Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-07-27
BOOTLEGGING FOR GERMANY

Carl w Ackerman whose name is familiar to all
Capital Journal readers he having been the United Press
correspondent Berlin until the declaration OF war be-
tween the United States and Germany, has an intensely
interesting article in the last issue of the Saturday Even
ing Post explaining how and why Germany is able to
maintain herself and keep up her food supply and that
of war munitions He points out and backs it with the
figures given him by authorities at Copenhagen and else
where that Germany draws heavily on Denmark Nor
way Sweden and Holland These neutral countries are
sending her immense quantities of food stuffs, and
Sweden is furnishing iron steel and copper VI course
all these countries well within their rights as neutras
doing exactly what have done for the allies since
the war started We of all peoples can find no fault
with them or any of them for so doing Since we have
entered the war however stand in different relation
to these neutral countries for they are supplying
people with whom we are at war.
The only thing for to object to is that these coun-
tries draw supplies largely from this country that they
ship Germany Self protection demands we cut OIL TINS
source of supply the country with which at war;
To do this it may be necessary to refuse export OF all
foodstus to any of these countries They have already
piven pledges not to transfer reShip these food
products received from the United States to Germany
and in large measure they keep their pledges. How
ever the temptation to do little booteggng IS strong
especially the materials they buy from us are res0d
to Germany at two three hundred per cent profit The
pledges are kept in the letter but b ken In the spirit for
while the materials they get from us are not sent to
Germany they are used by the countries to which they
are shipped for their people, and their own materials
are forwarded to Germany.
The passage of the food control BILL it is thus seen is
of vast Importance since it gives the president power TO
stop exports to these countries Alderman points out
that with exports from this country stopped exports from
them to Germany must also be stopped or greatly cur
tailed 1t is of lust much Importance to reduce Ger
manys food supply as it is to furnish that OF the allies
Holland and the other neutral countries named have
protested vigorously against having their food supplies
from this country cut off, but then every bootegger
would object just strongly to having his source OF sup
py closed up The governments themselves are parties
to the trade according to Ackeman The food supplies
sent from this country these neutras have increased
tremendously since the started, showing remark
able coincidence in the line of increased national appettes
in all of them at once else that the products are sent
on to Germany used and domestic products sent in
their place. which in the results is the same thing
Sweden which is exporting millions OF tons OF iron
to Germany is also importing millions of tons from Amer
ca 1t is the same with most other products that Ger
many needs What she needs suddenly develops al
like need in Norway Sweden, Holland and Denmark,
which remarkable coincidence to say the least With
the passage of the food control bill this be quickly
ended While it would be hardship on our neutral
friends to cut off all supplies they certainly could not OBJ
ect if their imports from this country were held down to
the quantities they imported before the
We might in this case take a hint from German
friends. When the question of renewing the submarine
ruthessness being considered at Berlin his might
ness General Won Hndenburg is said to have voiced his
sentiments and those of the mtarsts in the pgramatc
sentence: "To hell with the neutras win the war"