Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1936-04-09

A good newspaper is most valu-
able factor in organization work of
liberal movement, such as the
FarmerLabor party in Minnesota.
In the early years of our movement,
when finances were meager, il was
with considerable difficulty that our
paper was maintained. Credit is due
men like Henry G. Teigan, former
Mayor William Mahoney, Fred Miller,
and others for their persistence in
keeping up a publication like the
Leader, and not to forget the Mime
sofa Union Advocate, which contains
real candid and factual radical edi-
torials.
My life's work has been that of
printing and publishing and l know
something about the pressure placed
against a free press. For seven or
eight years, we were busy building
our job printing business and news
paper at Askov, so that we would be
OH solid economic footing and would
not have to crawl or kOw-tow to any
banker for credit. That having been
accomplished fourteen years ago. as
time went on we gradually placed
more emphasis on the newspaper.
writing independent, liberal and rad
zeal editorials. Naturally, we lost
some of the bank printing we had
built up and were even Stunned by
some advertisers.
Mission is Liberalism.
Since the Farmer-Labor state vic
tory of 1880, the Minnesota Leader
has not had to worry about its eco
nomic existence, due to the sustaining
fund that has been collected. The
Leader gets support because it's mis-
sion is to speak for liberalism, unlike
SO many other newspapers that get
support because they cater to con-
sentative and reactionary interests.
Our political party has an excellent
name in "Farmer-LabOr". That on
the face of it indicates our pro-
gram, and in whose behalf we are
fighting. Farmers constitute about 40
per cent of the nations population,
and combined with common labor,
tradesmen, professional people. indie
pendent merchants who have little
capital Investment and are rendering
services, make up about 95 per cent
of the population. Those are the peo-
pie whom we represent through our
political party, and while we want to
be fair to all, we do not propose to
of hundreds of thousands or millions,
who have much more than enough
representation now. The per cent
of our population is certainly we'll
cared for.
Good Original Name.
Our political party being so we'll
named, | can see no reason why the
name of our newspaper was changed,
and l therefore strongly urge chang
ing back to its original good name,
THE Farmer-Labor Leader
AS matter of suggestion to the
editors and management of our news
paper. l pass out this information: On
several occasions l have heard sem
ators and representatives say that our
paper might render better service if
it devoted more space to publicizing
and emphasizing the value of good
bills introduced by our representatives
and senators in the legislature and
telling of the work that is being done
to put over those bills, rather than
to devote so much energy to criticiz-
ing the opposition.
A large circulation on the Leader
is essential if our paper is to carry
much influence in the campaigns.
Our platform, principles and program
and our general viewpoint on ques-
lions of public interest must be read
by the masses to be understood. 1t
makes for many more volunteer work.
ers in the campaign.
Real Force is Legislation.
1t is also of much Importance that
we maintain good and active unit or