Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1940-02-22
NOT FAIR

AShON
Most any human being with any
instinct of Christianity in his veins
and thought for the Golden Rule, of
do unto others as you wish them
to do unto you," will have a bone
to pick with the present state adj
ministration, in regards to the
Homestead Lien Law" The Repub-
licans say that the old people are
not asked to sign lien, but l want
my good Republican friends to look
over the check that the old men
and women receive. Clever, magical,
very clever, the old folks don't sign
a lien, but every time they cash a
check, they sign away to the state
any real estate he or she may have.
This lien law is one of the most
vicious or immoral pieces of legis-
lation; a disgrace to the state and
a slam at the old citizens. The state
administration forgot that these pio-
neers blazed the way for civilization,
built the state, home and church
the foundation of firmness. Yes, if
it had not been for these sturdy pio-
neers, with Drawn and muscle, a
determination to forge ahead, where
would the state be today? Pen and
mind can not describe the hardships
endured. They worked, saved and
built to last. When the World war
came, they gave of their sturdy sons,
the flower of manhood that democracy
and freedom, for which they had
strived and worked, might yet be
saved
Now, after going through the de-
preston, combined with drouth,
grasshoppers and bank failures, some
had their life savings wiped out over
night, others not getting enough out
of the crop to pay the taxes. Still with
determination to win, they managed
to hang onto the old home, now
dilapidated and in need of repairs and
paint. AS reward for their work
and faithfulness to the state, if they
receive old age assistance, the state
now holds lien on the home that
parents and children built In these
times how many children are there
that are able to pay back to the
state the amount paid their folks
in assistance? Our Governor claims
| that there will be a saving to the
state. What of it, if the state did
now save few paltry silver dollars in
the days to come, the state would be
the loser. We know that a little
property left the children will help
to make them self supporting. De-
prive them of the old home, it will
more quickly drive them to become
charges of county or community. It
will be like putting money in one
pocket and taking it out of the other
What a disgrace to our people who
have saved all through life and those
who never saved, are given better
deal; he has better chance and is
receiving more assistance than the
ones with home and from him the
| state has nothing to attach.
1 have noticed that the ones with
a home, be it ever so small or old
fashioned, are receiving much less
assistance than the. ones without a
home. So figuring it in dollars and
cents, the saving is not worth the
price of mourning punishment and
penalizing the old folks, the fathers
and mothers of the state Why strafe
the old pioneers, depriving them of
hand-out in the sunset of life?
Then after they are laid away be-
meath the sod and clay, their dear old
home automatically diverts to the
state.
Well, old folks, I feel sorry for
you, but so it is and always will be
where the dollar is worshipped above
human rights. May the reward that
you get in the next world make up
for what you have been deprived of
in this one
NIELS J. LARSEN.
FELTON, MINI