Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1943-03-04

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wish to have his name used. it will
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DANGER OF FASCIST CONTROL
Editor Askov American:
Through the Little Steel formula
and the manpower commission the
freezing of wages and jobs is well
under way. The freezing of civilian
employment to jobs and emergency
work in geographic locations seems
certain. This is being done through
executive orders which has the sup
port of public opinion.
Through legislative acts prices and
distribution of farm products are also
frozen and moved through certain
channels. Largely because of in
flation ballyhoo, and the fear of con-
sumers over rising price index,
public opinion supports this move
also. 49,
Human nature being what it is,
it was only natural that both the
farm and labor groups had, and still
have, their blocs in Congress fight
ing to soften as much as possible
what is being done adversely affect
ing their groups. However, en-
trenched special privilege and to a
large extent, public opinion, is
against these blocs.
This Immediately brings to the
fore fundamental iSSue-can we
introduce in this country, in this
great democracy of the United States,
national draft of civilian labor
services, drafted to work at frozen
wages for private enterprise in order
to produce profits for business own
ership? If this can be done without
drafting the profits of industry and
industry itself we have the ultimate
in fascism.
The United States is fighting fas-
cism in this total war around the
world. The ideologies fought for
lmeans nothing If we permit BUSH
ness ownership to impose fascist con-
troll over war production.
In his annual message to Congress
our President warned AThat in the
interest of national unity the upper
income group would have to make
sacrifices" Again.. human nature
being as it is it is only natural that
these groups attempt to maintain
the status quo. Are they going to
get way with, it? All! there's the
rub. -"
Total war demands total sacrifice
or universal service, and that means
the total CONSUMPTION of men, ma
chimes, material and money. Ma
tional service for all and profits for
none. Total war, can be fought no
other way. Had we fought this war
under the principles of universal
service we would come out of it
without increasing the national debt
one cent.
The only incentives" that should
mean anything to us are the ones
which win wars; all others should
be frozen for the duration. However,
Byron Olsen, right as you were in
condemning those that want more
than $4,000 net during time of
total war, and you are absolutely
right-99 out of 100 people would
support you, because the last census
showed that 80 out of 100 make less
than $4,000 per year. The national
average was $3.50 for over 81 million;
you were right, and public opinion
will support your stand-still, I've
one fault to find with your article.
You were to ALFRED polite. You
can not drive the type of mentality
that demands above SIS, 900 net to
the tall timbers with gentle slap
on the wrist and the negative con-
clusion that it is all right to allow
them to have their profits.
Think of it! At time when we
are fighting total war and millions
are serving for $500 year over half
of which must be spent to meet in
spection orders, while this is going
on, the house ways and means COM
mittee by a IL to 10 vote submits a
bill overriding a presidential execu-
tive order. Byron, when you 60
after that class of greedy cattle you
have to use what Bismarck once re-
| ferred to as thunder words-hoot
them out!
OF course I'm not SO terribly old,
a fault which by the grace of God I'm
apt to outgrow However, if I may
presume to the extent of giving the
liberals of America a little advice il
would be this-join the blood and
thunder brigades if you wish-you
can't do any harm there. But, you
could do some good if as a group
you had the intellectual courage to
continue fighting for the social and
economic reforms advocated all these
years. If you can't in the interest of
national unity put them over now,
what chance do you think you will
have after the war is over if the
business and profits apple cart is
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