Askov American

I Would Say
By A. W. CONAWAY

'Tis funny how some folks right after election figure the Farmer-Labor party is dead. Why, Governor Benson and his Mexican Generals, themselves say it's still alive, and I reckon if they still think so it must be for they were in the thick of the landslide.

A well organized retreat is in order in the greatest of conflicts and the recent one by the Farmer-Labor party is no exception. Why shucks, an old centenarian said the other day that he owed his longevity to "running like the dickens" at the Battle of Bull Run.

Any movement, which can command as large a vote as did the Farmer-Labor party in the past eight years is rather a tough creature to kill so quickly. Of course those hopefuls, who would have it dead, argue that its actual membership is so small.

Well, then I would like to ask those fellows to show me a list of the actual signed-up membership of the Republican and Democratic parties—there just ain't any.

Why gosh, the rank and file of the Democratic party, if the President doesn't quit monkeying with the situation here in Minnesota, will need the F.-L. to hide in. In the first place I think the Republican government in Minnesota, now, should show humanitarian effort toward their brethren and pass a closed season on Democrats, so that the species might be preserved.

The prediction of some Republicans and Democrats that the Farmer-Labor party will possibly die, strikes a responsive chord in them as did the death of an Irishman's mother-in-law to him. When asked by the priest what complaint caused the old lady's death, Pat countered by saying: "Kumplaint, did ye ask, father? There was no kumplaint. Everybody wuz satisfied."

"Am I My Brother's Keeper?" That question might well be on the lips of many Jews throughout Germany since the shooting, recently, by a young Polish Jew, of a high German official—a friend of Hitler's. Hitler is assessing Germany's Jews $400,000,000 as a "murder fine."

What if we would assess a fine against an entire nationality every time one of its number would commit murder? Oh, well I suppose that wouldn't be any worse than a sales tax which some of our politicians would put over on the poor and needy.

However, I'm afraid that Germany's strong (headed) man is killing the goose that lays the golden egg, when he persists in persecuting the Jews.

Doggone that Representative Dunn, anyhow! Just when we think we are to get a little liberality out of the newly elected Republican administration he goes, calls a caucus and gets a majority to pledge support to a fellow by the name of Hall for next Speaker of the House. I'm not so certain but that the new situation in the legislature might be another case of a Mexican General setup . . .it is rumored that Representative Dunn is to be chairman of the Rules committee, the most powerful position in the Legislature.

I suppose every time Harold says something should be done this winter which bears any semblance of progress, Mr. Dunn will—behind the scenes— say "nope, that's not the way my great-grandpap would have done it."

It is announced that when the King of England and his Queen come to the United States next spring their visit will be confined to Washington.

Well, that might provide them with some of the nation's best entertainment, for Congress will be in session at that time. However, it won't give the general rank and file a good break for the visitors might get the wrong impression of the rest of us by seeing the nation's lawmakers in action.

In looking over the last election reports I find to my surprise that Minnesota is not a representative form of government. Why? Because a representative form of government is one where half of the legislators are elected in favor of a thing and half against.

There's rumors that Secretaries Claude Swanson of the Navy, Harry Woodring of War, and Daniel Roper of Commerce, might be replaced by President Roosevelt. Gosh, I haven't heard of those fellows for so long that I had plumb forgot to worry about them.

Well by golly, if we have those three fellows of the Navy, War and Commerce departments then they might as well be replaced or their departments abolished altogether, for Congress builds the Navy, the President declares war and the farmers of the nation say we don't need so much Commerce anyway.

The opera season will soon be here and according to custom we will have the usual burlesque performance in Washington. Some of the actors have been rehearsing their parts for several months.

In the first place criticism and investigation should not wait until just before an election. It should take place when things happen and in that way people can readily see who merits their continued confidence at the polls.

I tell you folks, I've heard so much about tainted money that in these times of stress I find it is easy to explain . . . taint yourn and taint mine.