Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1940-07-11

Mary land, Vir- ~
yinia. North Caro- hss AsSs'
lima and Oklahoma joining the pro-
ceSSion.
MIR. Willkie, who is one of the ma
TONS foremost businessmen, will give
us business administration, such
as will make possible the balancing
of the budget and the restoration of
that confidence which is so necessary
to solving the unemployment prob
lem. Senator McNary will have
strong appeal to the farmer, whose
friend he has long been. The plat
form adopted is also meeting with
general approval.
The world is going through tram
sition, economically and politically,
such as has never before been wit
messed. When peace is restored 1t is
going to take the best brains avail
able to find a solution for all the
problems that will come as back
wash to the war.
It is not beyond the range of pos
sibility that all but this country will
be compelled to go onto barter basis
because much of the worlds supply of
gold-about 80 per cent, is held in
America. It therefore follows that
those countries not having much gold
must find another medium with which
to do business.
Fear Outside Influence.
Fear that the totalitarian govern
ments of Europe may dominate the
forthcoming Pan-American parley at
Havana no doubt prompted the Presl-
dent to call the foreign ministers OF
our hemisphere into an emergency
session this month for the purpose of
securing solidarity among the Pan
American countries.
Several of the South American
countries are suspected OF being
friendly to the Axis powers, notably
Brazil. Argentina and Uruguay. 1t
was necessary to send two cruisers to
the latter country several weeks ago
in order to prevent an Axis coup.
Hitherto Pan-American conferences
have accomplished little of tang
ible nature. The time has come to
weld all the western hemisphere into
one compact defense and economic
bloc. Upon the conclusion of peace
European and ASiatic countries Will
attempt to flood all America with
products, agricultural and industrial,
as was done Immediately following
the World war. This must be pre-
vented at all costs.
The President is to be commended
for calling Pan-American parley,
as the need for better understanding
among the Pan-American countries
is greater today than ever before. We
should invite them to join with us
in the defense of strategic areas in
the Caribbean and the Panama canal.
Then, too, the Republics to the south
should be invited to join with us in
a trade program that will be of mu-
tual benefit. Aside from Argentina,
the Central and South American
countries are tropical and very few
of their products come into direct
competition with North American
grown crops. However, Argentina is
a problem, her agriculture is COM
take her livestock, dairy products and
grains, of which we already have a
surplus, that country will probably
gravitate into the Axis camp for her
markets. The Latin American situa-
ton will have to be handled with
caution and understanding.
Oppose Military Training.
The Administrators proposal for
universal training for young men and
women has met with considerable OPP
position among the folks back home,
judging from letters that come to this
office. Those who are opposed to the
program fear that it would be the first
step toward militarizing the United
States. Evidently the Presidents
promise that the boys and girls would
be kept in separate camps situated
at least 25 or more miles apart has
failed to promote enthusiasm for the
plan. Mothers take the position that
they are better fitted to train their
daughters than would be some strang-
er, no matter how good the intention
of that person might be. The feeling
dSCIilSt SCilSCilti dllliS Jul yOOiiS illCii
in training camps is equally strong.
More Preparedness.
The President has announced that
he will shortly send to Congress a
message asking for another 5000 mil
lion dollars for his preparedness pro-
gram. This will probably be done
before my letter appears in print.
That will make total of $4,000 mil
lion dollars that the President will
have requested from Congress for
the Nations armed forces in the past
few weeks.
It seems to me that we are moving
pretty fast in this matter. No matter
how much we speed up production
of ornaments it will take a number
of years to spend that huge sum. 1t
would seem that we should move
little more slowly because we have
not vet absorbed all the lessons taught