Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1936-10-22

them. They do not go over the air
well. Radio Is developing a new type
of listener as we'll as new type Of
statesman. Whatever criticism one
may have toward the New Deal, no
one can fail to observe how effective
President Roosevelt has been over the
radio during the depression and the
dark days of reconstruction. And in
the quiet circle of millions of fam
flies, many people heard him gladly
and gathered new hope.
In land such as the United States,
which contains 1872 per cent of all
the radio receiving sets in the world,
there is little excuse for any citizen
to be uniformed upon public mat
tiers. And yet it still remains true
that one of great present needs is
for an informed public opinion. This
especially lis essential in democracy
which rejects the desires, aims and
needs of the masses of the people.
In a democratic republic, also. ed
ucation is a universal necessity. Des-
pite this, here is fact upon which
we cannot bOast,-mOre tran four per
cent of the population of this country,
10 years of age or over, are unable
to read or write in any language. In
other words, they are illitera'e, and
we have not wiped out this ancient
injustice. About 80 per cent of the
people in India and in Egypt are
illiterate. Only a small fraction of
one per cent of the p pulation in
some northern European countries is
illiterate.
To help obviate illiteracy in Min
nesota and to spread and to strength
en- universal education the net income
tax on individuals and corporations
was made law in the 1898 session of
our legislature. The money collected
is distributed to all school districts
in the state, on the basis of the num-
Der of children of compulsory school
age residing in the district. In the
year 1895. 80 million dollars were
thus collected and went into this
Income Tax School Fund" to help
maintain and to foster the great pub
Lie school system of Minnesota.
Likewise radio has become an i'm
portant factor in education, especi-
ally in adult education. One who
cannot even read and write can yet
receive much of instru tion and bene-
fit from the programs which go over
the air.
1t is highly educational to follow
current events" as they are pre-
sented by trained and experienced
interpreters over the micrOpfOne.
Then there are regular courses being
presented in language study. in the
sciences, in foreign affairs, in cook
ing. in sewing. and in personal and
public hygiene. And TIE end is not
yet. One may confidently say that
in the matter of adult education we
have hardly touched the rim of the
possibilities of radios contribution.
And now we realize as never before
that education is a limitless process
which may be carried on continuously
and indefinitely through lectures,
forums and courses of many kinds
upon the radio.
During the recent strikes in Min
neapolis l was happy to be afforded
the opportunity over the air to give
an accounting-to explain develop
ments in an effort to mould public
opinion toward fair, just and happy
settlement of the controversy.
In closing / would mention what
is perhaps the most important point
of all, relative to radio. 1t is my
profound hope and desire that radio
in this country may ever remain the
free and uncensored medium of COM
munication and expression. In some
lands across the water, it has not re-
NAMED so. In Italy, Germany and
in Russia broadcasting has been made
the agency of the state for the spread
of propaganda and the indoctrination
of mind of the people with controlling
ideas and PHILOSOPHERS.
In the development of radio in the
United States traditional American
practice has been followed. 1t is pri
vately owned and comparatively OPP
Grated. 1t is financed by the sale of
time to advertising, and operation is
regulated by the federal government.
Colleges, churches, industrial organi-
cations, cities, states and even the
federal government may own and OPP
crate broadcasting stations.
Safety and progress inhere in the
legislative provisions which prohibit