davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-07-26
KNOW YOUR STUFF

The old saying is that 1--WE learn
through our own mistakes" 1t is a
good and truthful one, and it is eS-
pecially true if we have some foun-
dation to stand on and are willing to
learn. Every firm, partnership, assO-
citation or corporation can stand the
expense of some mistakes but if the
heads of the concern or the socalled
bosses do not know their stuff and
the mistakes are too numerous the
concern is doomed.
Yes, it is well to have learned a
business, trade or profession. And the
fellow who has a good background is
the one who actually profits by his
mistakes; also because his mistakes
are few and far between. 1t is also
a pleasure to meet and come in con-
tact with the fellow who has learned
his business, trade or profession, for
as a rule he is not so chesty, he
knows he has more to learn. He has
learned to be quiet, for though pro-
ficient in his trade he has learned
enough to realize that he can always
meet some one who knows more than
himself. 1t is the incompetent in
experienced and boastful fellow who
Shoots off" his mouth.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-07-26

homeless, and thousands of homes
which no one lis allowed to occupy.
Here are million people who want
work and are not allowed to work.
Here are another million being taxed
out of homes and farms to provide
the money to feed those starving ones,
who would be glad to earn their food
but are not allowed to.
Il find myself asking a question::
What will monkey do when he has
too many cOcOanuts? Will he starve
to death? Will he let his baby mon
keys grow up to be malformed and
stunted because he has gathered too
many cOcoanuts? What is this mad
ness which has fallen upon the people
of my home state that they starve be-
cause they have produced too much
food, and go in rags because they have
woven too much cloth and sleep under
bridges and in alley-ways because
they have built too many houses.
Here we boast the finest school Sys-
tenn in the world, here at any rate
we have the most costly buildings and
the most highly paid staff of teach
ers-and yet We have not been able to
teach our people as much sense as
the monkeys in the jungle!
1.-The men who have made this con-
dition are a little band of insiders,
the masters of our chain banks, rail-
roads, and public service corporations
These men have the mentality
of birds of prey. They are exploiters,
to whom men and women are COM
modfties, they are gamblers. so fixed
in habit that they cannot find recre-
alton save in trying to win one an
others money. Their idea of meeting
this depression is to sit tight and wait
for the storm to blow over. That this
means hundreds of thousands of our
people sentenced to slow extermina-
ton troubles the masters not at all
So long as the masses submit, they
despise them; and when they revolt,
they send the police with machine
guns and poison gas
Conditions such as are pictured by
Mr.. Sinclair have long obtained in
Minnesota and it is these which Gov
ernOr Olson and all of the candidates
on the ticket with him, propose to
correct.
Communism? Socialism? Bolshe-
vism? Rot!
Ii the Revolutionary war had been
unsuccessful or if the Boston Tea
Party had failed, those who fought to
throw off the shackles of tyranny and
who won in their efforts, would have
been called Communists, Socialists,
Bolshevists, Reds or what have you,
Or what might have been considered
the equivalent at those periods. And
so, about the only difference between
a hero and rebel, is winner or loser.
Yes, to be sure, Minnesota and Cali
fornia have very, very much in COM
mon.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-07-26

This editor will not permit him.
self to beat drum in an orchestra
led by the Chambers of Commerce,
meat packers, millers and professors.
The packers, professors, handlers and
Spectators are slowly but steadily
organizing their forces to overthrow
and scrap the adjustment act, just
as they organized to scrap the mar
keting act. We repeat, that this edi-
tor does not propose to be found at
any time or in any way aiding and
encouraging the special interests
which are opposing the Roosevelt
farm program.
The special interests have drained
the financial veins of agriculture, and
will continue to do so until their
packing and other processing plants
become publicly owned property and
are conducted to render service to the
people in the same way that the post
office serves the public.
Private business engaged in hand
ling farm products at a profit cannot
be regulated into decency. Their
business must be abolished and super
seeded by public or cooperative own
ership.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-07-26
A LOT OF MONEY
Editor ASkov American:

Editor Askov American:
Come, let's do some arithmetic
problems 1t has been 1884 years
since the birth of Christ; 1894 365
x "a 60 equals 1,O16,51O, 400, the num-
Der of minutes since the dawn of the
Christian era. Yes, a billion min
utes is a heap of time, but so far re-
covery has cost over 10 billions of
dollars, or a ten dollar bill for each
minute since the birth of Christ.
By the end of this year the national
debt is to be 80 billions. That will
be 3,20O,O00,0OO ten dollars bills.
1865 "a 60 X so equals 31,536,OOO, the
number of seconds in a year. If Gen.
eral Hugh Johnson and Franklin D.
would arrange to pay SO every second
it would take as many years to do the
job as 3,2O0,OOO,OOO divided by 3D.
$4,000 or 1O1 years plus.
Let's try another. According to the
last census there were in the U. S. a.
29,9O4,663 families. 100000 900 di-
vided by that number would equal
$334.0S, the cost of the New Deal per
family. In my native language, "That
is powerful sight of money" The
wise boys say it is nothing for a rich
country like ours. Anyway, if l had
a nickel, I'd buy an ice cream cone.
j. T. SMITH.
Hinckley, Mimi.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-07-26
OUT OF THE PICTURE

