Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1940-11-21

pOiieiSoi poity III POWCi ShAoih AoiA.
1t is not our purpose to throw OBJ
stacles in the path of those who pilot
the ship of state. 1t is our function
to help, if we can help. 1t is our duty
to be of service to those who have
been elected. 1t is our obligation to
cooperate.
This, however, does not mean that
we are to desert our principles. 1t
does not mean that we are to be I'M
mindful of the things we strive for.
Nor does it mean that we are obli-
gated to surrender to those in power
and support whatever they may pro-
pose.
It is just as loyal to oppose that
which we deem harmful to the public,
as it is loyal to support proposals we
approve. Good government is large
ly matter of checks and balances,
occasioned by an intelligent, alert,
and loyal opposition.
The real danger in a government,
such as ours, is that the opposition
becomes indifferent, unmindful of its
obligations, and surrenders to the
party in power without protest on
matters wherein we disagree.
In the campaign just closed, we
criticized severely the present admin
stration for the enactment of laws
that we believed injurious to the
public welfare. Had we been sue
cesSful at the polls, we would have
worked hard to repeal or alter those
laws Having been unsuccessful, we
accept, as all Americans should, the
verdict as to who shall head the state
government for the next two years.
Although we opposed it in the CAM
paign, we owe loyalty to the sue
cessful party in the state, just as the
losing party nationally owes loyalty
to the winner. But this does not
mean that we owe a blind loyalty
to any party or any administration.
AS the representatives of a strong
minority, we owe it to the state and
nation. and to ourselves. to strive for
the principles we believe in, and urge
them upon the administration in
power But, we must do it in the
democratic American manner tn t
does not interfere with the orderly
processes of government. Our duty
is to offer constructive criticism. If
we are defeated in our efforts, then
we must bide our time and leave the
decision with the voters at the next
election.
National unity is sometimes mis-
construed to mean wholesale approx
al of all that the party in power does.
That may, in the narrow sense, be
unity, but it is the most dangerous
kind of national unity. Loyal OPP
position is the surest safeguard of
real unity. Loyal opposition is the
surest means of securing good gov
eminent in the state and in the ma
ton.
In our state campaign, we criti-
cized the homestead lien law. We
believe it to be a bad law for our
citizens and our state, generally. II
is our duty to continue that opposition
as long as we believe this to be a
bad law. But while we work for
the repeal of this act, we observe il
and obey it. But if our contention
is right that it is a bad law, then it is
doubly our duty to continue the edu
cation against it which will either
bring public opinion to demand its
repeal, or eventually convince us that
the people desire that it remain on
the statute books
If campaigns were decided on one
issue, such as for instance, the home
stead lien law, we could rightly draw
the conclusion that the election was
the peoples decision on that issue
But so many things and so many is
sues enter into campaign that it is
seldom any one issue is a deciding
| factor
Legalizing small loan interest rates
at SO per cent is something that
should not exist, and we will continue
our fight against such laws that drag
the masses down and down and make
lOI dllZdtlOIl VI WEALTH.
Those who pay up to SO per cent
| interest cannot survive, economical
ly speaking.
Let us look at another issue in the
recent state campaign-the Civil
Service law. We did not criticize the
merit system. On the other hand, we
have advocated it for years. We were
glad to see Civil Service enacted into
| law in Minnesota. But we did criti-
CHE the spoils practised in spite of the
Civil Service law which was to put
an end to spoils. We believe we
rendered service in making that
an issue. If we are going to have
Civil Service, let us observe the spirit
and the letter of the law. Let us be
through with the vicious patronage
game. If, on the other hand, we are
to have a Civil Service law, and in
spite of the law, practise patronage
and spoils, then it is our duty to ex-
pose such hypocrisy and place the
blame where it belongs.
So while we congratulate the Win