South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-03-07
SAYS MAKE RURAL
LIFE ATTRACTIVE
Increase of Road Funds Sug-
geSted to President by
SeC'y Houston.

I'VE have very definite construct
i've proposals ia mind-to promote
profitable agriculture and TO de-
velop a more attractive country
life" Sec'y of Agriculture David r.
Houston told the American Live
stock association, in convention AT
Denver.
I'm fact" continued the secretary,
nearly everything being done by
the department of agriculture, with
its $4,000 people, and the state col
leges, constitutes an attack, a per-
sistent and quiet attack, on the
problem of profitable agriculture
and better rural life.
Their work is not spectacular.
You do not hear much about it, es-
pecially in the city; bIt men and
women of the department and the
colleges are working hourly in sea-
son and out Of season without adj
vertisement, and are getting results.
] sometimes think ii is almost a mis-
take to do things as well as some
of our people do them, because they
do not have time to get on the
housetop and shout about it, and
many people do not think anything
is being done if they do not hear a
lot of shouting.
Speed Up Road Building.
Il think we ought TO speed up our
road building. l need not argue the
value of good roads. 1 have sug-
gested, with the presidents approval,
that we increase the federal ala road
appropriation, not only because
roads are indispensable, but also be-
cause public work of this sort may
probably be extended for the pur-
pose of furnishing employment to
surplus labor during the transition
period"
OF future trade conditions and the
European handicap, Sec'y Houston
said.
Many people are asking what
think of the future. Some of them
seem to be apprehensive. They seem
to be alarmed lest Europe should
food the markets of this nation with
cheap goods, alarmed lest this ma
ton may not be able to hold her
own proper place in the markets of
the world.
Apparently, there are those still
left who believe that one nation can
not profit except at the expense of
another; who believe that a nation
does not profit unless it exports use
full commodities and imports moth
ing except gold. They do not seem
TO realize that this process cannot
l..
even may be hurtful.
THE things that any nation really
wants are services and comm ODDITIES.
These a nation can not get except
by furnishing services and commod-
tiles. This country has been for
, many years an exporter of agricul-
tural products. Before the European
war you will find upon examination
that the excess of our agricultural
millions to four or five hundred
millions Of dollars.
Europe Needs Food.
But people ask if this will con-
tinue. They ask If Europe will not
now have a relative advantage
They seem TO assume that Europe
has had time TO pile up masses OF
! commodities for export and tina!
I Europe will possess from this time
forward great masses of cheap labor
How inadequately they seem 10 have
| pictured the present actual condi-
tions in Europe.
They tell us that in Europe. out
side of the Balkans and Turkey
more than seven millions of men
have been killed and II millions
wounded, many of them permanent
| " incapacitated We are aware OF
the destruction of property. of ship
ping Of the economic, social and pO-
litical disruption.
Clearly it will take the powers OF
central and eastern Europe many
years TO lay the firm foundations OF
modern democratic governments, Ia
set them in full operation, and &c
/ restore normal economic conditions
and processes. The masses of the
people in these sections will for the
/ first time have something TO say
bout their conditions and standards
of living, and it is unthinkable tina;
/ lHtg VIII pei lAllt q lNLul II " AOA AASA
/ conditions.
obviously. they VIII be greatly
burdened also with war debts. 1t Is
/ probable that the war debt OF Eng
! land will equal 80 per cent Of her
! estimated real wealth; that of Franco
/ 90 per cent; Of Germany 40 per cent
of Austria Go per cent; and of Italy
80 per cent. In each case the annual
/ interest charge will be as great as
I the former national budget or great
er; and in every case provision must
I be made for a sinking fund. Yet
some of our people seem To fear that
| this nation. industrially almost un-
I touched by the war. cannot hold its
own with stricken Europe. Should
our thought not be rather how we
I oan aid the people Of Europe to get
on their feet once more and TO con-
, in, Fur1 gtarp IN tho xa-orf.7 .