Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-05-20
Political MOckeries

Especially during the past few
years has there been much dis
cussion on the issue of returning
to the election of members of the
Minnesota Legislature on a party
basis. The Farmer-Labor party
has voiced that desire in a pro-
nounced manner at conventions
and through the party platform.
Other political parties have also
talked along the same line, but
the fact remains that state rep
reSentativeS and senators are still
being elected as non-partiSanS.
That leaves them more free to
be everything to everybody as
the case may fit-liberalS when
amongst liberals and cOnServa-
tiveS amongst conservatives. 1t
is a convenient way for the cam
didate who chooses that method
of garnering votes to talk as a
Farmer-Laborite in a section of
his district where the FL. is
strongest: as a Democrat where
they are in the lead: and as a
Republican where the cOnServa-
tives and reactionaries prevail.
Along those lines of thought,
The Minnesota Union Advocate
contained an editorial entitled,
political Mockeries," which is
here reproduced. The editor APP
parently went little too strong
when he said that hardly sim
gle Farmer-Labor principle has
ever been enacted" To be sure
most of them have fallen by the
wayside, but some good bills have
made the grade in spite of many
alibis and the greatest effort
being expended in campaigns for
the election of the executive, car
rying with it patronage which
apparently has been the driving
force.
The Advocate editorial follows:
The utter hopelessness of any po-
1itical party being able to enact into
law the program upon which it cam
paignS was again demonstrated in
the recently-adjourned session of the
Legislature.
Every two years three political
parties in the state wage campaigns
not only to elect certain party NOM
inees but to enact into the laws of
the state certain social and economic
reforms. The voters indicate their
choice for governor in strictly par
tisan election. He is given a very
definite mandate to propose to the
Legislature the very principles upon
which he sought and won election.
But he no sooner completes his in
augural address in which he outlines
what he considers to be needed leg
islation than he comes face to face
with the ugly realization that the
Legislature is filled with individ-
uals-rugged individuals-who sought
and won elections in non-partisan
contests. They owe no loyalty to
a party program. They have no po-
litical party pledges to observe.
For years the Farmer-Labor party
has advocated the election of men,
bers of the Legislature with party
This pledge has been
in the Farmer-Labor platform since
1916. For years the leadership of
the progressive movement in Min
nesota has urged the enactment of
a statute which would require can
didates for either House or Senate
to declare themselves as Farmer
Laborites, Republican or whatever
their political faith might be. They
have pointed out the political mock
cry of electing a chief executive of
one political faith and expecting the
branch of the government
made up of men and women of an
other political faith, to enact into law
the political platform of the COVER
nor, whose election was secured on
his definite pledge of social and eco
nomic reform.
For six long years Minnesota has
been governed by a Farmer-Labor
governor who has been compelled to
ask a Republican-controlled Legisla-
ture to redeem his political pledge.
AS result, hardly single Farmer
Labor principle has ever been en-
acted into the statutes of the state.
The Legislature which recently
came to an inglorious close was no
better than previous Legislatures de-
spite the fact that So-called liberals"
the lower house. 1t was
these self-same liberals" who de-
feated their own proposal to elect
members of the Legislature with
party designation. 1t was these self
same, socalled liberals who de-
feated the Stockwell power bill which
has been part of the Farmer-Labor
platform for years. 1t was these