Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1936-08-27

States. At the same time the Wash
ington government has, through vari-
GUS channels, tried to discourage
American munitions and arms manu-
facturers from shipping any of their
products to Spain.
Day of Judgment.
Spanish fascists are attempting to
win back the power they held in the
glorious days of Dictator Primo de Riv-
era, and just while the turbulence in
Spain is going on, revelations come
from Moscow indicating that fas-
cist plot has been shown up; for
some days trial has been in prog
ress for the purpose of establishing
the guilt of alleged plotters, notable
among whom were the former Soviet
executive officials, Gregory ZinOvieff
and Leon Kamineff there were four
teen others implicated, and numerous
arrests within the last few days seem
to show that there may be still fur
Their ramifications.
| A remarkable feature about this
case were the glib and, as it seemed.
almost ready-made confessions offered
by each of the accused. They pleaded
guilty, not merely in the cursory
American fashion, but gave details,
described circumstances and related
many supposed facts that seemed to
verify their confessions. Knowing
that execution might await them, they
| fn11 q ri
with information which gradually led
to the belief that not only was it in
tended to kill Josef Stain, the active
head of the government, but also to
annihilate the Soviet administration
and to substitute for it a fascist gov
eminent.
Much of the evidence pointed in the
direction of Leon Trotzky, Once-with
Nikolai Lenin-the mightiest man in
all Russia, now an exile, at the pres
ent time enjoying the hospitality of
Norway. He himself characterizes all
such accusations as mere humbug, the
whole trial as political revenge.
Whatever Trotzky may or may not
have had to do with the alleged plot
the Moscow court found the sixteen
accused men guilty, and condemned
them to death by shooting. According
to reports all the convicted men were
executed by shooting Tuesday of this
week.
World Forces.
Off hand, and far away from the
scene of events, one cannot judge as
to Russian affairs at the present
stage. The possibility remains, how
ever, that some of the men formerly
loyal to the ideals of the Soviets
have let themselves be influenced by
fascist arguments and persuasion
Such a possibility becomes plausible
when one recognizes the fact that
wherever the fascists are out, they
want to get in.
1t is being seen on a grand scale
in Spain just now; attempts to estab-
lish the fascist form of government
are still proceeding in France as well
as in other countries where demo
cratic forces hold sway.
Not so much a conflict between faS-
cism and communism, the pendins
clashes-and those possibly imminent
toO-are to be considered a prelude tc
some major crisis which will decide
the question of who is to rule, the
people through their chosen repre-
sentatives, or handful of a few, very
strong, men who disregard the people
and their representation. That is the
fight. That is the fight in Russia
in Spain, in France, in Italy and Ger
many in which two latter countries
just now the fascist elements have
the upper hand. Russia, France and
Spain insist that the people must
rule, Italy and Germany maintain the
doctrine of the incredible superman
who arrogates to himself all authori-
ty to decide what is good for the ma
| ton.
1t is not likely that a war will
break out now as the result of up
heavals in Spain, Russia and France,
but if it ever does, it will be charac-
terized by two sharply defined align
ments: On one side democracy; on
the other, dictatorship. The rivalry
between these two forces constitute
the dynamics of present-day interna-
tional developments.