davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-11-14
MUST BE PRACTICAL

There is a law on the statute books
of Minnesota requiring relatives to
care for their dependents. That vir-
tually amounts to an unenforceable
law because the character of our peo-
pie is such that they will not resort
to the law against their own chill
dren for support.
Certainly the children have moral
obligation toward their parents. and
they should do it. But to COMPEL
that to be done is different thing
entirely.
In writing an old age pension law
practical consideration must be given
to tfat question. If the grown up
children who can and should sup
port their aged parents are so ut
terly devoid of consideration and ap-
probation for what their parents did
for them while they were small, it is
too bad. The parents feel sad about
it, but to resort to the law to force
the children to fulfill a moral obliga-
ton is quite another thing. 1t just
does not work out, and how many
parents would resort to the law? Not
only is it too bad for the parents
that the children cannot see the light
of obligation and justice but it is too
bad for those very children. Sooner
or later in life they will encounter
situations that will remind them
very forcefully of their attitude to-
ward their parents.
The old age pension law must be
written in such manner that when the
old folks have arrived at the given
age they are to receive the pension
irrespective of whether or not they
have children that should take care
of them.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-11-14
OUR GREATEST ENEMY
Editor Askov American:

Editor ASkOv Americana:
This is Armistice week. Seventeen
years ago the World war ended. We
hope that another such disaster may
never be ushered in. The stage has
already been set for another war
much more destructive than the last.
England alone spent 200 millions OF
dollars for propaganda in America
prior to 1917, and Lloyd George said
that it was money well spent. AL
ready the paid propaganda of the
war lords" is beginning to sift into
our daily papers to poison peaceful
citizens. Watch the war propaganda
grow and grow.
The World war destroyed over seven
million lives which is equal 10 the
combined population of II of our
western states. The next war would
no doubt destroy 70 times seven mil
lions of lives.
The World war cost the United
States alone over So billions of del
lars, and we are still staggering be-
cause of this financial blow. This
would pay for 100000 school houses
at 500, 900 each. This would be
enough new school buildings for the
entire 4S states and enough money
left over to operate all of these
schools free of cost for over fifty
years.
1t cost the nations of the world a
billion dollars every four days to fight
each other. This is enough spent ev-
cry four days to operate all of our
American hospitals for whole year.
Most of the money spent to carry on
destructive war goes for death-deal-
ing machines and ammunition. 1t is
therefore self-evident who wants war
and where the propaganda money
comes from that fills our daily news
papers and even our text books. Nat
urally. it comes from those very few
who deal in these supplies on large
scale. Take the profit out of war for
those few international war promoters
and there would be no more war
| They help to set up dictators that en-
danger the world and modern ciyiliza-
tion.
The so-called Christian nations are
not following their Great Teacher in
more ways than one. Let us work for
peace. War is the greatest curse oil
this age War is He'll
| A. E. GUSTAFSON..
Pine City. Mimi.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-11-14
WITH 4 PUNCH

A clever parody or take-off on for
mer political campaign slogan was
published i'm the current issue of the
magazine Common Sense" 1t reads
as follows: THE Ethiopian campaign
slogan for 1885 is Two Camels in
every Garage and a Fascist in every
Pot by Christmas
other pointed paragraphs contained
in the magazine follow:
Our candidate for New Deal Sec
rotary of Agriculture is the little boy
in the Bronx who planted cotton in
vacant lot near an elevated train
He got fine plant with no cotton boil
"A farmer in Cedar Rapids has had
his house Aforementioned. That was
his way of preparing for the hot-ail
that will blow down on Iowa wher
the campaign starts.
Mayor LaGuardia has inaugurateC
| a campaign against unneccessar,
noise. Ii works all right on people
and cats. but the Republicans go righ
on yapping.
The only thing that's red about thu
| New Deal is the tape it come
wrapped in.
Italian politics is one game wher'
the Duce takes more tricks than tn
king"
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-11-14
MIR. MELONS GENEROSITY
The Minnesota Union Advocate

