Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1939-11-09

SmackeQ OF lOg-rOlllng. 10 cap the
climax the Speaker and the Majority
Leader took the floor to plead for
passage of the resolution. It is rather
unusual for the Speaker to take part
in the debates but this was must"
matter with the Administration. The
Speakers speech was rather war
like and he frankly took sides in the
European war. The applause that
greeted his remarks indicated to me
that there exists a very dangerous
state of mind among the lawmakers
in Washington. To say that this Con-
gress is neutral would be untrue.
The national law making body is pre-
ponderantly pro-Ally. In other words,
this is Tory Congress.
In view of the pro-Ally position
of the President and Congress, I do
not see much hope for remaining out
of the European war. The debates on
the neutrality measure were reminis-
cent of the discussions that we had
on the World war resolution. Some
members even went so far as to in
innate that we could not afford to
see the Allies lose. The same argu-
ments that we heard back in 1917
were used, accompanied by the same
old flag waving and breast beating.
Personally, I cannot see why we
should feel obligated to 60 over there
every 25 years to fight for the pre-
Servation of democracy. We went
over there once and before we get
through paying the last dollar of the
bill that we then incurred it will
have cost us one-third of our entire
national wealth. We went into that
war with national debt of one bill
lion dollars. Today, the Federal gov
eminent owes and is committed to
an Indebtedness that amounts to al
most 48 billion dollars, or $48 for
every minute since the dawn of the
Christian era. What are we think
ing about? Do not the President and
Congress realize that another war will
pile up a debt so high that there will
be no way out except through re-
pudiation? And what will repudia-
ton do to us? 1t will wipe out every
insurance policy, bank account and
bond. 1t will mean suffering for the
munism. 1 ask my readers, is it
worth the price?
The neutrality bill passed by Con-
gress has some good features. 1
strongly commend the provision
which prohibits American citizens
fnr~iy, n
zones of hostilities prescribed by the
President of the United States, or to
transport munitions in time of war;
This provision could have been en-
acted as a separate measure. Ger
tainly, it was not necessary to lift
the embargo on arms and ammuni-
ton to get this desirable legislation.
Court Test of Treaties.
Governor William H. Vanderbilt of
Rhode Island, questions the constitu-
tionality of the Roosevelt-Hull re-
ciprocal trade program and announces
that he will initiate court proceed
ings to test its legality if he can find
the proper method of getting the mat
ter before the courts. There is little
doubt that the reciprocal trade law is
unconstitutional because it permits the
Administration to enter into trade
agreements, that are in effect treaties,
without approval by the Senate, as
provided by the Constitution of the
United States.
/ can well understand the difficulty
that Governor Vanderbilt will have
in getting into court because to do
so he must prove that he has per-
sonally been injured by such treaties.
Every northern farmer could qualify
but l know of none who have the
money to fight the case through to
the Supreme Court. Thousands of
manufacturers could also qualify in
bringing action but apparently no one
dares to do so because this Admin
istration has habit of Cracking
down" through the Internal Revenue
Bureau and the Department of JUS
tice on those who oppose it. 1t is to
be hoped that Governor Vanderbilt
will find the way for getting into the
court because these trade agreements
are costing the American people mil
lions and millions of dollars a year
through loss of the home market.
Uncle Sam Gets Cheap Money.
Several days ago the Treasury De-
partment offered 91-day Treasury
bills to the amount of $50 million
dollars. The average price paid was
99.993, equivalent to rate of O.028
percent. 1t is significant that the gov
eminent was offered 457 million dol
lars at this ridiculously low rate To
me it is not good sign. 1t means
that there is no other outlet in which
capital cares to invest. What an in
dictment on our whole fiscal policy.
How long can it continue?
To Speed Preparedness.
War and Navy Department officials
estimate that 1000 million dollars
will be required during the next year
to carry out the Administration pre-
paredness program. That is trifle
more than will be spent during the
r,resent fiscal wear which ends on