Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1940-08-29

had struck mine and all aboard had
drowned. Would that have furnished
the incident" that the President
seems to be seeking? 1t would be in
teresting to know just what American
official is responsible for the danger
Gus defiance of the warning issued.
We would also like to know more
about the motive that inspired this
dangerous and fool-hardy course.
Growth of Government.
The government of the United
States had a modest beginning. In
the year 1900 there were IS employees
in the Treasury department, eight in
the State department, Is in the Navy
department and 10 in the Post Office
department. In March, 1910, the total
number of government employees in
the Executive branch was 945,836.
Notwithstanding that the govern
ment owns and occupies block upon
block of huge office buildings, Uncle
Sans rent bill in the District of
Columbia has jumped more than a
half-million dollars in the past four
months.
A report covering the period from
May l to August /, shows that the
total leased space increased by 427,-
900 square feet, which is nearly 10
acres of floor space. In that period
annual rentals increased from 3 mil
lion 866 thousand dollars to million
1913 thousand dollars. The newly
leased space rents for approximately
S1.33 per square foot. The actual
total of government-owned and leased
space in Washington now exceeds
81 100000 square feet, which is APP
proximately 482 acres. This does not
take into consideration the office space
outside the District of Columbia.
Is This Neutrality?
A few days ago the Washington
News carried a letter from CORE
spondent which is herewith repro
duced without comment.
81 should like to bring to the at
tention of your readers that a ma
tional conference will be convened at
Rochester, New York, August 80, to
mobilize the pro-British forces in this
country behind nationwide move
ment for U. S. intervention in the
conflict abroad.
"It is the opinion of the sponsors
of this gathering that, pending an
American declaration of war against
the Berlin-Rome axis, the following
points should be given immediate con-
sideration by Congress; Repeal of the
Neutrality and Johnson acts; sever
ance of diplomatic and commercial
relations with Germany and Italy;
dispatch of the navy to the Atlantic
where, in collaboration with the Brit
ish fleet, it could keep the sea lanes
clear for traffic in war materials with
Britain; a declaration of solidarity
with all English-speaking peoples for
collective defense and offense against
the Nazi-Fascist states"
Richard Ellis Posner, Secretary.
Rochester Committee for Anglo
American Unity.
Joint Defense.
The President has named the Amer
lean members of the joint-defense-
With-Canada board. This organiza-
ton will select the defense bases that
are to be leased to the United States.
Every American will welcome a
working defense agreement with our
neighbor to the North as it will make
for greater national security to both
countries.
Secretary Hopkins to Resign.
On or about the time this letter
appears in print it is expected that
Secretary of Commerce Harry L. Hop
kins will present his resignation to
the President. Hopkins first came
into prominence in 1888 when named
administrator of WPA, which post he
held until the latter part of 1888
when he was promoted to the Cabinet.
Hopkins will go down in history as
the biggest spender of all time. 1t is
estimated that during the six years
of his WPA administration 1900 mil
lion dollars passed through his hands.