Just now the newspapers of the
land are becoming almost hysterical
in their praise of Andrew w. Mellon,
secretary of the treasury under three
presidents, for his colossal generosity.
Mr.. Mellon has donated $4,000, 900
to found National Gallery of Art
in Washington and has promised to
turn over his art collection in the
due course of time. This collection
is valued at from $25,OOO,OOO to $4O,-
100000.
1t is all very we'll to praise Mr..
Mellon for his artistic taste. 1t is
very seldom that anyone with an an
nual income of million dollars is
very much interested in the fine arts.
But to praise him for his generosity
is assinine.
Mellon is one of the richest men
in the world, and he became such as
result of a monopoly on aluminium.
For many, many years his net income
was considerably over a million a
world war period, had he paid a just
tax on his income, he would have
been compelled to hand over to the
federal government something like a
million in surtaxes. When he became
secretary of the treasury his first
official act was to cut down the taxes
on great fortunes. Through his ef-
forts the surtax was reduced from
IS per cent to 20 per cent.
Had he paid according to the old
rule he would have been forced to
pay the federal government $1,000, 900
per year. Under the laws fostered by
himself this tax was cut to 100000
per year. Hence he saved 100000
per year for himself. And that how
he was able to buy great works of
art, and when he turns his collec-
tion over to the foundation he won't
have to pay taxes on the masterpieces
he accumulated during the years.
Mr.. Mellon has taken more out of
the country than he has ever put
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-11-14
THE PUBLIC PRESS ON
PROSPERITY
midland COOperatOr)

Recently a front page article ap-
peared in the Minneapolis Journal, &C
companied by the picture of the Swed-
ish consul, who had been interviewed
by the Journal on his return to Min
neapOlis from a visit in Sweden. The
gist of the interview was a statement
by the consul that he had found an
unparallel prosperity prevailing in
Sweden in contrast to conditions exist
ing in most of the other European
countries where frantic war prepare
lions were in progress and the eco
nomic conditions of the masses is at
a very low ebb. But not one word in
the entire article explains the reason
or even intimates why such prosper
ity exists in Sweden at this time.
Mention was made in the article,
however. that the alliance by mar
riage of the royal families of Sweden
end Denmark contributed largely to
the friendship between the peoples
of these two countries, the inference
being that possibly this marriage ac-
counted for the prosperity in Sweden.
This is the sort of nonsense dished up
for the readers of the public press in
stead of actual facts which would be
at once enlightening and Informative.
The truth of the matter is that the
cooperative movement has achieved
great proportions and is an important
economic factor in the industrial and
social life of that people. What is
being witnessed in Sweden today is
the elimination of the consumers CO.
operative movement which began
there in 1850.
The cooperative movement in that
country is embodied in the Swedish
Cooperative Union and Wholesale
combined. One-third of the total
population is being served by the
movement. The Union represents 7C3
societies with a membership of $780,
1925 families in 1888, and total sales
amounted to sS7.766,25O. The Whole
sale operates its own factories, mills,
bakeries, etc. Outstanding among its
productive agencies is the interna-
tional cooperative factory Luna
which makes electric light bulbs. in
1888 Swedish consumers produced for
their own use over s25,000,0O0 worth
of manufactured articles. The CO
Operatives have AZ per cent of the
nations retail trade.
Had the Minneapolis Journal really
wanted to account for the unparal-
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-11-14
WILL BUY UP SURPLUS
Springfield Advance-Press)


Administration officials of the AAA
are working on plan for buying up
surplus agricultural commodities and
removing same from 10 al com petition.
This plan has been advocated by some
farmers all along and the time now
seems to oe ripe for putting it into
effect While the price of some farm
products is satisfactory, the price of
others is quite low. Rye, oats and
barley prices are far from satisfac-
tory. This years corn crop may not
bring parity prices.
The Advance-Press has been a con-
sistent advocate of this form of farm
relief for several years. In fact, we
advocated the plan long before there
was much public demand for it. The
trouble with the old Hoover Farm
Board was that whatever grain the
Farm Board bought remained part
of the visible supply and as such had
the same depressing effect on the
market as the same surplus would
have had in the hands of farmers
This surplus must be kept off the
home market, exported in exchange
for other commodities that do not
compete with home products detri-
mentally The government can afford
to hold reasonable surplus as in
surance against short crop. There
may be, lean years when production
may not equal the requirements. That
is frugality on national scale.
The government should develop a
permanent scheme for maintaining
price parity for farm products and
holding production within reasonable
limits. 1t should take the gamble out
of agriculture.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-11-14

