Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1942-07-09
HON. HAROLD KNUTSON,
House of Representatives,
Washington, D. C..
Dear Mr.. Knutson:

It is with growing anxiety and concern that we
have awaited decision from you regarding your
willingness to file for reelection Fearful that the
temptation to retire from arduous public life might
find you eager for a well-earned rest, committee
OF your constituents, comprising business men,
farmers and laborers. appeal to you to stand for
reelection.
Although this Congressional District possesses
number of unselfsh, high-type men who might be
able to represent us with credit, it is firm
viction that you cannot be replaced with an un-
tried man at this time without distinct loss to
district to the state of Minnesota and to the nation
We simply cannot afford to lose the vast expert
ence and seasoned judgment which your Is years
of service to us enable you to cope with the grave
problems of today.
We have attempted to set forth herein a few of
the many reasons why must not be deprived
of your continued service in Congress during these
troublous times and we ask you to recognize this
letter earnest plea for you to announce your
candidacy without delay.
We cannot recall in all the history of Minnesota
when our state was represented on the great Ways
and Means Committee before your appointment to
that important body. During the gravest emer-
gency in the history of our beloved nation is no
time to break in new man. We know, too, that
because of your membership on the Ways and
Means Committee you are Immediately in line for
membership next term on the extremely important
joint committee taxation. In other channel
of government would Minnesota have greater
stake than in the committee where our tax bills
are written, and our protective tariffs for agricu
ture are formulated. No other two subjects in post
years, will be as vital to the economic interest
of state. Your return to Congress for another
term would assure to Minnesota continuance of
your strategic influence in Washington
Our district, well as all other parts Of Amer
lea, is vitality concerned the nations tax pro-
gram not only during this fearful emergency, but
in the dangerous poSt-W years ahead. Your Ways
and Means Committee writes the nations tax laws.
Here, perhaps more than elsewhere, it is impera-
tive that we continue to have the benefit of your
judgment and experience. The difficulty in finding
funds with which to operate our government
makes member of your committee more than
aware of the dangers of unwise tax levies.
We have every confidence in your ability to dis
tinguish between taxes levied for war and for the
necessary maintenance of essential governmental
activities as contrasted with taxes levied for
wasteful purposes which destroy social and
economic structure. In this field alone. if we are
not alert, we can lose the peace for which our
sons fighting every continent today.
We told that there is little politics in the tax
bills produced by your committee after months OF
elaboration. There should be none. And we are
not unmindful of the great implications of Demo-
cratic Chairman Doughton who wrote you person
ally year ago thanking you for your leadership
in formulating the 1941 tax bill We feel keenly
the value of the friendships and confidence which
the constructive Democrats in Congress have
manifested toward you.
Having spent your youth on Minnesota farm,
you are able at all times to represent this impor
tant phase of the economy of your district with
sympathy and understanding. The fight you have
waged in the past two decades against destruction
of the U. S. Dairy Industry by importation of
cheaply produced foreign competitive products,
and your fight against imported canned beef in
peacetimes has been dignifed, intelligent and eff
fective. When Washington bureaucrats decreed
reduction Minnesota beet sugar acreages, In
order to give major part of this market to Cuba,
if we would have Cuba continue to consume half
million barrels of wheat -four annually, it was you
who broke their argument by showing that Cuba's
-four made largely from Canadian hard wheat
miled in transit If your program for greater sugar
beet production had been carried out it would not
have been necessary to ration sugar today.
When Vice President Wallace as Secretary Of
Agriculture, argued before your committee that
protective tariffs were responsible for this war.
it was largely you who blasted such q ridiculous
charge. Only constant diligence by our Congress
sional leaders can insure administration OF world
affairs In a manner fair to our allies and at the
same time fair to our own people.
You awakened Minnesota and national dairy IN
terests to their danger when you assembled in