Like most of the outlaws and tough
guys John Dillinger met his Water
loo" and the price for his Gepreda
tions was his life. He was rated as
Enemy No. 1 in the United States,
even Outdoing the once well known
AL Capone who is now serving time in
a federal prison. Dillinger was so
tough that federal agents and police
took absolutely no chances with him
in this last episode and he was shot
down in a Chicago alley much like a
dog. Leading a life of ruthlessness,
murder and crime-a life that kept
him constantly in hiding-he expert
enced the same as so many others of
his type have experienced, and that
was to be finally betrayed. by one of
his own company-this time a woman.
1t is the same old story over again
that a life of crime does not pay.
And if that sort of life could in any
way be looked upon as life of ease
and glory, the price paid for it is too
high.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-07-26
GOOD ROAD AND STREET

The road in Sandstone village from
Gray's filling station in the west end
OF the town to the drug store corner
on Third street, a distance of APP
proXimately one mile, has now been
completed. and makes a good improve
ment in the village. Construction
work on this project which is being
done by and at the expense of the
State Highway Department, was
started late Last fall, but did not get
far when winter with hard frost set
in rather early. The work was taken
up again early this summer and was
completed few days ago with the
application of oil on top of the gravel.
The old road had many twists and
sharp dangerous curves which have
all been eliminated in the new road.
1t now presents modern highway
with long gradual curves and when
the oil gets we'll worked into the
gravel it will be a road and street
of which the community may we'll be
proud. The street from the drug
store corner to the pavement in the
north part of town, known as Gunn-
town, is being graveled and oiled at
the expense of the village. When
completed it will be the means of
laying the dust to considerable de-
gree
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-07-26
"UNEARNED INCREMENT
THE CAPITAL TimeS)

AS the New Dealers deal and the
nation wrestles with economic prob
lens of unprecedented magnitude,
there arises occasionally one of those
who still cherish the idea of ''the
single tax" or are otherwise disciples
of the late Henry George.
Every so often an example is cited
where the "unearned increment" of
piece of property reaches a staggering
sum, and someone, Georgist or po-
tential one, rises to protest.
And, indeed, the "unearned incre-
ment" argument has never been con-
vincingly refuted. Today in our col
leges and universities professors in
economics class rooms discuss the
dents and the injustice of land own
er or his heirs profiting enormously
as a result of population pressure and
other factors is pointed out.
Typical of such discussions is an
article contained in the current issue
of Unity by James G. Blauvelt, from
which the following is taken:
There was a vacant block of land IN
New York owned by subsidiary of
it to the Waldorf-Astoria hotel at an
annual rent. to begin with, of 100000,
increased to 100000 in 1882. and IN,
f fg5ss when ssp'I the Yearly rent Would be
SSOO.0OO. when new lease is to be
made. Who made that value? Not the
railroad though it contributes ned as ei a,a
fire and police protection, great water
works, sewers. streets, parks. bridges,
tunnels; airportsi streets and highways os
art. literature, commerce. the greatest
stores in the world great newspapers,
and the presence of millions Of people
providing activities of every kind.
Why should the railroads have what
millions of people have made? The
rental of that land nd, should Get go to the ne
the people and so does the income of 1T.
The Astors bought the property where
the Empire State building now stands;
it to AL Smith and his associates for
SIS, OOO. 900, and William Waldorf Astor
trotted off to England with his half.
seven and one-half millions, on the in
tereSt of which he and his children, to
the end of their time. can ride on the
backs of the people. Such a system is
a curse. 1t SO distributes wealth that
1T is a public menace. No graft ever
disclosed in public life compares with
this enormous gift to the Astors of a
value all of the people had created and
morally owned.
The recovery administration is so
busy with codes and crops that never
a minute has been spared to look at a
picture which a good many Americans
believe is eminently unfair. Henry
Georges Single tax" as a remedy no
longer has much liberal support. but
perhaps before the present phase in
our national economic life is passed,
a page or two may be taken from the
Georgist philosophy and modernized
to fit the new DEAL
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-07-26
SLIGHT PROSPECT OF FUSION
OF PARTIES
(The Princetor UniOn)

