Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-05-09
FL. NOTES
BY OSCAR w. ANDERSON
Secretary Central Committee Pine Co
Farmer-Labor Association


listened attentively to the fine pro-
gram of speaking at the Sandstone
FL. club meeting May l. at the Mad
ison Hotel Casino. George Martlnson
of Pine City, entertained with several
violin numbers before the arrival OF
the speakers.
The chairman called first upon FL
mer A. Benson. former Securities
Commissioner. and present State Com
missioner of Banks.
In commenting upon the enthusiasm
shown at Farmer-Labor club gather
ings throughout the state-an enthu-
-siasm which gains rather than loses
in strength in the lull between cleo
tions-Mr. Benson said he believed 1t
to be the result of having real pro-
gram which honestly and sincerely
advocates a needed change in our eco
ionic system and form of government
This is not alarming, he explained.
since such changes have been made
before for the benefit of the masses.
He considered that we are at present
in a state of revolutiOn-nOt in a con-
.dition of actual fighting to be sure
he considers the fighting stage merely
the result of the actual revolution
which is a change of thought. If
those who are in control will not sub
nit to conservative means of changing
this system, Mr.. Benson stated, the
change will come about otherwise.
We are the real conservatives, he
said, striving in order that people
may reap the benefits of the inventive
genius of man.
AS an illustration of our belief in
change, he told story of recent dis
coveries in old records of the village
of Salem in Massachusetts, the village
famous for its persecution of witches
in the revolutionary period. Accord
ing to these old records, the village
council denied the use of the village
hall to a group of citizens who pro-
posed there to consider the building
of railroad into their village. God
never intended that human beings
should ride around at fifteen miles
per hour, and if He did, He would
have so provided was the reason for
the denial
Mr. Benson warned about being led
up blind alleys by demagOgues and
members of the opposition. There is
some good in the programs of DR..
Townsend. Senator Long, and Father
aCoughlin, he said, and they are reach
ing some people. In his opinion, the
program of Huey Long is of fascist
type. and is not sound. He cOntrasted
it with the FL. program of cOopera-
ton.
In my estimation" Mr.. Benson con-
-cluded. there is nothing that can
stop the FL movement in Minnesota.
The opposition can't knock us down
on principles: government for the
good of the greatest number of peo-
pie and a share in an economy OF
abundance. 1t will make finer place
in which to work, and a better place
in which to live
johnson Speaks.
Dewey Johnson. deputy insurance
commissioner. gave the final address
of the evening. A member of the
House of Representatives in the 1929,
AN enviable record for himself as a
progressive. and was considered one
of the floor leaders of that group be-
cause of his strength and OratOrical
ability. As a candidate for Congress.
he was defeated by only a small mar
gin.
In introducing Dewey Johnson, Mr..
a legislator, and as an orator. Mr..
johnson soon gave evidence of his
power.
He stated that a year ago. Scrib
ners, the most conservative magazine
in America, published quotations from
American patriots containing ideas
identical to those found in the FL.
platform upon which five hundred
conservative papers in Minnesota
opened barrage of criticism in that
for the first time in the United States
a political party had embarked on a
radical platform. forgetting that the
Pilgrims action in immigrating to
Holland and then to the U. S.. and
the action of the colonies in 1878
were also radical attempts to lift the
burden of an oppressive economic
system.
Wendell Phillips. an advisor of
Abraham Lincoln. who was consid-
cred the strongest abolitionist of his
time. made this statement shortly
after the Civil war:
We affirm as a fundamental prin-
ciple. that labor. the creator of
wealth, is entitled to all it creates.
affirming this. we avow ourselves
willing to accept the final results of
the operation of a principle so radical
such as the overthrow of the whole
protit-making system. the extinction
of all monopolies. the abolition of
privileged classes. universal educa-
ton and fraternity, perfect freedom
of exchange. and-the final oblitera-
ton of the foul stigma upon our So
called Christian civilization-the pow
erty of the masses. Resolved. that We
shall declare war with the wages sys-
TEN. which demoralizes alike the
hirer and the hired. cheats both and