Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-10-18

the November 9Th election.
tight and in so doing they hold the
whip hand. They have the power
evident. The masses through political
means must destroy part of their
power. They must do this in order 20
survive. Liberty, the Constitution,
Americanism, such as defined by the
rich is no hindrance. Self-preserva-
ing people can no longer thrive under
our economic system. There is no
doubt as to the outcome, the immedi-
ate problem is to speed the solution.
1t is not intended that people should
not pay their debts, nor that the best
incentive to work is not necessity.
These are age old propositions that
have been decided on But we have
absolutely reached a stage where we
are debt ridden. The people who in
Cured these debts or are responsible
for them may be dead or out of power
long ago. People have grown up since
the foundation of our debt. The war
was incurred. The fact that we can
say we should never have entered the
war does not help. History shows
that all major wars eventually bring
economic dislocation, history also
shows that most wars are economic
and that the rich were the ones who
spurred the governing class on to
enter into them. The rich do not fight
wars alone. The poor do most of the
fighting. Their sons come back to
civil life always crippled in soul and
in many instances in body. After ell
tering civil life they are the ones who
eventually pay in an economic way
for the war. Their property becomes
worthless in the progress of taxation.
They are the first to be put on the
bread line after they can no longer
work or when there is no work. They
only share in the glory of war when
they are in uniform or in their graves.
Going further along what one class
of people owes the other owns. For
every bond outstanding some one is
the owner. We will say that ninety
five per cent of the people do at var
ious times in their life constructive
work. They own no bonds or hold
any property worth while. They are
destitute practically. Now, it then
follows that the other five per cent
must own all these bonds, mortgages,
liens and securities outstanding. The
solution, brutal as it may seem, is to
legislate them out of most of this
wealth. Initiation is the easiest way
the hardest way. One of
the two is necessary. The New Deal,
as it is, is just bridging
us over, making the day of reckoning
that much more severe.
Those who agree with me that
there must be monetary reform and
liquidation may ask how this can best
be effected. 1t would hardly be hui
man for the rich who own all these
securities to come and say, 1--WE real
ize that we have you too far in the
hole and we are going to remit enough
of this debt so that you can function"
No one but total fool would expect
them to say this. 1t is just as silly to
think that the politicians who repre-
sent the rich, whose campaign ex-
penses are paid by the rich, are going
to do anything basicly that will be
adverse to their interest. But they
may peddle us lot of hooey and bunk
about our liberties, etc. 1t then fol-
lows that we must then expect help
us. Not that they are infallible but
it is their business and to their per-
sonal benefit to help those they rep
resent
In the State of Minnesota we have
such an rganization-the Farmer
Labor party. They are hated by the
and their character and
objective distorted. Does anyone think
after sober thought in case they are
in the position-like' most of us are
where we got to make living that
it would be to their advantage to vote
for the old reactionary candidates
who are obligated in advance to fur
Their help the five per cent; or would
it not be better to vote for the Farm
candidates who come right
put and say that something has to be
done for the benefit of the producer
Of wealth who represent ninety-five
per cent, and this can only be done at
The expense of the five per cent. 1t is
no use to talk. The issue is class
warfare.
S. ]. SIMONSEN.
AskOv, MINI.