Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1938-01-13
THE NATIONAL
GOVERNMENT
BY PAUL JOHN KvALE, M. C.

The first week of the third session
of the seventy-fifth Congress comes
to an end with no actual results ap-
parent. However, we have been &C
tive in committee and it is the opin-
ion of this writer that we shall &C
complish a great deal before adjourn
ment.
Personally, our efforts have been
directed mainly against any involv-
ment in war. The President and the
Secretary of State have been, and still
are, under terrific strain; they have
handled the Far East situation adj
mirably. Nevertheless, we must face
the fact that there is the possibility
of war in the offing and we who are
opposed to war are unalterable in
our opposition to any war unless il
be one to repel an invader of our
shores. Your correspondent plans to
take the floor in behalf of the Ludlow
bill which would permit all of you
people back home to decide whether
or not we shall 60 to war.
Along the cheerful side we point
to the testimony of General Robert E
Wood, president of Sears, Roebuck
& Company, who appeared before the
Senate Committee on Relief for I'm
employment yesterday. Among 9TH
er things the general said that his
company had decided to take lick
ing" and reduce by an average of IL
per cent goods produced last fall.
We proceed to quote from the ac-
tual testimony of General Wood be-
fore the committee presided over by
Senator Byrnes. "Why is private
capital scared?" asked Senate r
Byrnes.
81 am supposed to be an economic
royalist' but support most of the
administrations programs" Mr.. Wood
replied. However, take the two
speeches of members of the admin
istration of the last ten days. They
men. The Presidents speech was
moderate but which is the business
man to take-he has been dubbed
over the head so many times"
"Why not take the Presidents
speech?" suggested the chairman.
at is reassuring but not those of
the others, especially Secretary
Ickes," said General Wood.
81 agree that the Presidents speech
is far more reassuring," interjected
Senator RvrneS
'What would start things with a
bang?" the chairman asked General
Wood.
Nothing that l know" was the
reply. However, he went on to say,
"We have the example of England to
look at in housing. They used the
trial and error method and their hOus
ing has kept England going for four
years." ~,
Continuing General Wood said
material prices have dropped sub
stantially. Lumber is off Is per
cent to 80 per cent. Outside the big
cities wage rates are not an obstacle
to building" General Wood went on
to say that the maintenance of farm
purchasing power was one of the
greatest breaks Of the recession.
Replying to Chairman Byrnes,
General Wood said, ~ do not know
of any plan whereby labor and cap
ital can get together"
He was followed on the stand by
William Green, president Of the
AFL. Mr.. Green declared that,
'The largest single, factor contribut-
ing to the recession was the increas-
ingly speculative character of the
gains in business activity the first
half of 1887"
The Senate continued to Wrangle
over the anti-lynching bill in what
amounts to filibuster. There is no
chance of passing this bill, particu-
l., e. ~