and after that, as on many other Oc-
casions our town was deluged with
Communistic literature, published by
the International Labor Defense,
which is also listed on page 10 of the
first named above mentioned bulle-
tins, as controlled by Communists.
The publication Labor Defender" is
their publication. Again note the in
nocent sounding names.
In last weeks Askov American a
writer mentions a few spiteful moves
he has made. According to his the
DRY we should all join the Fascist
group and go to war, to spite the
League Against War and Fascism.
Reminds one of the story about the
man who cut off his nose to spite his
face. Small wonder the youth of
today are bewildered when their
elders present such shallow argu-
ments. Another writer says, I'VE
ashamed to sign our name" The
large majority of Communists are not
even citizens of the United States.
and unless they swear falsely they
couldn't even be one, in the true
sense of the word; this alone is
enough that they ought to be ashamed.
They pledge their allegiance to Mos
cow and are undesirable as citizens
of this country, but still they brazen-
ly remain in this country as traitors
to our flag which as yet protects
them from the misery and degrade
ton which their own damnable pro-
gram would heap over their heads
and ours, and then come out blatantly
and say they are not ashamed.
Ignorance excuses nobody; if you
sincerely want to know the truth, pro-
vide yourself with literature written
by people whom you know have Amer
lea at heart and refrain from flooding
your home with Moscow's venomous
literature. Communism, Nazism, and
Fascism, are all one and the same
in as much as they are products OF
minds in which the Light of God
has been crowded out by Godlessness.
PROUD AMERICAN.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-11-14
UNITED STATES DOCUMENTARY
EVIDENCE
Editor ASkOy American.

Editor Askov American:
Anyone interested in knowing the
result of our government recent in
vestigation into subversive propa-
ganda in the United States, would
profit by reading the following bulle-
tins which are free and may be had
for the asking: Investigation of
Nazi Propaganda Activities and Ger
tain Other Propaganda Activities,
Investigation of Communist Propa-
ganda Report No. $780," Investigation
of Nazi and Other Propaganda Report
No. 153.'
On page 10 of the first named bull
letin we read: "One finds that lead
ers of the socalled hunger marches,
strikes and mass protests are being
financed and we'll fed by Moscow-di-
rected revolutionists. They are at
tempting at all times to poison the
minds of American laborers, farmers.
and the youth against the government
of the United States. and thereby win
them over to their revolutionary
ranks" In this same bulletin on
pages II, II. and IL, with reference
to Communism, is list of groups and
organizations controlled by Commun-
lists, and in these lists we find the
name of American League Against
War and Fascism, together with over
one hundred other groups. whose
names sound equally innocent but are
nevertheless controlled by CommUn-
| lists. The names are skillfully taken
| for the express purpose of beguiling
the unthinking mind.
Mrs. billings Red Network, page
124 1884 edition) outlines the Com
munistic support given the American
League Against War and Fascism
Why are influential Communists such
as Earl Browder. Ida Dailes, Donald
Henderson and others. on TIE execu
tive board of the American League
Against War and Fascism? Do yor
think they are going to serve OF
that board and disregard their pledged
allegiance to the Red Flag of Revo
luton? Communists have only ont
ultimate purpose and that is thu
overthrow of orderly governments
and the church. and they would re
place it with Goddess Sovietism. God
lessness is the life blood of Commun
ism and we must fight it to the las
ditch. locally and nationally. if vi
want 20 retain the principles OIL
which this wonderful land of ours i
founded.
Not long ago man was prancinl
up and down the streets of our tow
in a convict suit borrowed of course
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-11-14
1T WILL BE FL. VICTORY

