Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1941-04-24

come from every corner of the earth
and in each case we have given with
an open hand. The present world
crisis is no exception. Between the
outbreak of the war and March 1,
last, we raised and sent to Europe
mostly to England, about 26 million
dollars, besides large quantities of
medicines, clothing, condensed foods,
etc. Notwithstanding all that has
been and will be done by us to al
leviate human suffering in other lands
we will continue to be referred to in
sneering tones by those who benefit
from our benefactions. We are not
liked by other peoples. We are too
prosperous; our living standards are
too high, and we have too many motor
cars to be popular in less favored
lands. They will not begin to like us
until we are down to their level.
economically. Well, judging by the
way things are going here at home
it won't be long before we will rank
among the most popular.
A FallaciOus Doctrine.
The Republican members of Con-
greSS who were elected in 1888 have
an organization called The Wednes-
day Night Club which meets weekly.
The purpose of the organization is to
study parliamentary procedure and
measures pending in Congress. Often
they have some outstanding expert
address them, followed by a round
table discussion.
Not long ago 1 was privileged to
attend one of their meetings, which
was addressed by an assistant cabinet
member who answered a great many
questions pertaining to our foreign
policy, the defense program, foreign
loans, imports, exports, and other
timely subjects. AS he spoke off the
record he was very frank and gave
some information that was almost
startling in its nature. He surely
knew his lines and only once during
the entire evening did he run into
snag and that was when some
member questioned him regarding the
policy in South America. The gentle
man frankly stated that in his opinion
it was necessary for us to buy from
South America as much or more than
they buy from us. 1t was called to
his attention that aside from coffee,
rubber, tin and manganese, South
America produces nothing that we do
,~t IN, Of
home, such as wheat, corn, cattle,
hogs, sheep, eggs, dairy products,
etc. When asked why we should buy
from other countries commodities of
which we already have surplus of
our own he replied that it was neceS-
sary that we do so if the good neigh
Dor" policy was to be carried to its
logical conclusion.
Not Good Sense.
To me this argument didn't make
very good sense. I can remember
back in 1919, when the countries of
war stricken Europe flooded the
American markets with industrial and
agricultural products to point where
they almost sWamped us and it was
necessary for Congress to pass the
so-called emergency tariff" law
which was vetoed by President Will
son but later became law in Hard
ing's administration. That tariff law
put stop to such imports, thereby
giving the American farmer, and
manufacturer a chance at the Ameri-
can market, which of right belongs
to them.
I venture the prediction now that
when this war is over the impover-
ished nations of the world, in order
to establish dollar credits, will again
flood the American market with their
products that will undersell our own,
but this time we will not be in a po-
sition to stop them because we have
very unwisely entered into many
trade agreements that run for peri
cd of years and cannot be changed
until the date of their expiration. In
other words, we have tied our own
hands so that we cannot close the door
for our own protection. Aren't we
smart?