Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1938-05-19

one be deceived. Confidence in our
state government must be- restored if
Minnesota is to march forward out
of this depression. ftg
/ believe in the right Of labor to
organize, to bargain collectively,
through representatives of its own
choosing for those things that affect
labor's welfare I am sympathetic
with labor because I have labored
myself. I know what it is to face
adversely. Greater security is in store
for labor in Minnesota if construc-
tive program of cooperation can be
foStered.
Among the worst enemies of labor
are the Communists who are seeking
to control the labor movement. Those
individuals are disrupting the labor
ranks. They are arousing needless
hostility in, and toward, organized
labor.
Because of its ideals and honest
intentions the labor movement is
symbol of social and industrial pro-
gress, but it is being undermined by
those who are using it for their sell
fish purposes.
Against Fascism and Communism.
Minnesotans are against war, but
let us eliminate war between labor
and industry. Putting our economic
house in order, is the best guarantee
of peace and progress.
Let me make my position clear. I
am opposed to Communism in labor
and in government. am equally
opposed to Fascism. Our present state
administration opposes Fascism, but
it fosters Communism in labor, and in
government. Capitol and labor have
suffered because of the unreasonable
ness of some of its leadership. Die
tatorship of whatever type is foreign
to American traditions. We must
preserve our democratic government.
Minnesota has vast areas of land,
once valuable forests, now denuded
and practically useless. TO date we
have not succeeded in the formula
ton of a genuine policy of reforesta-
ton. Such program, it occurs to
me, should be built around the peo-
pie living in the cut-over areas, adj
ministered under state supervision,
but affording opportunity for max
imum of community initiative and
responsibility. 1t is a well known
fact, these people are the backbone
of the forest fighting force in times
of T1oi,. Natural ipfnrocf
and experience, combined with COM
munity pride offer assets which would
make possible maximum return for
the states investment in reforestation
projects on such basis. When relief
expenditures are necessary, reforesta-
ton projects would be. wholesome and
beneficial and would pay future divi-
dendS.
Extravaganza and waste in our
state government has been inStru-
mental in building the political ma
chine that controls our state and the
costs are crushing you laborers, farm
ers and business men. No service
needed in the state will be curtailed, if
1 am Governor, but extravaganza,
waste, and unnecessary activities will
be eliminated.
In order to build its machine, the
present administration maintains the
vicious system of contributions by
state employees to secure funds for
its own purposes.
There will be no such collections
if I am Governor. No state employee
will live in fear of those payroll
grabbers. The honest and efficient
employee will be sure of his job as
long as there is job.
A practical way of preventing the
sand-bagging of state employees to
build party bosses, is the adoption
of a Merit System of Civil Service.
The influence of my office will be
used for instead of against the adop-
ton of such a system as proposed
by the Minnesota Federation of Labor
and the League of Women Voters in
the 1887 Legislative session, which