Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1943-04-22

is the peoples protection against
political bosses.
If for instance person put ii
over" and was nominated on the
Democratic ticket at the primary
later elected, and in office voted and
acted contrary to the party plat
form, the Democratic party adher-
ents can "take care of him" the next
time up. Likewise Republicans or
other party adherents can administer
lessons to intruders.
With reference to the various party
platforms, it seems that ofttimes
there is little difference, and there
fore we have much crossing of party
lines in the general election. Party
platforms usually are sugar-coated
to catch votes. They are purposely
made long to cater to various groups
and interests.
The Democrats in Congress do
not vote as bloc, nor do the
Republicans. and it is well that
there be some independent think
ing. Without Independent think
ing we might as well have me-
chanical machines i'm Congress
to register the vOtes-sO many
machines for the Democrats and
so many for the Republicans,
according to the party member
ship.
Political racketeers will worm in
under any system unless the people
are alert against them. The cure
for that is to elect honest, able and
courageous public officials who will
not accept brides and who have had
enough experience to detect and
ferret out the nefarious leeches.
Huge campaign funds, usually in
vestments on the part of contributors,
have the same effect on legislation,
contracts, purchases, ETC., whether
under the convention or primary
system.
Abuse of patronage can take place
under the convention or the primary
system When it takes place and
gets bad the people usually rise in
revolt and vote out one political
party or administration for another
Under either the convention or
primary system a public official
may attempt, and sometimes does
name his successor. The people
may accept the heir" once but
seldom, in democs acy such as
ours, does it work a second time
through the same individual.
Back in 1908 President Theodore
Roosevelt named his successor in
William Howard Taft who stayed
in office but one term
Getting closer to home, in 1886
Gov. Floyd B. Olson with pressure
from the patronage-mad insiders
the Mexican Generals) named his
successor, and his organization and
popularity was used in the endorse
ment, nomination and election. That
likewise lasted but one term.
The people can be "taken i'm
now and then, but generally it
does not. last, 49, ..,. ..
In 1912 the present governor
named his successor who will soon
take over the governorship. Time
only will tell if that episode will
go beyond the 1912 election and the
filling out of the unexpired term
One who becomes "heir" usually is
bound by his benefactor's organiza-
ton and the big campaign contribu-
tons that put over the affair.
But with reference to party
responsibility, and it is well to
have that if we are deeply in
terested in political party or
CARNATIONS and labels, it is very
noticeable that there is much
crossing of party lines in Con-
gress. Though we have a Demo-
crat President southern reaction
airy Democrats often vote with
reactionary Republicans. And
sometimes liberal Republicans
vote for the program of the lib
eral Democrat President.
Will the. southern reactionary
Democrats, elected with small votes
due to poll taxes and other causes,
change their course through party
and convention responsibility? Or
will the change come through alert
ness on the part of the electorate
in primaries? 49,
Who represents best the program
and principles of the Democratic
party-the President or reactionary
southern senators? Let that first be
answered and then there can be more
talk about party responsibility.
Opinions OF Others