Askov American., 1942-04-02
Government Issues
By Hjalmar Petersen.
Radio Broadcast
April l, 1912.

April /, 1912.
Fellow Citizens of Minnesota:
At the outset want to thank the
radio stations for the time which
they have given me this evening.
In the formulation of an enlightened
public opinion, radio has come to play
an important part. 1t is by inter-
change of ideas that public opinion
crystallizes, and the democratic pro-
cess is made to work. 1t is gratifying
to me, as I feel sure it is to you,
that the radio of America continues,
in the midst of war, its democratic
policy of an open forum.
Representatives of the Twin City
daily newspapers and press asso-
Citations have asked me to comment
on Governor Stassen's announcement
that he has secured commission in
the Naval Reserve as Lieutenant
Commander, but that he does not plan
to 60 into service until April, 1943.
This is no time for cheap politics,
no time to maneuver for political
advantage. The voters of this state
will rightfully resent any such move
on the part of any candidate at this
time. 1 presume many people ex-
pect me to criticize the Governor
for enlisting in the Naval Reserve
just before the campaign starts.
Many people, l suppose, expect me
to make political capital of the fact
that the Governor wants to be re-
elected before he enters active serv-
ice. Some probably expect me &C
criticize the Governor for announc-
ing now that he will enter active
service more than year in the
future.
If there are such people, I may
rdisappoint them. The Governor has
marked out his own course of ac-
ton. He has told us of his decision
When he files for reelection, it will
be up to the voters of this state to
decide whether they approve or dis
approve of his action.
On March 18th 1 raised the issue
of giving the Minnesota soldiers in
our camps in this country a free
ballot. 1 also raised the issue OF
giving our soldiers outside this coun-
try the right to vote. The Governor
ignored the issue. He said I was
playing politics." If it is playing
politics to preserve for our soldiers
and sailors and marines the precious
right to vote, 1 plead guilty. But
giving the vote to the soldier is not
new. Soldiers were given the right
to vote in the Civil war. Our soldiers
on the Mexican border in 1916 were
given the right to vote by special
session of our Legislature. The cost
was only $4,000. Under that law they
had the right to vote during the
World war, if in this country.
But they must pay to vote under
the present Minnesota law. That
do not believe is right. How many
people at home would be kept away
from the polls if they had to pay 80
cents to cast the ballot? And re-
member the soldiers pay now begins
at $21 a month.
Some people say the citizen is not
interested in voting when he is in the
army, the navy, or the marine corps.
I refuse to insult the soldier, and
say that he is not interested in the
very thing he is fighting to protect
the right to self-government. Some
people say it is impractical for the
ebaIlot to be sent to the soldier over
seas. But we know that the Federal
government will cooperate with any
state that makes the ballot available
to its soldiers. We need not know
where the soldier is. The War De-
partment knows that, and the Navy
Department knows where it's sailors
are.