AS the date for the, November cleo
ton approaches, the. prospect of OBJ
tanning a fusion of the Republicans
and Democrats to defeat Floyd B. Oh
son becomes more remote. Regain APP
parently does not desire a fusion with
the Republicans and there are thou
sands of members of that party who
will not vote for him. It will take
more than two years to blot out Of
the memory OF some of us the abu-
sive campaign Regain conducted In
1892 when his mud batteries were
directed chiefly on Charles NJ. Bah
cock and Earle Brown.
Possibly Martin Nelson, the Repub-
lican candidate for governor, cannot
be elected, but neither are the pros
poets particularly bright for Regain.
Republicans in Minnesota could have
kept their self-respect and cheerfully
backed either Fred Schilplin of St.
Cloud or Albert Pfaender of New Ulm
for governor. but the situation with
Regain at the head of the Democratic
ticket is altogether different.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-07-26

victed in the federal courts and his
status as state official was not a
factor in the case. He would have
been equally subject to indictment
and trial had he been a private citi-
zen administering federal funds.
Under the procedure of impeach-
ment, the legislature may properly
declare whether Langer's conviction
OF felony under federal jurisdiction
disqualifies him from holding office
under the provisions of state law. If
North Dakota is satisfied with a gov
ernor to whom such a stigma has been
attached, that is the states own bus
mess. There is however a difference
between trial court and a legisla-
ture considering an impeachment.
The evidence may be the same before
both tribunals but the court presides
over the presentation of evidence to
insure fairness under the law and the
decides whether the facts as shown
justify conviction as the LANCER
jurors did decide.
In the Impeachment proceedings,
the legislators constitute the jury and
it cannot be presumed that a body
selected by political methods will be
unanimously openminded when the
most prominent political figure in the
state is at bar. Whatever the legis-
lative verdict may be, it will be more
likely TO EXPRESS political bias than
impartial judgment and either way it
cannot in any way modify the federal
court verdict, much less nullify it.
If these distinctions are not clearly
appreciated there are likely to be
misunderstanding and an embitter-
ing confusion regarding the state and
the federal positions in the matter.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-07-26
JEFFERSON ON CRITICISM

He who fears criticism is hopeless.
Only those who do things are criti-
cized. The idler is lost sight of in
the march of events, but the doer
is watched and criticized. To hesi-
tate for fear of criticism loses the
battle while the doors march on to
victory and triumphs. Indecision is
a great harbinger; but to hesitate for
fear of criticism is cOwardly. If your
cause is right, be not afraid of crit
icism; advocate it, expOund it, and,
if need be, fight for it. Critics al
ways have been and always will be,
but to the strong-minded they are a
help rather than a hindrance. AS the
horse spurts forward when prodded
with the spur, so the doors forge
ahead under the lash of criticism.
Take your part on life's stage and
play your part to the end; stand for
that which is good; be a doer, not
a drone; look the world in the face
and let the critics criticize.-ThOmas
Jefferson.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-07-26
WHAT WOULD YOU DO!
(The Hastings Gazette)

When the Governor of a state, in
the event of strike in one of the
major cities, relies on the word of
the leaders that there shall be no vio-
lence and on the word of the police
of that city that they can control
the situation, and does not at once
call out the militia-he is criticized
adversely by certain groups. In fact,
if blood is shed and one or two per-
sons die in the fighting-it matters
not how or why-he is told that he
has been playing politics and that
the blood of the victims is on his
head.
When this same Governor, in the
event of a second strike, calls out
the militia (at the request of the city
officials) and sends the soldiers to
keep order right at the start again
is he criticized adversely, and the
statement is publicly made by pre-
sumably intelligent persons that he
is again playing politics.
Mr.. and Mrs. Reader, how would
you feel in this situation?
No Governor of any state has the
legal right to call out the militia I'M
til the disturbance in any part of the
state is likely to or has reached riot
proportions, or until the officials of
that city have declared that they can
no longer handle the situation and
need help from the Governor.
Similarly, the Federal government
has no right to oder the U. S. Army
into a state until that state is in a
condition of riot or insurrection or
unless the Governor of that state
shall have declared the state officials
and militia unable to control the sit
uatiOn.
Hindsight is always much better
(and safer) than foresight, and ''if'
is still the biggest part of the argu-
ment for many people.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-07-26
SLIM PAY
(The BOvey PresS)

The wage scale for truck drivers
in Duluth is S14 a week. Can any
one please explain to us how any
man can raise a family on S14 a
week? A single man can just about
"get by" on those wages. But the
special interests will throw up their
hands in horror at any strike, even
to secure a little more than S14 a
week. An agreement was reached in
the truck drivers strike in the Twin
Cities, but the screws" have been
applied to the truck driver employers
by the banking and financial inter-
ests, and they are not abiding by
the agreement made in May, conse-
quently the employees will again use
the only weapon they have. "a strike"
in an effort to force compliance with
the May agreement.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-07-26
STRANGE ISMS

