Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1940-10-10
(Omitted from publication last issue
for lack of space.)
Approaching a Showdown.

AS this is being written it looks as
though the United States is approach
ing showdown with Germany, Italy
and Japan, who on Thursday of last
week signed military pact that is
generally believed to be aimed at us.
Throughout the world crisis this
administration has pursued policy
that is highly dangerous and one
that is as hard to explain as it is to
justify. We have actively partici-
pated in the European war with
everything but manpower. We have
given one side warships, planes, guns
and ammunition, and contrary to inter-
national law we altered our neu-
trality policy after war had broken
out. In the Orient our policy has been
equally inexplicable.
Now it is beginning to look as
though we are going to be compelled
to fight whether we want to or not.
In the judgment of experts it is only
a question of days or weeks and this
unhappy state of affairs will give
our people the most serious con-
Germ. On land we are woefully I'M
prepared. 1t is my information that
there is not even enough underwear
and shoes on hand to take care of the
first draftees, and as for equipment
we are told by the National Defense
council that we will not be ready
until 1912. Theodore Roosevelt used
to say, Speak softly and carry a big
stick" Franklin Delano Roosevelt
has put this very excellent advice
into reverse. We have been speaking
harshly while carrying a small stick.
AS this is being written there lies
before me clipping from the New
York Journal, dated August 2, 1899,
containing an interview that I gave
on my departure for the Oslo confer
ence. Among other things 1 am
quoted as having said, "The danger
of war for this country lies in the Far
East and not in Europe. We can
keep the peace if we have the will
to do so. Foreign entanglements are
as unnecessary now as in the days
of George Washington. This name
calling program is not conducive to
peace"
In looking back over the years we
can see the tragic mistakes commit
ted Immediately following the armis-
tice. Laying aside the political angles
of the treaty of Versailles, the eco
nomic commissions sowed the seed for
the present war. Had our statesmen
at that time been foresighted enough
to have created an international pool
of all raw material, to which all ma
tons would have had access on an
equal footing, this war could and
probably would have been averted
and democracy in Europe would now
be firmly entrenched. But, no, the
"have" nations who then controlled
much of the raw material supply of
the world continued to hold on to the
advantages they then had and added
to their control vast areas in Africa
and the Orient. AS result the pres
ent situation was unacceptable. Verify,
man learneth slowly, if at all.
Quits Party Post.
1t will be recalled that some weeks
back 1 commented upon the Excess
sively large fees that have been paid
the firm of Robert and Company OF
Atlanta, for engineering work in con-
nection with naval contracts, calling
attention to the improperly of L W.
Robert continuing as secretary of the
Democratic National committee while
doing government work. One day
last week Mr.. Robert announced that
he was quitting his party post in
order to ''serve his company better
1 can hardly see how he can give
much better service to his company
than he has when it comes to getting
government work.
In the statement accompanying his
resignation Mr.. Robert called atten-
ton to the fact that his company OF
architects and engineers has received
numerous government contracts, some
of which went hack RI tho CooI;I oc