Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1942-08-27
Fact And Opinion
By E. G. Stengelsen.

II By E. G. Stengelsen.
Those Farsighted Interventionists.
Senator Ball is both tolerant and
broadminded.
Despite the sharp cleavage of opin-
ion between himself and the isola-
tionists, he says that they are patri-
otto and sincere.
That's very kind of him.
But-and he's obviously reluctant
to say so-he does not think much
of their judgment. By their atti-
tude and conduct, they have con-
clusively shown that they lack I'M
derstanding and breadth of vision,
and they have their hindsight where
their foresight ought to be.
| He refuses to concede that having
made amends for their earlier error
of judgment by now joining whole
heartedly in the war effort, that their
sins should be forgiven and their
faults forgotten. Instead, he holds
sternly that their lack of intelli-
gence-for that, bluntly, is what it
comes to-renders them unfit to serve
the nation in legislative capacity in
these parlous times.
There is not only the critical pres
ent to be considered, but the future
as well. There is the matter of the
revamping of the world to be at
tended to. Only the interventionists
have the wisdom to perform this
chore acceptably. In urging his own
reelection on this ground, Senator
Ball, of course, modestIy includes
himself among these farsighted and
capable gentlemen.
He also has very clear-cut notions
about senator's duties. He should
reflect the opinions and wishes of
his constituency only when they jibe
with his own. Where they don't,
however-and they didn't before
Pearl Harbor, if the estimate is cor
rect that the majority were isola-
tionist-it becomes the clear duty of
him, whom kindly providence has
blessed with greater wisdom, to lead
and instruct.
My knowledge of psychology is
is admittedly limited, and I'm no
great shakes at logic other than that
based on common sense; but I have
always assumed that ignorance, mar
rn nf yfcf@ No1r - .1xl.
and provincialism are the attributes
of stupidity.
If this reasoning is correct, then
it is Senator Balls opinion that the
interventionists are, ipso facto, very
clever fellows, while the isolationists
are, conversely, bunch of block
heads.
This, logically, leads to a further
conclusion-that Senator Ball holds
himself superior, intellectually, to
Senator Wheeler, for example, and
Senators Vandenberg, Taft, Reed,
ct al.
His intelligence is also superior
to that of the majority of Mime
sofas voters-if, before Pearl Har-
Dor, majority sentiment was isola-
zionist, as has been claimed.
do not know to what extent his
brother senators share this modest
estimate of himself; but former iso-
lationists among the voters are GER
tain to be impressed. AS a general
thing, people enjoy being told, even
by indirection, that they are dumb.
confidently predict that in CRATE
full appreciation, they will rush to
the polls and return this brilliant
and self-effacing-young statesman
to the Senate.
Now, word in support of Balls
claim that the interventionists saw
all along what was coming, while
the isolationists did not.
The isolationists opposed every
thing that was proposed-repeal of
the arms embargo, enactment of the
lend-lease law, conveying, arming
of merchant vessels, giving a good
share of our destroyer fleet to Brit
ain, etc. They warned that each
step took us nearer war.
The interventionists snorted that
they were nuts; that those were
precisely the things that would keep
us OUT of war.
The isolationists urged all along
that we arm ourselves to the teeth,
meanwhile pursuing a policy of strict
neutrality. They argued that Hitler
would take care not to modest us;
that America was hornets nest into
which he'd not poke needlessly.
But the interventionists continued
kicking him in the pants with in
creasing energy. The isolationists
kept warning that it would involve
us in war. "No,"' said the interview
tionists, "this is the way to keep
out of war;"