Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1941-07-17
Government Issues
BY Hjalmar Petersen.
Hell-Bent-FOr-War
COlulnnists

AS is well known, Secretary Ickes,
Knox, Stimson, and other members of
the Presidents Cabinet are promot-
ing war to the best of their ability.
They are sounding-boards for the
President, and when their utterances
are tolerated the program for Ameri-
can Intervention moves along another
notch. Secretary Ickes, for instance,
has become the champion name
caller of the country.
Maybe it is to be expected that the
Secretary of War and the Secretary
of the Navy are to be war-minded.
At any rate, they are in the business
of building up armies and navies.
But if the President does not get
enough support for American inter-
vention through members of the Cabi-
net (and they do plenty of talking)
then he is surely getting desired sup
port from most of the newspaper
columnists.
Richard Wilson, writing from Wash
ington in the Minneapolis Sunday
Star Journal, said in part:
cooperation between the United
States and Great Britain to beat Hit
Ter is now considered here as nothing
short of joint military endeavor.
''In the short space of seven days
the United States has become a mill
tary ally-occupying territory once
held by the British, encouraging
American youth to serve in the Brit
ish empire fighting forces, planning
joint naval action with Great Britain.
"We are not at war, but we CO.
operate in military way, and the
end of our cooperation is not yet
in sight.
1.-THE phrase, Shooting War has be-
come common in Washington. Scarce
ly an observer here doubts that the
time may very quickly come when
there is a naval engagement"
Mr.. Wilson then goes on to list
the specific methods of military CO.
operation with the British, citing
occupation of Iceland, Americans en-
listing with the British and Canadian
forces, and the expected establish
ment of base in north Ireland.
The lend-lease bill was heralded
by advocates as measure to keep
America out of war. Here is the
way the columnists friendly to the
administration now view it, accord
ing to Wilson's article:
Cali this is done without a declara-
ton of war.
ut is accomplished under the grant
of power in the lend-lease act, and
President Roosevelt and administra-
tion spokesman often refer to a de-
cision as having been made when
that law was passed.
"The calmness with which the adj
ministration goes about these large
and grim undertakings is notable.
'The occupation of Iceland is car
ried off with the least possible dra-
ma, and Mr.. Roosevelt thereafter re-
fuses to discuss in detail the nature
of the operation.
'For the time being, American
newspapermen not now in Iceland
are denied access to the place.
'The number and disposition of
troops in Greenland is kept a Sc
'cret by the President"
Then Columnist Wilson proceeds
with the inference that nothing dis
turbs the President, as if he has it all
his own way.
"These acts are accomplished while
a speaking campaign proceeds, I'M
der the direction of Senator Burton
X. Wheeler and Charles A. Lindbergh,
opposing the Presidents policy.
'Last week the Iceland adventure
provoked debate in the Senate with
out causing excitement. Nothing is
being done which can now stop Presi-
dent Roosevelt.
"He called in Wendell L. Willkie,
1910 Republican presidential nomi-
nee last week, and explained the
whole situation to him. Willkie, the
leader of the main political oppo-
sition, agrees with Roosevelt in every
step he has taken, wants him to take
more.
Furthermore, he announces the
majority of the Republican party
stands behind the President. In these
circumstances Mr.. Roosevelt can pro-
coed much as he did throughout the
whole New Deal-going ahead des-
pite the outcries of his opposition.
$50 far these outcries have had no
practical effect"
If that is not propaganda for war,