The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1918-12-05
as much az possible ard moro
ana more as s,,e weeks 20 by.
Know Max;on's Rcsonrcea

ana more as Tie weeks 20 By.
Know Nations Resources. !.
Never before have there been
IN existence in this couns
LEY which anew so much of this
neId ct supplies, Of labor, and Of
industry az the war industrica
BOARD, the war trade board. the
labor department, the food ad-
ministration and the fuel adminis-
tration have known since their
taoors became thoroughly SYSTEM
atised: and they have NOT been iso-
lated agencies; they have been d.
rected by men which represented
the permanent departments OF the
government and so have been the
centers OF unified and cooperative
action. 1t has been the policy Of
the executive. therefore. since the
-armistice was assured (which Is
IN erect q complete submission OF
tne enemy to put the knowledge Of
.uose bodies at the disposal of the
business men of the country and to
oHer their intelligent mediation at
every point and in every matter
where It was desired. 1t Is sur
prlslng how fast the process OF re-
urn TO q peace footing has moved
IN the three weeks since the fight
ing stopped. 1t promises to outrun
any inquiry that may be Instituted
ana aid that may be offered.
1t will not be easy to direct it any
better than It will direct itself.
me American business man Is Of
quick Initiative.
Urges Public Work.
The ordinary and normal proc
esses OF private initiative will not.
~ hrUnunrs O,snrvfI1 49,
ploynent for all OF the men of or
returning armies. Those who arc
OF trained capacity, those who are
skilled workmen, those who have
acquired familiarity with estab-
lished businesses. those who are
ready and willing to go to the
farms, all those whose aptitudes
are known or will be sought out
by employers. will find no diff
Guilty, 1T Is safe to say, in finding
place and employment. But there
VIII be others who will be at a loss
where to gain a livelihood unless
put them in the way of work.
There will be a large floating re-
sfduum Of labor which should not
be left wholly to shift for itself.
1t seems to me important, there
fore. that the development of pub
He works of every sort should he
promptly resumeG in order that
opportunities should be created for
unskiiled labor in particular, and
that plans should be made for such
deveiopments of u unused lands
and our natural as we
have hitherto lacked stimulation to
undertake.
Land Reclamation.
r /, opffo,,I,x Jxr S;n1- -.
ton to the very practical plans
has developed in his annual report
and before your committee for the
reclamation OF arid. swamp and
cut-over lands which might, If the
states were willing and able to CO.
operate, redeem some 300, 900, 900
acres Of land for cultivation. There
r said to be 5000. 900 or 20,0O0,-
900 acres Of land in the west.
at present arid. for whose recla-
nation water is available if prop
erly conserved. There are about
100000 900 acres from which the
forests have been cut. but which
have never yet been cleared for
the plow, and which lie waste and
desolate. These lie scattered all
over the union. And there are
nearly 10000, 900 acres Of land that
lie under sWamps or subject to
periodical overflow or too wet for
anything but grazing, which it is
perfectly feasible to drain and pro-
tect and redeem. The congress
can at once direct thousands Of the
returning soldiers to the reclama-
ton of arid lands which it has al
ready taken, if it will but enlarge
their plans and appropriations
which it has entrusted to the de-
pertinent of the interior.
1t is possible in dealing with
our unused land to effect a great
rural and agricultural develop
ment which will afford the best
sort of opportunity to men who
want to help themselves: II the
secretary of the interior has
thought the possible methods out
in a way which is worthy OF your
most friendly attention.
France Needs Help.
l have spoken of the control
which must yet for a while, per-
haps for a long while, be exercised
over. shipping because of the prl-
GRITTY of service to which
forces overseas are entitled. and
which should also be accorded h
shipments which are to save re-
Gently liberated peoples from
starvation and many devastated
regions from permanent ruin. May
not say u special word about the
needs of Belgium and northern
France? No sums Of money paid
by way OF indemnity will serve Of
themselves to save them from
hopeless disadvantage for years to
come. Something mor must be
done than merely find the money.
If they had money and raw ma
terials in abundance tomorrow they
could not resume their place in the
industry OF the world--the very
important place they held before
the fame OF war swept across
them. Many Of their factories are
RACED to the ground. Much of
their machinery is. destroyed or
has been taken way. Their peo-
pie are scattered and many of their
best woE.smen are dead. Their
markets will be taken by others, if
they are not in soIne special way
assisted TO rebuild their factories
ana replace their lost instruments
Of manufacture.
Urges Priorities.
They should not be left to the
vicissitudes OF the sharp competi-
ton for materials and for industrial
facilities which is now set in. !
hope, therefore, that the congress
will not be unwilling, If it should