Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1940-09-05
ind worked for progressive legisla-

ton.
After two terms as state legislator,
he temporarily retired to devote his
entire time to building up law prac-
tice. In 1916, however, he entered
the race for Congress and won.
In 1917 he aligned himself with
Lindbergh, Norris and others and
voted against the United States en-
trance into the World War.
This courageous vote for time
ended his political career. But it
did not stop Lundeen as a public
figure. He had the equipment with
which to withstand reverses.
AS the years went on, Lundeen saw
that the Republican party was the
political vehicle of reaction. Finally,
losing all hope in it, he abandoned it
in the early twenties and became u
Farmer-Laborite. At this time the
Farmer-Labor party did not have
much to offer in the way of political
rewards. But it did have true demo-
cratic principles and real fighters.
And it was the party of the people.
Senator Lundeen embraced the party
intellectually. Fromthe time he
entered the party until the accident
in Virginia cut short his dynamic,
useful life, he followed the party
through its defeats and victories, a
loyal Farmer-Laborite.
In 1926 he won the Farmer-Labor
nomination for Congress from the old
Tenth district but was defeated III
the general election. In 1928 he was
the Farmer-Labor nominee for COVER
nor but was defeated.
In 1882 he was reelected to Con-
gress in the at-large run-off that
year. This return to public office,
after ii years of defeats because OF
his 1917 war vote, reveals the tenaci-
ty and the determination of the man.
States Senator by a tremendous ma
jority.
During his six years in the House
of Representatives and four years in
the United States Senate, Ernest Lun-
deem was a moving force for liberal
ism. His eloquent voice, his organic
ing ability and hs vote was always foT
the farmer, the worker and the or
binary man. Few congressman in the
history of the United States can show
a record equal to his.
In recent months, Senator Lundeen
| was in the nations eye because Of
his open opposition to the Burke
| WadSworth CONSUMPTION bill. He de-
nounced CONSUMPTION and said il
would result only in enslaving tho
people.
Despite the fact that he was a bit
ter opponent to war, Ernest Lundeer
was not blind to the defense needs OF
the country. He continually urged il
congress that the nations defenses il
the Caribbean and the Panama cana
be brought up to par.
1t is with sincere sadness that l re
late to you the life and the early ter
mination of so useful and energetic
a servant as Ernest Lundeen. l wisf
I might never have had this task t.
do. There were so many years ahea'
for Senator Lundeen, years in which
the people could have further beer
benefited through his ability, intellil
gence, fore-sightedness and >unlimitet
energy. But such is fate.
The FarmerLabor party has SUI
fered at the hands of fate before
and survived, even emerged stronger
So it will transcend this tragedy an(
in the knowledge that it is the part,
of great men like Lindbergh, Kvale
Magnus Johnson, Wefald, Olson ant
now Lundeen it will cintinue to wort
its destiny-that of giving the people
better world in which to live.
If the governor is to make the ap.
pointment of a person to replace Sen
ator Lundeen, then let us hope, fol
the sake of the people of Minnesots
and the United States that the person
appointed will not nulify the work
| that Ernest Lundeen carried on in
Washington. We hope that the new
senator will continue in the Senate
| during the remainder of Lundeen' 5
term as the people who elected Sem
| ator Lundeen have the right to ex-
pect.