Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-02-15
KEEP THE LEADER

Now that the time of the Farmer
Labor state cOnvention-March 81
is approaching there is much talk
endorsed for the U. S. Senate, Con-
gress, governor, and the various 9TH
err state offices. The talk centers
around the office of United States
senator, the term of Senator Henrik
Shipstead expiring this year. A
movement has been started to draft
Governor Floyd B. Olson for the Sem
ate, but that is a mistake at this time.
In the first place the Farmer-LabOr
political party is new one. Its sue
cesseS so far have been only in the
state of Minnesota. 1t is we'll to
hold the ground that has been gained
and strive onward without too much
dissention. BY this, no pussy-foot-
ing is inferred, far from it, but minor
and trivial matters must be over
looked. The personal aspect must he
set aside for the bigger and more
fundamental aspects.
The office of United States senator
IL
that of governor and so it is from
national standpoint. But in ma
tional affairs the Farmer-Labor party
is as yet little known, and therefore
in this particular case it is very i'm
portant that the leader of the state
party be retained as such for at least
another term of two years.
Governor Floyd B. Olson is our
state leader. Citizens look to him
as the chief executive of Minnesota
to carry through the legislative pro-
gram. He has the understanding,
the courage and the dynamic force
to do so. He has a clear picture of
the situation. He knows his APP
pointees and what they can do from
three years service in the capitol and
some of them through former con-
nections. And as good leader he
has surrounded himself with able
men.
year-in these trying times would
not be so good even though the new
executive upheld the same political
principles and was a man of ability.
At best. it would still be new to him.
Governor Olson is now in the har-
ness. Besides remaining for the bal
ance of this term he should be there
for the 1885 term. 1t might even
be we'll to keep him there for more
than three terms before sending him
to the United States Senate, as in the
case of Governor Richie of Maryland,
and other governors. The governor
ship is TASK and should not be a
stepping stone.
The direct public relief and work
relief program with expenditures of
about S5,O0O,0O0 must be carried to
a successful elimination. The gov
ernor has mapped out a program of
war on crime. Let our leader see it
through. He has settled strikes with
out bloodshed. Let him continue to
do so; he can and will without wav-
ering in spite of the protestations
from militarists.
The highway program was changed
considerably in the 1888 regular ses-
now over 1000 miles of trunk roads
in the state, making for less general
property taxes for the building and
maintenance of roads. That can be
carried farther. Then there is liquor
control and taxes on beer and liquor,
income, inheritance and other taxes.
And so we could go on enumerating
important measures where the gov
ernor has shown himself on the side
of the people, has championed those
measures and will see them through.
The man whom some folks-per-
haps more outside than inside the
Farmer-Labor party-would like to
replace with Governor Olson, has a
good record in the U. S. Senate. Keep
both in their places at least for an
other term.