Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1938-05-19
A ''Sit Down" For
Peace

Representative Paul Kvale, Farmer
Laborite from Minnesota to the ma
tional Congress, possibly startled some
of the "100-percent-American" war
makers in his recent radio address
when he mentioned sit-down strike
of workers and agriculturists in the
event of a non-defensive war. We
quote from Mr. Kvale's address:
'The destiny of the world rests
directly upon the broad and brawny
shoulders of the farmers and work.
ers of this and every other country.
l can hear you say, But what can
the workers do under dictatorship
such as exists in certain countries?'
In reply to the question / would say
that relationships invariably have
proven a transitory phenomenon. In
other words, they rarely last very
long
1--WE all recall our disappointment
when the World war began and that
branch of organized labor which was
affiliated with the Socialist party
failed to keep its pledge to lay down
its tools in protest against any war
of aggression 1t must be remembered
however, that as at the present time,
only an insignificant number of farm
ers and laborers were affiliated with
the party of Marx and Engles. 1
believe that League of Peace, en-
bracing the workers and the farm
ers, organized by the women of this
country, and possibly in other coun-
tries, free from dues and all obliga-
tons other than that of refraining
from productive occupation in the
event of any war other than one of
defense, would come nearer to solv-
ing the problem than any movement
now under consideration.
81 can hear you observing that
human nature does not change, and
l quite agree. But believe that
through campaign of education the
workers both in the field and fac
tory can be convinced that in the
long run it is they who lose in any
war, not only their own lives but
those of their loved ones. And the
temporary false prosperity which war
inevitably brings will be dearly paid
for in the subsequent tax burden
which falls upon their already over
burdened shoulders and those of their
children 4. In closing venture to
make this prediction. That if such
an organization could be achieved
and when it is achieved a peaceful
general strike of perhaps two days
were declared with all service in
ton and public service generally, ex-
cept for emergency and mercy with
held, it would do more to convince
the statesmen, the merchants of death
and the industrialists who served
fearlessly as dollar-a-year men, dur
ing the last war in order that they
might be heard by the treasury dur
ing the conflict, that the humping
of a drum and sounding of bugle
no longer will start the men, who are
the backbone of the nation, marching
for the glory and the profit of a few
rogueS."
Previous to statement of the plan
Representative Kvale in his address
had traced the history of war to the
present time and showed how I'M
ScrupulouS the Warmakers are and
always have been. Therefore when
the true situation is realized and
when it is seen that war is to be
one of aggression rather than defense,
such a sit-down strike possibly would
not appear unpatriotic.
Furthermore, the common class of
people today is not going to be mis-
led as to the real purpose behind a
war. If it is justifiable one, if there
ever was such war, then people will
know of it and if it is one of spite
or for profit then they will likewise
know. People on the average now
are informed and they will not be like
dumb driven cattle" any longer.
When a country is in war it would
be unpatriotic to sit down and not
produce, but if sit-down warning
is given previous to profit-motive
conflict, then it might take the ap-
pearance of an act which is to work
for good of the greatest number. At
any rate the point raised by Rep.
Kvale should create considerable
thought and discussion.