defending anti-Fascists
1t was he who had defended Matteoti,
Italian Socialist leader, who was killed
by the Fascists.
"The depression set in for Italy as
early as 1926" Modigliani explained.
Until then there was at east sem
blance Of resistance from workers be-
cause their trade unions, press and
other organizations were not formally
outlawed OF course, the freedom Of
the press had been a myth since 1923.
But with legal abolition of work
ers' organizations and with the coming
Of the depression, the people began to
suffer an increasingly lower standard
Of living. Wages were cut drastically.
From 1927 to 1888, wages fell 50 per
cent for industrial workers and 90 per
cent for agricultural workers. The
wage cutting policy has been continued
in 1884. The cost Of living over the
same period, however declined only
rs per cent.
Not only in the material sense, but
in the social, the people have suffered.
"They have not known what it is to
be free in the last 10 years. Educa-
ton, art, all social life has fallen under
the blight caused by this moral depres-
sion.
Montana labor news., 1934-12-27

Questioned as to the stability Of
Mussolini's rule and the rumor reported
by Johannes Steel for The New York
Post that fight for power is going on
between Mussolini and Balbo, ex-min-
lister Of aviation, Modigliani doubted
the possibility that internal splits would
cause the Fascist overthrow
Sporadic outbreaks over the country
show that people are dissatisfied, but
strict censorship keeps them from
knowing that others in other villages
are equally dissatisfied and ready for
revolt. No the defeat of Fascism will
come about, not through internal splits,
but the masses fighting on the eco
nomic front"
Information from Spain" he went
on in answer to another question, "in-
dicates that the workers organiza-
tions, far from being crushed are
growing steadily. The people do not
feel that they have been defeated. The
barbarous cruelty Of the government
in prosecuting defeated victims has
turned the people, not only the revo-
lutionists, against the state and in ia
vor of the workers.
Whereas in England, Holland and
tie Scandinavian eountries--the Social
ist Parties are still in good circum-
stances, they are jealousy guarding
democratic liberties and do not dare to
take any action which may cause them
to lose their rights" he stated.
IN coutries like Austria, Spain and
Italy, where they have lost their free
dom, or in France, where fascism seri-
ously threatens, they preach revolu-
tionary action to preserve the freedom
for organization. Thus, in France, the
united front is based on the preserva-
ton of democratic liberties and the
Communists have proved sincere and
faithful in the fight on this basis The
same applies to the united front where
ever the two parties have joined to win
freedom of organization.
"The united front between Socialists
and Communists is historically unavoid-
able. Personally I believe that it is
necessary everywhere for the defense
Of democratic liberty"
! Modigliani will tour the country.
Montana labor news., 1934-12-27
WALL STREET LIKES
LIMITED PROFIT
WAR idea

NEW YORK-(FP)-Wall Street is
not displeased with the picture OF a
Forthcoming war in which there will b..
a ceiling on profits" 5
This was made clear when the wy
babies, as they are affectionat
called in the financial district, failet
break after the presidents annou
ment that a board had been appc
to take the profits out of war. r.
Steel closed at the same price tn, y
of the announcement at which it had
closed the previous day. A full day Of
discussion of the proposal left it again
at exactly the same level DUPONT was
down a little, Aviation Corporation not
at all, Allied Chemical gained a little.
The favorable and unfavorable fac
tors were set down in the coldblooded
way OF Wall Street on some such basis
as this:
Unfavorable: Talk of eliminating
profit or limiting profit is always bad
and may set wrong ideas going among
the thoughtless multitudes. Suppose
some fool should start the slogan: mo
profits while children starve." When
president says any such thing about
profits it is not good.
Favorable. l. The president spent
more words on workers who get So a
day during war than on 362 per cent
profits. That probably means that
wages will be severely limited during
the forthcoming war, which will help
the bosses tremendously. The pro-
posed Labor Administration would take
care of that; objections would be
treason.
2. Berard Baruch and Hugh John
son will apparently lead the work
of the committee. The first is a Wall
Street speculator, the second an open
shop employer. Personnel is favorable
to big business.
g. Baruch promptly made it clear
that take profit out of war" means to
put a ceiling on profit" Prices, Wall
Street thinks, may be fixed at a point
agreed upon by government officials
and industrialists That doesn't sound
so bad.
T. Gen. Douglas Macarthur, who
put on his medals on July %, 1882, and
ordered the veterans of the World War
killed so that Herbert Hoover might
not be embarrassed on the bonus, was
reappointed, an almost unprecedented
action, as head Of the army. His term
was to expire December IS. He is
looked upon as a leader who can be
counted upon to be ruthless if work
ers protest He sneered at Genera
Smedley Butler for telling that he hat
been offered a million to lead fascist
army on Washington.
So the vote is four to one for Wal
Street, The move furthermore is seer
as tightening up OF Americas war
making machine which hints strongly
that the administration sees war at nc
distant time incidentally, while wal
stocks did not drop at the threat oi
losing profits, silk has been going ur
substantially recently; IS per cent oi
our supply comes from Japan.
Industrialsts are believed to see q
great war in which they would be called
upon, at worst, to work their plants al
capacity at peacetime prices and pay
peacetime wages. Such a situation
could scarcely be called profiteering by
government officials and yet it would
mean tremendous profits on the invest
ment So Wall Street grins 1t isn't
such bad New Deal.
Montana labor news., 1934-12-27
Mayor Hoan Charges New York
Times With Twisting News.

CHICAGO.-(FP)-The New York
Times is called to account by Mayor
Daniel w. Hoan of Milwaukee because
Of its distorted and misleading stories
on the recent Boston meeting OF the
Socialist Party national executive com
mittee. In an open letter released by
national headquarters in Chicago, the
Times is also indicted for assigning
Joseph Shaplen ito cover internal ques-
tions Of our party's policies, in spite of
repeated protests both official and per-
sonal, a reporter who is vehemently
lined up with one extreme faction in
the party