The Fairmont Sentinel looks for
another Farmer-Labor victory in Min
nesota next year The editor, Major
Nelson, sees nothing but a Farmer
Labor victory with three candidates
for governor He bemoans that in
Minnesota "a minority group can dom
mate" That would indicate that he
the same class, and, to be sure there
is little if any difference between
conservative Republicans and con-
sentative Democrats. Presume it
would be all right with Major Nelson
if the Republicans or Democrats won
out with what might be called min
GRITTY vote. Is it possible that with
three candidates for governor, the
major would expect of the Farmer
Labor candidate that he should re-
ceive as many or more than the COM
bined votes of the other two candi-
dates?
The Fairmont Sentinel editorial fol-
lows:
With three candidates for COVER
nor again in the field, Farmer-Labor,
Republican and Democrat, there can
be but one result. That will be
a REPETITION of the experience of
1884. The Farmer-Labor candidate
will be elected by plurality, as Oh
son was. 1t is ridiculous that in Min
nesota a minority group can dominate.
1t is possible only because the anti
Olsonites permit themselves to be di-
vided. Now would be an suspicious
time for some such group as United
Minnesota Voters of 1894 to form and,
if possible. take charge of the situa-
ton. Even a mediCcrity. if given the
support of the voters of the state who
call themselves either Democrat or
Republican, could easily defeat any
man the Olsonites can name-if they
just have sense enough to get to-
gether."
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-11-14
THE SYSTEM MAKES THE
RADICALS

Editor Askov American:
| was at Sabin, France, just exactly
seventeen years ago when the Armi-
stice was signed. The war to end war
was over, the world was made safe
for democracy. Peace and good will
was to reign forever among men.
listened to that stuff then, and as
now, did not believe anything of the
kind When the lamb and the lion
lie down and sleep together, when
people will stop fighting among them
selves over nothing, when those who
have will stop imposing on those that
have not, then there may be peace.
Personally l am not optimistic enough
to believe that will ever be. Those
who have of course want no change;
those that have not will always try
and get something. Let us have peace
even if we have to fight for it, is
the present slogan.
Have heard considerably about
Communism lately. l don know what
Communism is. l understand it is
something that came from Russia.
and that it is Russian and radical.
Long before Russia overthrow the
czar, however, we had radicals in
this country. There was the Anar-
chists party about fifty years ago,
then the Populists, later on the 1. w.
w., and even union labor was called
radical and un-American when they
first started out. All this happened
before the first Russian ever thought
about being a Bolshevik. TrOtsky,
the main founder of Communism, was
American educated. We should not
therefore blame Russia for our radi-
Gals as American radicalism is re-
sponsible for the present system in
Russia, and the overthrow of the cZar.
The poor people of Russia through
American ideas saw way of over
throwing thoroughly rotten and cor
rupt system, which had become UNI
bearable.
Of course the main reason people
become radical is that they can't sur
vive under the present system and
the ignorant intolerance of those who
hold the upper hand. Some peoples
patriotism varies directly as they are
able to prosper. People who were
prosperous twenty years ago, mostly
were patriotic and pillars of our pres
ent system. AS they lost their wealth
and saw they were out of the picture
they joined up with the radicals.
those that have not. Some stay the
same way whether up or down but it
takes knowledge and poise to hold
ones equilibrium when things are
not going right.
Outside of the few who like to be
with the minority our present system
is to blame for our radicals, not Rus
sia The remedy is to correct what
is wrong with our system and not to
abuse those who are groveling in the
dark trying to find a way out of their
troubles.
S. j. SIMONSEN.
Askov, Mimi, Nov. II. 1885.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-11-14
FROM EXCHANGES
Editorial Comment From Other News
papers. Which May or May Not
Conform With the Opinions
of the AskOv American.)
NEUTRAI.S REMAIN NONENTITIES
Mile Iacs County Times)

