Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1938-09-22
The Spectre OF War!
War; War; War;

War! War. war!
Civilized countries of the world
have forgotten that day in 1914 when
the first shot of the World war was
fired and they have forgotten the
agonizing groans of those who had to
fight that war between that first day
and Nov. IL, 1918. At the end of
that tragedy which rocked the whole
civilized world there possibly could
not have been found a single soul
among those who fought and paid
for the war, who wanted it continued
or wanted another one.
They all wanted to get back into
the paths of peace, to build their
homelands and to be with their loved
ones. Hitler said the other day in
an interview over the Czech situation,
which we doubt very much if he
meant, do you think / like being
obliged to stop my great building
development schemes throughout the
country in order to send half a mil
lion German workmen to construct,
at top speed, huge system of defense
works along our western frontier
Il should rather they be employed
in constructing workers settlements,
splendid motor roads and public well
fare institutions than raising unpro-
ductive Notifications"
Whether he meant the words he
uttered or not, the imprint of the
statement remains upon us and we
wonder, too, why? Just imagine $780,
900 men being put to work at some
thing to wreck the lives of millions;
maybe to wreck civilization Better,
far, that the nations of the earth for
get their mad race in armament con-
Struction and turn to the molding of
a better civilization, but so long as
there is selfShness and greed, there
will be bloodshed among those, who
should by the Divine Right be broth
erS.
Twenty years ago the World war
ended and American boys climbed
from the trenches to take up their
homeward trek. They were not the
same. Many of them with once bril-
liant minds, were shattered wrecks.
Many of them were doomed to a life
in rooms where row on row of hos
pital cots spelled wrecked humanity
and ruined hopes.
Their lives were not meant for that
They were born to be active men in
the progress of civilization. Their
mothers hearts have been sad all
these years, just as yours is sad when
you lose loved one. They wanted
their boys to be something else rath-
er than fodder for cannon whose trig-
gers were caused to be pulled by those
who traffic in human suffering.
The young men, who made the sac
rifice then, did it to end wars. They
did it that future generations might
be free to put on the yoke of worth
while endeavor and so they could
enjoy peace on earth, good will to-
ward men.
Now another generation of young
men exists. For these lads who were
born after the last explosion of pow
der sent the last messengers of death,
awaits new experience unless you
and l assert our rights; unless we
demand of the coming Congress that
there not be another war, at least
as far as we Americans are concerned,
unless it comes to our shores. This
new generation of youngsters will 60
through a worse experience than we
did back in 1917 and 1918, unless
we close our eyes and ears to the
salesmanship of the war mongers; I'M
less we let European troubles remain
European troubles.
Already the ''big guns" have be-
gun spouting words which are de-
signed to sway us; designed to arouse
our anger against our neighbors. We
don't want war. No nation is at odds
with U.S. None of our ships, if they
stay where they should, will be
bombed Our lives will not be lost
Let's just mind our own business!
We returned what favors we owed
if any, to other nations during the
World war. We helped squelch die
tators and tyrants, but now new
crop has sprung up. That is fertile
field for dictators, but there is no
room here in America for them nor
is there room for any feelings for or
against them here. We should mind
our own business and if we do so,
none of our youth, who were born
after the "war to end wars" will have
their lives ruined. The spectre of
war may hang over Europe and Asia,
but let us not make it a reality here.
But rather use every influence we can
call upon to create friendly feeling
between all nations so that they can