A person need not be a student of
economics to realize that things could
not go on in the usual old way fol-
lowing the business collapse and hard
times since 1929. People out of work
have felt it and there have been al
together too many of them. Relief,
of course, had to be instituted, and
this relief business is not always so
good, though necessary in these times.
1t would be much better for society
as whole if things could be so ar
ranged that we would have the very
minimum of public relief and charity,
and that people willing to work and
earn their own living could do so.
Too much relief brings more into the
class of the unwilling workers.
So when necessary changes are
made in governmental affairs and you
hear some people shout "Commun-
ism" and what not it can be greatly
discounted. How many of those who
use the word Communism" know the
meaning of it? 1t comes from the
more selfish, those who want the old
order of things as much for themselves
as possible. and from those whom they
coach to use such pet names and
phrases. Would it not be better fer
the state and its people to lease idle
factories and put more of the unem-
ployed to work? They have the con-
Stunning power to use the output out
must earn enough to have the buying
power.
But it is not only in Minnesota that
Communism" is thrown up. In a
recent speech by President Roosevelt
on his report to the nation on what
the national administration had ac-
complished and was trying to do he
said:
"A few timid people who fear prog
Iess, will try to give you new and
strange names for what we are doing.
Sometimes they will call it 'Fascism,'
sometimes Communism sometimes
Recommendation sometimes Socialism,.
But, in SO doing, they are trying to
make a very complex and theoretical
something that is really very simple
and very practical.
plausible self-Seekers and theo-
retical die-hards will tell you of the
loss of individual liberty. Answer this
question out of the facts of your own
life. Have you lost any of your rights
or liberty or constitutional freedom of
action and choice? Turn to the bill
of rights of the constitution, which l
have solemnly sworn to maintain and
under which your freedom rests Sc
cure. Read each provision of that bill
of rights and ask yourself whether
you personally have suffered the i'm
pairment of single jet of these great
assurances
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-07-26
Planning Campaign

Candidates for state offices and the
congressional candidates on the Farm
er-Labor ticket met at the state cap
itol Tuesday afternoon and discussed
plans for a united and aggressive
campaign this fall. The discussion
which lasted about three hours
brought out many good points for a
successful campaign and spirit of
harmony and optimism prevailed.
Each of the eighteen candidates
state and congressional-is to select
three members of the state campaign
committee. Others to be included in
the campaign committee are the 81
members of the state central COM
mittee of the Farmer-LabOr AssOcia-
tion and the IL from the executive
committee of the Ladies Auxiliary
of the FL Association, in all a cam
paign committee of Sc. Governor Oh
son is to appoint the chairman of this
committee which will meet August 2
to make arrangements for setting up
state campaign headquarters and di-
rect the campaign all over the state.
The candidates recommended Senator
Emil Regnier of Marshall, for cam
paign manager, the choice being in
the hands of the campaign committee.
Mr.. Regnier was campaign manager
two years ago.
The candidates also urged that the
campaign committee set up head
quarters early in August and that the
schedule for speakers be made out
to commence work about Sept. 1.
Statements were made to the effect
that no man is bigger than the party.
that each candidate needs the support
of the other, and that each and every
candidate should go down the line for
all the other candidates, for a united
party, and for the triumph of great
party victory in November-more
party responsibility and less of the
indiv idualism which has crept into
politics to a considerable extent of
late years.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-07-26
(The Long Prairie Leader)

l.
In Minneapolis last Saturday there
was observed the century anniversary
OF the arrival of the first two white
men in what is now the states larg-
est city. The two men were Samuel
and Gideon Pond. They arrived on
the present site of Minneapolis in the
summer of 1884, coming from Con-
necticut
Their purpose in coming to the then
wilderness was to preach to the In
dams. They built little two-room
log cabin on the east shore of Lake
Calhoun, now the center of one Of
the city's finest residence sections,
and began their work. Although
filled with religious zeal, they soon
found they could be more helpful to
the Indians by teaching them how to
farm and this they did, showing them
how to pillow, SOW and take care of the
crops which were chiefly corn. The
Indians did not become expert farm
ers, being too lazy and improvident,
but as result of the efforts of the
Pond Brothers they did learn enough
to protect themselves better against
famine which always threatened
when wild game was scarce. Descend
ants of the two pioneers live in Min
neapolis and some of them took part
in the observance
The one hundred years have wit
messed marvellous changes such that
il the Ponds could return they would
think they had arrived in another
world, but very probably the changes
are no greater than they will be the
next hundred years. Not the least
Of the future changes will be those
relating to the relations of men to
each other-that is, social changes.
Wealth will be more equitably d.
vided and accompanying it without
doubt will be some kind of a system
wherein society through discipline
will require useful service from all
its members.