Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-04-22
Intolerance Or
Cooperation


Commencing in the 1881 session
of the Minnesota Legislature, there
have been marches on the capitol at
each succeeding session. The march
of 1881 was unannounced and was
spontaneous. to be sure. Since that
time. the various marches have been
more or less politically inspired, and
certainly that was true of the recent
march in this session of 1887. 1t was
announced for weeks in advance,
played up with glowing headlines,
especially in the Minnesota Leader,
which is supposed to be the party
organ of the Farmer-Labor ASSocia-
ton. Announcements were sent to
newspapers out over the state, field
men were out to build up sentiment,
and it was heralded to be a great
march of ten thousand people. The
number that actually came to the
capitol was but a few hundred.
In this recent march on the cap
itol, were many well meaning farm
ers and unemployed workers, sincere
in the hope that the march and their
pleas before the Legislature would
have beneficial results. No one with
a heart could help but sympathize
with such people: farmers with
meager incomes, hardly enough food
on the table and scant clothing for
their children, as well as the people
who are out of work.
,,, oIx
of the march stated for what the
peoples lobby would be pleading
The various bills were specifically
mentioned, the tax question, and re-
lief legislation in particular. 1t is
quite safe to say that there was not
a single member of the 1913 repre-
sentativeS and senators who did not
know in advance of the lobby for
what their spokesman would ask.
AS a matter of fact, letters and
personal callers from among the
constituents, or other citizens in the
state are more effective upon repre-
sentatives and senators than mass
congregations. Good bills are not
passed in the heat of passion, pre-
JUDGE and loud shouting. Import
ant statewide legislation affecting
the general welfare of Minnesotas
two and one-half millions of people
requires the best of thorough
thinking on the part of legislators
and others.
If the people are not satisfied with
the work of certain representatives
and senators, there is a good old
democratic way Of rectifying that at
the ballot box. Representatives and
senators who are not doing satisfac-
tory work or who are more inter-
ested in self-seeking and represent
ing certain interests contrary to the
general public welfare, can certainly
be kept out of the legislative halls
by a direct vote of the people, The
opportunity for eliminating from
public office such lawmakers pre-
Sents itself every four years on the
part of senators and every two years
on the part of representatives. In
the year 1888, there will be an OPP
portunity for citizens of Minnesota
to vote for candidates for all of the
1913 seats
Intolerance on the part of small
percentage of Minnesota'S people is
not confined to any one political
party. Intolerant individuals are to
be found in the Republican, Demo-
cratic and Farmer-Labor parties, so
it is up to the leaders and the rank and
file in each of those political parties to
do some quiet and deep thinking, for
as the old adage goes: "Those who
live in glass houses, should not throw
stones" Reactionaries and liberals
alike, can be and are in some cases,
intolerant.
We must all guard against such
remarks as it is all right to "get a
little rough" and use plenty of pres
sure" as well as ride him out of
the state on a rail" Remarks like
that by leaders in the heat of pas
sion and prejudice might easily lead
to rough stuff or even violence
This is true whether or not the state
ments be uttered in campaigns or
after election when the individuals
hold high and responsible positions
and their utterances are taken at
face value.
AS above stated, individual or small
group petitions and pleadings are
more effective in the aggregate and
there is not the danger of direct &C
ton or violence as when hundreds
of people are gathered in the spirit
of prejudice, intolerance, passion
and excitement. If your represen-