Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1938-01-13
State Capitol News
BY A. I. HARRIS


BY A. I. HARRIS
Relief has undeniably become prob
lem No. l for the nation and for
Minnesota, all reports show. In
every corner of Minnesota the cry
is coming for more relief funds, as
the ig-business-sti slump
continues to result in more mass lay
offs in the industrial centers-not only
in this state but in the states which
are the vital customers for Mime
sota's farm products-the ranks OF
the unemployed approach record
size.
1t appears likely at this writing
that special session of the state
legislature may yet have to be called
to correct the brutal slashing of re-
lief appropriations by the conServa-
tives last summer At that time, de-
spite the results of painstaking sur
veys by the state to determine the
exact need for funds, the conserva-
tives cut exactly in half the requests
that hunger and misery have de-
scended upon hundreds of Minnesota
families.
Floods in the Lake Superior region,
lay-offS in the Twin Cities and in
southern industrial towns, and gen.
eral emergency conditions among
wide sections of the farming popula-
ton now aggravate an already des-
perate situation regarding relief fl
nancing.
Three Minnesota liberals have been
granted national recognition for their
progressive activities during 1887
Yearly, The Nation magazine, lead
ing eastern weekly, chooses from the
ranks of American public figures those
whom the Nation editors say ode
serve the applause of their country
men,"
Governor Elmer Benson is given
special notice on the publications.
honor list "for withdrawing the Ii
cense of the Pinkerton detective
agency for industrial espionage, and
for showing what a Farmer-Labor
governor can do in furthering a pro-
gram of social legislation" He is
one of two governors so honored.
Minnesota Congressman Henry C
Teigan, Minneapolis, and John T.
Bernard, Eveleth, are lauded for their
work in Congress during 1937-the
first year in Congress, by the way,
for both of these men-and "for their
courageous fight in the House against
the principalities and powers of re-
action" The Nation lists Mr.. Teigan
and Mr.. Bernard among several So
called young Turks" who, led by
Representative Maury Maverick of
Texas, constitute the spearhead of the
liberal forces in Congress.
That Minnesota churches are deep
ly concerned over the war threat
today is evidenced by peace pro-
gram for America adopted by the
World Brotherhood committee of the
Minnesota Federation of Churches at
its annual meeting last month. The
program advocates strict neutrality,
the Ludlow bill for a referendum
before war can be declared, and elm
ination of race prejudice.
1t is both preSumptuouS and dis
honest on the part of Big Business,
which during the present Admin
istration has enjoyed unprecedented
prosperity as measured in terms of
profits, to blame the government for
the present business recession.
While Big Business has been able
to effect a constantly increased con-
centration of wealth, which today
presents the greatest threat to the
economic freedom of the people, it
has yet to display an ability to fur
nish jobs to the great masses of the
people
Secretary of Interior Ickes says
that the government should have a
showdown with Big Business and call
the bluff of the plutocrats now. By
all means, let's have showdown. If
Big Business cannot perform the job
in the interest of the people and the
country's welfare, let us find it out
The government will then know what
job lies ahead of it.
Governor Benson'S suggestion to
the University of Minnesota board
of regents that they invite Profess
Sor William A. Schaper, who was
dismissed during the 1917 war hys-
terra on charges of pro-Germanism,
to return here has met with the
whole-hearted approval of the execu-
tive council of the American Fedora
ton of Teachers.
The governor has received COM
munication from the teachers union
thanking him for reviving the case,
and the University board of regents
has received an appeal from the A.
F. of T. to act on the governors sug
gestion.
The st. Paul municipal election