Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1941-08-21

Churchill. The
declaration of detectives, announced
in the joint statement, is laudable
and will meet the appreciation of all
who are weary of war and wish to
see better world order established.
However, what is worrying Con-
gress in connection with the meet
ing is just what commitments, if
any, Mr.. Roosevelt has entered into.
Has he agreed to back England even
to the extent of our going to war?
Has he promised the British govern
ment that we will oppose all efforts
toward peace until Germany has
been crushed? Upon his return to
Washington the President should
make a complete report to the Ameri-
can people and Congress of everything
that transpired that in any way af-
fects the future of this country.
Service Period Extended.
BY the narrow margin of one vote
the House last week voted to extend
the service of selectees, National
Guard and reserves to 80 months, the
final vote being 2O3 to 2O2. The
Senate accepted the changes made
by the House without sending it to
conference, thereby avoiding another
roll call in the House which very
probably would have resulted in the
measures defeat. The administration
resorted to the usual log rolling to
get the required number of votes.
Had Congress been free from outside
influence the measure would not have
passed.
When the original draft law was
passed year ago it was generally be-
lieved that the term of service would
be for one year. Let me quote what
some of the members of the House
Military Affairs Committee said at
that time, in urging its passage:
Mr.. Mott: Service is limited to
IL months"
Mr.. Harter: 'The training period
is for one year."
Mr.. Sparkman: "Trainees cannot,
except in case of war, be retained
longer than IL months"
Mr.. Celler: "Give these draftees
a years training. They are then to
be returned to private and civil life"
If 1 understand plain English the
service was to be for IL months I'M
less Congress declared national
emergency, which it has not done.
A contract is contract whether it
be between governments, individu-
ais or the government and individu-
ais. There has been a great deal of
transformation put out in regard to
this whole question, which is to be
deplored. The emergency is not as
great today as it was IL months ago,
the President to the contrary not
withstanding. Therefore, 1 can see
no justification for extending the
period of service to those who are
already in, and voted accordingly.
Would Protect Small Business.
The country generally will approve
the action of minority leader, j. w.
Martin, in naming a committee of
Republican House members to devise
ways and means to save small bust
ness enterprises from extinction by
diversion of raw materials to arma-
ment production.
Adopting the name Small Business
Defense committee the group has al
ready begun functioning. The chair
man of the committee, Congressman
Halleck of Indiana, states that the
committee will use every possible
means in helping small manufacturers
who are slowly being crowded out of
the picture by reason of being I'M
able to secure raw materials.
The American people have not yet
begun to realize the many angles to
the defense program, which is re-
sulting in a dislocation of our eco
nomic life. Already many small
concerns employing from a dozen
to several hundred hands have been
obliged to suspend operations and
the number is growing daily. When
it is considered that more than 60
per cent of Americas production
comes from the smaller units it will
readily be appreciated how important
it is that they be permitted to con-
tinue operations.
Opposes InstaIlment Buying.
In ordering the Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System to
investigate, regulate and prohibit"
installment buying the President
hopes to curb threatened initiation.
Administration economists say that
the move was necessary in order to
prevent soaring prices.
Nearly all are agreed that some
thing along that line is necessary if
the objective is to be achieved. The
worst thing that can happen to any
country is initiation. We saw what
it did to Europe 20 years ago. If
initiation comes to this country in
an equally wild form it will COM
pletely wipe out the middle class,
which is the backbone of the country.
Letter Arouses Ire.
I cannot recall when an incident
has occurred that generated more an
ger than the Presidents letter to
Chairman Doughton of the Ways and
Means committee with reference to