Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1942-09-24

Commenting on the nomination of
Senator Ball, the ST. Cloud Times
says in part:
"-Isolationism in Minnesota has
gone with the wind. The people
have spoken sternly and emphati-
cally. They will have none of it.
1t is dead-dead as a doornail."
This is pretty much an echo of the
Twin City papers, and, presumably,
of the rest of the states interview
zionist press. But can this interpre-
tation reasonably be placed on the
election returns? Let us consider.
There are better than ~ million
Minnesotans, qualified to vote
Of this number, 494,412 voted for
one or another of those aspiring to
become candidates for the U. S. SEN
ate.
Of these 494,412 voters, 1913, 1873
chose Ball, while Walter K. Nickel
son was the choice of Ill, 1884
Thus, the measure of the emphasis
and sternness with which Minnesota
repudiated isolationism-if that is
what it dds that 1878 wanted
the interventionist, Ball, while 297,-
679 preferred somebody else.
Balls opponent in the general cleo
ton will be the Farmer-Laborite,
Elmer A. Benson. Benson leads off
with a start of 66,O51 votes, as
against Balls 1878.
Where the remaining primary vote
of 1928 will go is anybody's guess.
For example, to which of the two
candidates will Mrs. Lundeen's 24,019
turn? She is little known other than
as the widow of the administration
ist Lundeen. Is it likely that these
votes will go to the reactionary-i in
terventionist, Ball?
And what of Soltau's So fol-
lowers? Their law enforcement
champion defeated, it is easy to see
though it is, of course, pure ration
alization-where they might turn to
Benson.
They have been fighting the liquor
and gambling element. Benson has
been fighting the vested interests.
Both these groups will usually be
found in the same camp, namely
among the opposed-to-change reac-
tionaries presided over by Ball.
Then there are the III, 1884 Nickel
son votes. If, as the ST. Cloud Times
implies, they voted for Nicholson by
reason of his isolationism, then, OBJ
viously, it was to them the chief
issue.
Is it likely that they will now
give their support to Ball, who stands
for the thing. they most violently OPP
pose?
1t must be remembered that this
group is largely made up of the same
conservative Liberals who voted for
Hjalmar Petersen. Is it not con-
ceivable that they would rather take
a chance on the one-time isolation
list, Benson, than on the reactionary-
interventionist, Ball?
What it all comes to is that the
Growing of Balls adherents may be
premature. Benson's defeat is by
no means certainty. On the con-
trary, he may have an excellent
chance of winning.
If Mickelson's defeat was Mime
sofas reputation of isolationism,
what does the st. Cloud Times say
about the denomination of Knutson?
Presumably, then, this makes the 9Th
District isolationist. And what of
the other districts in which former
isolationists have been renominated?
And what does the Times say of
the denomination of Hamilton Fish
in New York. By what kind of ra-
tionalism does it explain this away?
And what of the numerous other
cases, all over the country, where for
mer isolationists have been renom-
| mated?
Is it not a fact that the mortality
in the primaries has been just as
high among interventionist congress-
men as among isolationists?
The truth is that the electorate
has paid little attention to the charges
flung at the isolationists by their
political enemies? For the most part
they were so grossly unjust and I'M
fair that the voter could not but see
it. Thus, they defeated their own
purpose.
Nicholson is UNDERSTANDABLE disap-
pointed over the outcome of the pri-
mary. But he is probably not dis
couraged. Doubtless he realizes that
even in defeat, he may have laid the
foundation for successful political
career.
1t is not an unreasonable con-
clusion if our experience of post
world war days. is dependable
guide. E