The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-08-09
The IRRIGATION QUESTION
in MONTANA.
Nv George Il. Maxwell in Maxwelrs Talisr1arl.

cation system as the benefits which he
derived from it bore to the entire cost
of construction. In the long run, the
people as a whole would not be out
of pocket a single dollar, and through
all the years of the future, the rich
and communities created
by the construction of these vast irri-
cation systems would be a perma-
nent source of revenue to the gov
ernment-not only to the national gov
eminent, but to every town, city,
county and municipal government OF
any kind in the state of Montana, as
we'll as to the state itself.
Now carry the mind back to these
problems:
What are we to do with our boys?
What are we to do with our surplus
labor?
What are we to do with the unem-
ployed?
What are we to do with the "scab'?
What are we to do with the union
man without work?
What are we to do with the man
who cannot get admission to a union?
What are we to do with the boys
who cannot find places as apprentices?
Draw them all together into n
great current of humanity-one great
aggregate mass of surplus labor
Il And what are you going to do with
them?
To say you will find work for them
all by enlarging our fofeign trade
and is a a and a delu-
sion.
We never know when our foreign
, trade and commerce may be compli-
: Gated or curtailed by entanglements,
: either between us and foreign nations,
or between foreign nations with which
e we have no oncer
i The necessity for some intelligent
system of reciprocity with other ma
$ tions for the enlargement of our for
t eign trade is practically conceded by
our economists and business men, but
the politicians seem incapable OF
Il reaching a solution of this problem.
d In is an intricate problem, as all ques-
8 lions relating tic our foreign trade and
O commerce are intricate problems, sub
iect always and at any time to tariff
complications, to the complications Of
war, and to a thousand and n uncer
j. tainties and possible limitations, o,
sudden and unexpected changes which
4. make our foreign trade the most I'm
t. safe foundation that car possibly be
imagined for the permanent stabilit!
and steadiness of our social and bust
ness conditions. >.
,e Where then shall we turn for thu
opportunity for the expansion, not onl.
III of our trade and commerce, but of indi
vidual opportunity for the individual
I'd man to get employment and build
IN home?
he 1.-THE individual man" may seem
I'D minute factor in our industrial prof.
lem, but bear in mind that he is
MS factor that is being multiplied by tn
pc billions as the years go by.
m On October 10, 1901, a meeting wa
held in Denver, Colo, to organize
IS. branch of the American Institution
Bank Clerks, and at this meetinI
lie the Honorable Lyman J. Gage, the
secretary Of the treasury, said: Eff
years from now the country will ha,
by a population of 100000, 900 people"
on Are opportunities to be provided +
ri this increase of 10000 900 Peep
nj within the next so years by enlargi1
he our foreign trade and commerce? Al
ire we to find work for their hands al
an. food with which to fill their moutl
me by making and selling things to Il
nal eign countries? We are apt to fOrg
ms the last injunction of Mckinley, tn
at we cannot always continue to
is sellers and buyers.
We cannot build our social a.
rity business structure upon an enduri
Om- ny shlmuins Ihe GIG
,nlv from the commerce of the world,
NAL absorbing to ourselves the accumul
tier ed wealth of other nations, becau
set a time will come when they will I
Who ply the rule of self-preservation a
ard. demand that we shall give as well
take, and when that time comes
alb had far better trade among oursel1
!, of within our own borders, and upbu
our industries along well balanced a
we'll regulated lines which will, SO
not as possible, relieve them from the
- cortaintias and combinations nf I