Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1940-04-11
PROFITS, INTEREST AND WAR

Editor Askov American:
The connection between profits, in
terest and war may seem a mystery
to the average person, but it is be-
coming clear that the slogans and
pretentions used to drag the people
to war are false.
According to generally accepted
theories capital and labor are the
two factors of production in society.
Capital is supposed to be entitled to
fair return on its investment, which
means, all the traffic will bear. Let's
see how it works: The total invest
ment in the United States is between
800 and 400 billion dollars; even at
per cent interest this would swal-
low more than the gross income of
the entire farm population. Add to
this all profits made by common ex-
ploitation and you have an idea of
Labor's share in this partnership.
This unbalanced division has led
to concentration of wealth in the
hands of the few, and impoverishing
the many, with the result that the
NAoohi VI AiltCACSIS Sildl PCiiS OCtWSCh
the ones who have and those who
have not. Those who have resist
so-called government interference"
and taxation, while those who have
not demand "work and bread" Pres
sure on the government from both
sides becomes intensified in proper
ton to the inequality between those
two groups. 1t is impossible to find
a solution within, or even close to
traditional principles of the Repub-
lican or Democratic parties. The
present leadership, in its futile search
of solution, has, I'm afraid, found
the only solution short of radical
reorganization of society: War-if not
solution, would bring relief from
this pressure! War-would make the
wheels of industry hum-would make
profits possible-would solve the I'M
employment problem! But-the peo-
pie do not want war; they would
fight if the country were invaded,
but there is not even a decent pro-
spect of invasion. Perhaps if those
who stand to profit by war could find
a good excuse for an invasion on our
part-but that is their problem. Our
problem is to stay out!
The danger of our involvement in
war was never greater than it will
be in the coming months, but we
must stop it by demanding that our
government devote all its time to
the solution of our economic problems
on this side of the ocean. We, the
people, who will be sent to the battle
fields of other countries, to murder
or be- murdered, must challenge the
war-solution. We did not see fit
to stop aggression in Africa, Asia or
Europe when in my opinion we could
have stopped it! Instead we shipped
war material to Japan and Italy for
cold murder. How can anyone fail
to see the hook of war imbedded in
the bait of sympathy. Why all this
passion now, after the cold indiffer-
ence toward the suffering millions of
China and Ethiopia?
Let our government solve our eco
nOmic problems, instead of debating
the internal ills of other countries,
which SINNERS down to be of exactly
the same origin as our own. War
is the inevitable aftermath of ex-
ploitation-of profits and interest.
When everyone has ''work, secur-
ity and equality we will have peace.
When there is unemployment, hung
er and inequality" we are in danger
of war!
Profits on war material sold to
imperialist England, and our general
tie-up with one or the other warning
factions in Europe is dangerous to
our neutrality, while a blackout of
''civil liberties" and the ''bill of
rights" are the surest signs that our
government is repeating the tragedy
of 1917. Let our voices become a
roar which will awaken our govern
ment to its responsibilities toward
the majority, who are against our
involvment in war!
LARS P. JENSEN.
Askov, Mimi