Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1939-01-12

During the past few years the
American people almost to a voice,
have issued ultimatumS that they
would not be blindly led into war.
But the propaganda guns are begin
ming their work The best ammuni-
ton they are using is that of Great
ing hatred toward the dictators. Sure,
it is true that we don't like dictators,
and we feel that they are menace
to world peace and that we must
prepare ourselves in defense against
them, but we should not get ourselves
sufficiently aroused to 60 right over
into their door yard and wage a
fight with them.
The World Peace Association has
done remarkable work along the
lines of peace since it has been in
existence, but we cannot go all the
way with a communication from G.
A. Ryan of Jenkins, who is the sec
retary-treasurer of the World Peace
Association, when he issues the fol-
lowing words in support of the Pres
ident's armament program:
''In the face of a threatening
world catastrophe being forced
on iberty-loving people by ne
farious, saber-rattling dictators
of other lands, who, by their dia-
bolical conduct are fast mourning
the hatred of the entire civilized
world, as well as endangering its
peace, the World Peace ASsocia-
ton finds it necessary to urge
all of its members, and all of
the members of the more than
three hundred national and in
ternational organizations with
whom the World Peace Associa-
ton cooperates, to wholehearted-
ly support the President of the
United States in his determina-
ton to fully arm this nation for
defense, or war if necessary, in
order that our God-given right
to life, liberty and the pursuit
of happiness may be preserved
at home and that justice to all
abroad may be made more Sc
cure"
Granting that the Paragraph is par.
TALLY correct there is one expires.
sion in it that we find it Difficult
to subscribe to and that is where h.
says: ''to Fundamentally support thu
President of the United States in hi
determination to fully arm this ma.
ton for defense, or war if necessary
in order that our God-given 'righ
to life, liberty and the pursuit O.
happiness may be preserved at home
and that justice to all abroad may
be made more secure"
Mr.. Ryan is absolutely right, t.
our way of thinking, if he ask:
that we support the President il
preparing to defend ourselves agains
aggression, but he seems to connec
it up with the thought that we should
60 to war if necessary, abroad. May.
be he doesn't mean that and we hope
he doesn't, for we have no bushes!
abroad, as we have said so many
times When it comes down to de.
Tending our shores, then the situa-
ton takes on different aspect anc
we will subscribe to reasonable
preparedness program.
Furthermore, we are not so sure
that "war if necessary" would be ar
assurance of our "God-given right
to life, liberty and the pursuit Of
happiness For the next war will
possibly be of such magnitude ano
intensity that civilization will BIZ
rocked to its foundation regardless:
of who wins. Will a civilization sc
rocked, be able to enjoy any degree
of "God-given right to life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness?" We
think not.
The best way out, Mr.. Ryan, i:
to keep our defense in sound de-
gree of efficiency and arrange fol
adequate and speedy manufacturing
facilities in case of an aggression
and to click" the dictators with {
more vital weapon-that of isolation
and boycott There are few nation!
in the world who can live indefinite.
ly without supplies from the outside
and the best alliance we can make
is one to stand economically with
other nations against world trouble.
makers.
We subscribe to Mr.. Ryan's state.
ments when he advocates further ir
his letter to the editor, that "the
World Peace Association respectfully
urges the Congress to enact a law
that will draft all wealth and man
power in case of war being forced
upon the people of this country; tt
enact a law that will make it crime
punishable by both fine and impris-