American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-08-27

thriving in every walk of life. Up TO
the present time a large majority of
the people of this country have been
blessed with prosperity such as they
have never known before. The geo.
graphical position Of America in re-
lation to the battlefelds of Europe
has been a mighty factor in bringing
prosperity to our people. Even with
a scarcity of ships, this country has
been able not only to furnish food
and ammunition for our allies, but
also to transport a mighty army.
With a shortage of transportation ia
cilities, time has been the essence of
all things in this great struggle. Re
gardless of cost, it has been necessary
for our allies to take everything that
this country could produce in the way
of war materials and agricultural
products. That they paid fair price
for everything they have bought will
be accepted by ALL
While we have enjoyed prosperity
we find on the other hand that South
America and Australia and other
great agricultural and live stock coun-
tries are suffering great depression.
This is not strange, for the destruc-
ton of the worlds merchant marine
by U-boats has made it impossible
for them to send their products to the
countries that were once their mar
kets. In other words, America prac-
tically has monopoly on feeding the
world at the present time. A short
time ago l read an article which
stated that in Argentine people were
burning corn for fuel, and that in the
live stock industries, both cattle and
sheep had practically doubled in num-
bers. The article stated that in 1914
Argentine had 100000 sheep; al
+ the present time it is said that they
have S7.000,000. What is true in the
+ live stock industry in Argentine is
also true of other industries. I read
story of Australia's failure to move
! her wheat crop-that Australia hac
. practically all of her surplus farm
4 products and live stock on her hands
. since the beginning of the war. Whea
is piled up along the railroads FOL
9 miles, simply because there are NJ
n boats TO transport these products t
Europe.
/ What we will need more than any
d thing else after the war is over is in
r telligent direction and distribution o
d these great farm products in othe
e countries. The world will not lacl
e ships when the war is over. Thi
e country will have the greatest mer
chant marine the world has eve
known. And there should be no short
sightedness in our policy for the dl
rection of affairs after the war. l an
satisfied that with proper and intel
ligent direction, all the surplus foo'
products of Australia. Argentine ant
every place on earth can be cared 10
without paralyzing the industries o
this country, if this thing is givel
proper thought and consideration be
fore it is too late. What we need
this time is a policy that will hold u
all lines of industry until they cal
properly adjust themselves to peac
conditions.
No man, in my opinion, is in create
danger of financial ruin than tn
farmer and stockgrower. unless W
have an intelligent distribution OF tn
accumulated agricultural product
and live stock of the world. The faI
mer gives a whole years work to III
production of his crops, and even
little longer in many cases in tn
production of live stock. If he
forced to produce for one year at tn
present cost of production and is the
g compelled to sell his products on
low market. financial ruin is sure
20 follow.
70 This is the most vital question col
O. fronting the American people toda
a We know that we are going to wi
n this war and bring back peace to II
s world. and with it should be a col
H. tinuation of the prosperity Of II
country and direction OF its affaii
nj along intelligent lines. 1t is the bii
70 gest question that has ever confronte
~ us and is only surpassed in Il
on thoughts of the people at the preset
he time by the winning of the war.
~ F. r. GOODING.