The Ely miner., 1940-04-25
OUR CONGRESSMAN
News Letter Written Ely Miner by
WILLIAM A PITTENGER
Member of Congress, Eighth Minnesota District


HAS THE WORLD WAR COM
MENCED?. Within week after writ
ing my recent summary emphasizing
the fact that the Presidential election
was over -shadowing everything in the
Nations Capitol we are again faced
with world war possibilities which come
before us in an entirely different way
from those which involved the Russian
attack on Finland This time it was
the Nazi government of Germany which
occupied Denmark and started to oc-
cupy Norway No one can tell whether
or not that occupation has been COM
pleted because of the censorship of
news from abroad. 1t would appear
that every small nation in Europe has
its very existence threatened by these
developments.
In a recent talk in the House of
Representatives pointed out that this
government should not look with in
difference to attacks on small nations.
1 set forth my attitude very clearly
in these words:
Without warning, the Nazi govern
ment in Germany marched its soldiers
into Denmark and has now proceeded
to occupy Norway and there are in
dications that they intend to occupy
Sweden. 1 note a foreign newspaper
dispatch which says that Holland will
probably be next, and that the safety
of all small countries in the world is
at stake" '*'
The people of Norway and the people
of Sweden have been known for theil
outstanding qualities and leadership
Their civilization is of the highest type
They are recognized as honest and in
duStrious. Those who have come II
the United States hold the respect O.
all people with whom they associate
because of these many good qualities
We can and should extend to then
our sympathy at this time and our hopt
that they and other small nations ma!
be spared the ravageS OF war. Tht
doctrine that might makes right, ant
this is the doctrine of the Naz govern
ment, is one that we cannot follow ant
it must be condemned by right-t thinking
people.
This philosophy that might make
right is probably the philosophy o
other warning nations. What I Sa.
about the Nazi doctrine is applicable
to them. They should and must re
Spect the rights Of neutrals and ar
entitled to no consideration from thi
country when they violate the right
of neutrals. We want to keep tn,
United States out of foreign wars, ant
although we Sympathize with the small
nations, at the same time, our policie
must be such as to avoid involvement
in the European conflict"
THE DIES COMMITTEE continue
to render an important service to tn
United States. With the world wa
problems before us, we want no foreign
or alien influences to undermine ou
form of government or to scatter pro
paganda here. Consequently, a fey
days ago when someone protesteO
against the work of this committee,
took the floor and addressed the House
I said:
The work of the Dies committee i
an outstanding contribution to tn
cause of Americanism. have no tim
for those who would undermine tn
foundations of this government, AM
those are the people that Martin Die
and his associates have been trying t.
get at.
Mr.. Speaker, as I have heretofore in
dicated, was present at several ses
sionS of the Dies Committee durin
1899, and I have personal knowledge o
the fact that the committee proceede,
in an orderly manner and that thei
only objectiveS were to ascertain tn
truth from the witnesses who testified
When you find someone who says un
kind things about the committee, @
its members, or it's method of procedure
you can make up your mind that tina
party is not in sympathy with tn
purpose for which the Dies committe
was created.
In other words, that party is tryin
to protect someone who does not lik
the pitiless light of publicity whic