Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-12-12
NEED BROAD VIEW

The 1885 Congress of American In
dustry and the fortieth annual meet
ing of the National Manufacturers
City a few days ago. They severely
criticized the New Deal and went on
record as in former years for preser-
walton of individual enterprise and
elimination of undue regulation OF
private business. as we'll as opposition
to taxation imposed by the present
national administration.
American industry and the national
manufacturers have in the past DOM
mated American politics through
their control of government In the
Harding, Coolidge and HoOy er admin
istrations. Their philosophy Is re-
Elected in the conservative and reac-
tionary Republican leadership in the
United States Congress as we'll as in
the many State Legislatures through
out the land.
A person can hardly refrain from
smiling when reading about their
preservation of individual enterprise
and elimination of undue regulation
of private business" During the
Hoover administration, when they
dominated hundreds of millions Of
dollars of federal money, the tax
payers money, was loaned to the
large but tottering private banks. pri-
vate insurance companies, the rail
roads and others. Very little If any
70 oil lot q
human suffering.
Private industry received this aid
and as a result they should conduct
their affairs for social betterment
and for the welfare of mankind, rath-
er than for selfish profits.
They complain of excessive taxa
ton. Yet, during tie last three Re-
publican administrations, while ex-
cessive profits were being made by the
wealthy corporate interests of Amer
lea, Andrew Mellon, the secretary
OF the treasury, advocated cuts In net
income taxes on individuals and cor
porations. Such tax reductions were
enacted into law at different times
by Congress. That was really the
period when more taxes should have
been collected in order to reduce the
national debt and for the purpose o.
building up national reserve for s
rainy day. Instead of ii at, eXorbitan'
profits went into the pockets of Amer
lean industrialists who used those
profits for greater industrial expan
sion that brought forth more labor
saving devices.
Much of the responsibility for the
bad economic situation of the country
today can be traced to the actions OF
Congress i'm the three national Re
publican administrations above re
ferred to. That period was the time
when we should have had a nationa
economic policy to uphold or raise
the standard of living of the masse:
OF our people and to develop pro
gram of better wealth distribution
We can lay our ills to the conserva
tive and reactionary forces in contro
at Il at time. More education ant
authentic information to make fol
better understanding on the part o
cope with the situation.
We must have an intelligent tai
program to aid in redistribution o
wealth and a combination Of public
and government ownership OF public
utilities and monopoli ed industry
Advances along this line must b.
made in our state program as wei
as with respect to the national situa
ton. Taxation is an important par
of the set up.
Will the reactionary leadership il
the state OF Minnesota, representing
the interests of the United State
steel corporation. the Northern e
Power Company. and other lars e pri
vately owned public utilities and tn
out-of-state real estate holding in
terests. force their program upon GU
citizens? or will we ad pit program
better suited to the public at larg
in which the interest of the creates
number of our citizens is given rea
consideration.