Askov American., 1942-02-12

publican primaries, Mr.. Halloran says
that if such is true "he has been
pretty quiet about it." He goes on
to state that "the governor has been
almost entirely engaged in war and
defense work and has been letting
politics rest"
That statement about letting poll
tics rest" looks as if Mike is attempt
ing little Irish humor. He might
have gone on to tell how many propa-
gandists are writing for the governor
and about the so-called news re-
leases sent out right along by various
departments of state at taxpayers
expense.
Playing the game he does-taking
the path of least resistance-the gov
ernor does not need to appear to be
active politically. There are others
individuals, corporations and insti-
tutions-to do it for him. He does
not have to ask the Star Journal
to boost him. That was arranged
for at the Philadelphia convention in
1910. The governor also gave them
the kind of senator they wanted.
So long as the governor plays the
game with the powers-that-be, he
knows they will look after his po-
litical welfare. He does not have to
do much shouting in his own behalf
until the people out over the state
become as we'll acquainted with him
as they are in South Saint Paul. I'm
til that happens he can appear re-
served and unconcerned, and in the
eyes of many apparently "let politics
rest" as Mike puts it.
Minnesota's Representatives in Con-
gress maintain that they voted con-
for appropriations for de-
fense of the United States, and that
their votes on the administrations
foreign policy is another matter. They
have a perfect right to regard the adj
foreign policy as an
other matter. Since the war declara-
tions early in December, they have
voted regularly for appropriations
needed for the war.
Rep. August H. Andersen, accord
ing to the Washington dispatch, is
convinced that a purge is planned.
The congressman says he would well
come fight on the issue of his votes.
Rep. Harold Knutson and other
former n-interventionists likewise
are ready for the fight if it is wanted.
If there is to be an attempted
purge of Minnesota's representatives
in Congress who voted against the
war measures prior
to Dec. 7, it will demonstrate that
the interventionists even in the emer-
gency cannot forget their animosities
1t will further demonstrate that many
wanted more than
measures "short of war;. They real
ly wanted war, and some were and
actually are war-mongerS.
What more convincing proof could
be asked for?
What more could others do in the
way of voting for war appropriations
than that which is being done now
by the present congressman? What
more do the war-mongers want? We
are in the war now.
Now that we are in the war the
American people want to win as
quickly as possible, for it will cost
plenty in men and materials even
with the shortest duration. An at
tempted purge will show that the
war-minded are still angry because
our representatives did not vote their
way, but voted their own convictions
and the wishes of an overwhelming
number of their constituents.
The st. Paul Pioneer Press in an
editorial on Feb. 4, points out the
importance of the next congression-
al election in the following words:
"The election is not to be dismissed
as an unimportant formality. The
rightness of the choices which the
American people may make as to the
next Congress may be of momentous
consequences. 1t is not possible to
lSSSc WIldI tllc lClIll tiilo w al
is to be, but it is within the realm
of possibility that the men who are
elected next November will be the
men who will not only preside over
the conduct of the war, but over the
writing of the peace as well. 1t
will not be enough to elect men who
wish to win the war. It is vital 70
the future security of the nation and
the lives of the next generation that
they be men who also can win the
peace"
The Star Journal may have started
something that will be difficult for
them to finish. Certainly it was the
right of Minnesota's representatives
to be against war prior to the attack
if they thought that peace was the
best course for America and humani-
ty. In addition to that, they were
casting representative votes. If the
interventionists are not yet con-
vinced of that all thew need do iS fr