The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-05-28
NEWS FROM THE
NATIONAL CAPITOL

CApS~S AAuA " PcG1JTM HIS uuIl60 just
as industriously and conscientiously as
il he were hired by the week or
! month, and the fact that he is a
candidate for reelection does not
warrant him in neglecting his official
duties, even for day, to advance his
political aspirations. If he 10 worthy
denomination on account Of his
devotion to his duty and his service
to his constituents, the people will
recognize this fact and act according.
ly. and he is not justified in neglect
ing his duties in order to advise his
constituents as to how they should
vote at the primaries The people
have their own opinions in regard to
the accomplishments Of public Off
cda1s, and the officer who is intelli
gently and conscientiously performing
his duties can depend upon a square
deal from the thoughtful voter"
= = +
Our Diminishing Exports
The immense increase in imports for
April of this year compared with April
Of last year can easily be explained by
the fact that merchandise entering un.
der the free list piled up a grand total
Of $106, 759,496 but it is more diff
cult to account for the continued
slump in exports.
1t has been the boast of the farm.
ers Of the low tariff law that Ameri.
can business would be freed from its
shackles, and although losing it's strong
grasp upon the rich American market
would easily make up the difference by
capturing larger share of foreign
markets.
The increase in importatiors, of
course, is logical. The American mar
ket is too rcih to be overlooked by this
foreigners, with their cheap labor.
April imports aggregated s172,640, 724.
against $146,194,46 in April of last
year. the difference representing the in
creased displacement of American-mad
goods under the new tariff law.
What is most surprising, however
is the drop in exports. Comparing
April of this year with April of last
year, the Department Of Commerce
finds that there has been a falling off
in foreign sales amounting to no less
than s37,237,312..
In one month last year we obtained
more than sS7, 100000 of foreign mon
The loss of this money this year natur
ally is felt by the wage-earners as wei
as the manufacturers. Possibly $780,.
100000 which would have been paid
out to American workingmen for worl
on foreign orders will remain in for.
eign countries.
There is such thing as saving at
the spigct and letting out at the
bung, but at the present time, appar
emily, we are witnessing a waste at
both places. II the foreigners continue
to undersell us in our market, increas.
ing their sales by more than $22, OOO,,
900 in one month, compared with the
same month of the previous year, and
at the same time wo continue to lose
ground in our foreign trade, some
thing must be radically wrong With
low-tariff conditions.
Idaho Proud Of Her Midshipman
Idaho may be proud of the record
Of one of her midshipmen, now an
ensign, Paul Frederick Foster, and his
distinguished services at Vera Cruz
The young ensign was nominated to
the United States Naval Academy in
1907, by United States Senator Du.
bois, and graduated from the Academy
in 1911 as ranking midshipman of his
class.
At the engagement at Vera Cruz
he was an ensign ON the u S. Battle.
ship Utah,and was given charge CT the
first landing party from the Utah.
They landed under fire and cleared
the wharf and the streets before them
and finally captured the municipal
building of Vera Cruz. AS a recogni.
ton of his success in leading the en-.
gagement, he was made temporary Pro
vost Marshall of the city, a RESPONSE.
bility that ranks with the response
bility that is usually placed upon tho
commanders in the United States
Navy.
+ + +
The Boys and Girls Clubs of the
West will. for the first timc, receive
material assistance from the Govern.
ment under an amendment offered by
Senator Brady to the Agricultural Ap.
preparation Bill. As the bill was re
ported to the Senate it carried $780,
700 "for farm demonstration work"
Senator Brady offered an amendment
authorizing the appropriation of $500,
900 "fOr farm demonstration work and