(Mlllt ltdCS SOuuly llluCSJ
The Sleepy Eye Herald-Dispatch
contends that neutral, or nOn-party
attitude for a member of the legisla-
ture is much better than for them to
be known as advocates of certain par
ty principles which they try to carry
out in legislation.
But he cannot find a single instance
in the history of the state where such
neutrals or nOn-partyites have ever
cut any figure in legislation, or where
thing in that body. The majority of
the legislature are partisan in spite
of the non-partisan system of election
of members. All of the members who
are influential in the legislature are
partisans Senator Rockne and Sen
ator Orr are leaders in the state SEN
ate and have been for years, but they
have always been known for their out
right advocacy of the Republican
party. Everybody in the state knows
their position, and we honor them for
it, although we differ from them in
political views.
All of the speakers of the House
are elected by the members on a par
tisan basis. George Johnson, the pres
ent speaker. is a Republican and has
never pretended to be anything else.
Roy E. Dunn, leader of the House ma
jority, is a Republican, and everybody
knows it.
The idea that anybody can be neu-
trail or non-partisan in the state law
making body, and be considered of any
consequence there is ridiculous. Out
side of their individual vote they be-
come cipher when they try to De all
things to all men, and say Good
Lord" and Good Devil" with equal
impartiality. And as we have stated
before, men who take no stand on the
clearly defined political issues that
arise are dangerous to the public wei
fare when placed in responsible posi-
tiOns. Graft is the most serious
threat that always endangers our
form of government. Unless men are
elected to office who have definite
principles ard who must follow a con-
sistent course of action before the
people. who have elected them, graft
will continue to increase and flourish.
Political parties are the only means of
expression for the people to make
their influence felt in public affairs.
To intruSt important matters to men
who expOund no general principles of
conduct is to open the way to all
kinds of graft and to endanger the
very foundations of our government.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-11-14
A WAR LORDS PRAYER

Many years ago the late Samuel
Clemens, whom the world knows as
Mark Twain, wrote War Lords
Prayer" with the request that its pub
LEGATION date be delayed until after
his death.
This prayer was first published
many years ago, but with the world
facing crisis that may lead to an
other war, it is good time for it's
republication. Mark Twain said of it:
81 have told the whole truth in that
prayer. as only dead men can tell the
truth in the world
1t follows:
"Oh, Lord, our God, help us to tear
their soldiers to bloody shreds with
our shells: help us to cover their
smiling fields with the pale forms of
their patriot dead; help us to drown
the thunder of the guns with the
wounded writhing in pain; help us to
lay haste their humble homes with
hurricane of fire: help us to wiring
the hearts of their unOffending wild
ows with unavailing grief; help us to
turn them out roofless with their
little children to wander unfriended
through wastes of their desOlate land
in rags and hunger and thirst. sport
of the sun flames in summer and the
icy winds of winter, broken in spirit.
worn with travail. implOring Thee for
the refuge of the grave and denied it
:. for our sakes, who adore Thee,
Lord, blast their hopes, blight their
lives, protract their bitter pilgrim
age, make heavy their steps. water
them with tears, stain the white snow
with the blood of their wounded feet.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-11-14
BILLY NOONAN'S NUGGETS
(Baudette Region)

When We hear a wife laughing at
her husbands jokes we get the idea
that she is campaigning for new fur
coat or something.
A we'll upholstered local girl has
ar optimistic way of putting it. She
says she isn't overweight, but a
couple of inches too short.
"A bachelor" says smart-Alec
married writer, lis a man who has
been eyed and found wanting"
There's a campaign against drink
ing in planes. A plane is bad
place to take a drop too much.
Wouldn't this be a great world IL
gossips brought up only the good
deeds of their friends?
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-11-14

Daddy, are flies flies because they
fly?"
Il suppose So"
Are fleas fleas because they flee?"
Sure, what of it,"
We'll. l told teacher that bees are
bees because they be-"
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-11-14
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 If the
writer does not wish to have his
name used it will be withheld.)
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-11-14

Maybe Arthur Brisbane felt the
need of popularizing himself little
more with rhe agrarian folks when he
wrote: The readers of the smaller
newspapers scattered all over the
United States. form the most import
ant body of thinking Americans in
this country. Now don't you feel
puffed up?