Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1936-03-05
THIS AND THAT
BY HAROLD Il. FEI EttOS
st. Paul, MINI.

Recently the writer had an oppor-
tunity to listen to Senator Gerald P.
Nye of North Dakota, chairman of
the Senate Munitions committee, lee
ture at the Adath Jeshurun Syna-
gogue, 34th and Dupont, Minneapolis.
We know of no more vital message
we could give you readers than a
few excerpts from his speech.
First, Senator Nye touched briefly
on the accepted cause of war; He
named the appetite of nations for ter
ritory to be used as an outlet for
population, but discounted this be-
cause very little actual colonization
is done when territory is acquired.
Secondly, commercial rivalry, struggle
for trade with the various countries
and colonies, does not hold the capital
place as a cause of war it formerly
did. In fact, many nations now agree
on the need of a more sensible re-
colonization. The desire of leaders to
cover up blunders at home is still
an active cause, exemplified by Mus
solini right now as one of the things
contributing to his Ethiopian war, but
this condition can easily be corrected
if willed by the people, said Senator
Nye. The last cause Of war mentioned
was the desire within mems hearts
for profits. He showed the prevalence
of this notion by asking us how many
had heard this statement, What we
need to get out of the depression is
another war"
War Bonus Paid Financfer.
Senator Nye then got to the best Of
his argument-the findings of his
Senate Munition committee. He bore
out the Farmer-Labor philosophy as
to the cause of most suffering, eco
nomic as we'll as war, when he said,
"It is unfair to say the House of Nor
gan led us into war; it is fair to say
they were the heart of the system
that led us into war;" Eugene Grace,
steel magnate, testified before the
committee concerning the soldiers
bonus, voicing his opposition. He
didn't. however. want people to think
he wasn't big-hearted, as he said
that the dollar a day received by SOL
diers in the last war was too little.
They should have five or six dollars
day! Under fire from Nye, Grace
admitted his own salary was $4,000
year at that time, and that during
the war years he received a bonus,
which he had forgotten" until re-
minded of it, of a mere $2,600,000.
Concerning the Disarmament Con-
ference, Senator Nye said, Annually
the eyes of the world turn to Lon
don or Geneva to watch progress" Of
another disarmament conference
they always fail, which leaves people
open to the suggestion that one or
more nations are to blame. Then
comes propaganda that they are bad"
that beating they deserve when war
comes I can't say I'm convinced
that couldn't be fair-but at least
I'm almost convinced that they're
planned to fail. If not, why do ma
lions send men as delegates who are
stockholders in munitions firms; men
who, dressed in gold-braids, are
trained in war;"
Senator Nye proposed a hard and
fast Neutrality Act which it is the
duty of every citizen to support-to
support by educating the public as
to the facts SO they will demand
its passage. First. his bill would for
bid entirely all loans or credits to
nations of war. Secondly, it would
absolutely forbid sale of munitions
or implements of war Last, but not
of most Importance. the U. S. would
be forced to keep commercial trade
with warning nations at ordinary
peacetime levels, and even then sell
to them only if the nations come over
here in their own boats. pay cash,
wrap up the goods in their own flags,
and transport the goods back through
the danger zones themselves. In
other words. put Uncle Sam on a
Cash and Carry basis.