Omaha daily bee., 1919-02-19
MUST DEMAND
SQUARE DEAL IN
FREIGHT RATES

ity."
/ The speaker referred to the
Panama canal, which, he stated, had
brought an entire change in the
transportation economy or the Mis-
sssippi valley. He observed that
not long after the government took
over the railroads, it was discov~
cred that the cause of congestion
at Atlantic ports was largely due to
the system the railroads had de-
veloped of draining Mississippi val
ley commerce away from the natu-
raj drift He forecasted redevei-
opment of north and south water
commerce on an ever-increasing
scale
"Such drift" he added, will
quickly bring independent action
and operation by the north and
south railroads, because the boats
will force the destruction of the old
system of rate divisions.
Aims of Association.
He told of the aims of the Mis-
sissippi Valley Waterways associa-
ton, which is promoting the form
alton of great overseas trading com.
panies.
He urged concerted action by the
interests of the Mississippi valley
to improve water transportation
and meet competition of the Allan
tic seaboard.
Is Well Informed.
Mr. Smetanka is we'll informed on
the affairs of the -Slovaks.
He urged the American business
men to cultivate close trade rela-
tons with the people of whom he
spoke, explaining that they are ca
ger to promote friendly relations
with the United States.
THE subject of Commercial Re-
lations With Our Allies, assigned to
me, is too broad for one man: |
should like to tell you something
about commercial relations with our
less known allies, the liberated ma
tons of central and eastern Europe"
he said.
THE principal nations in this class
are four: Poland, with about 10000
600 peoples Czeeho-Slovakia or Bo-
hernia, with 100000; Jugo-Slavla,
with 100000 and Roumania with
100000. Together, their popula-
ton about equals that of South
America, and their consuming and
producing capacity is greater.
Problems of readjustment with
which America has to grapple are
small in comparison with the prob
lens of the liberated countries. Take
Bohemia; the problem of demobili-
cation was in some respects simpler
than in the United States, for the
men, some 100000, who still served
in the Austrian army when the revo-
luton was carried out in Prague,
simply rushed home, when the Aus
trian army was broken on the Pave
in October.
But then there were 10000 men
who fought on the allied side in
France and 10000 in Italy to be
brought home, and only God knows
the statesmen in Paris do not
seem to know-when the 65,000
Czecho-Slovaks in Siberia, still re-
naming alive, will get to their fam
lilies.
Create Balance.
The new republic had to create a
brand new government; it had to
bring under its authority German
and Magyar minorities; it had to in
crease the food ration, find work for
the returned soldiers and rnunition
and above all it must Gre
ate an economic and financial bal
ance on the ruins of the bankrupt
Austro-Hungarian empire. There
were 36000,000,000 paper crowns in
October, supported by gold re-
serve of just one-half of one per
cent, and even after the revolution |
and the breakup of the empire the
new government of German-Aus-
tria kept the presses going in Wen
ma, turning out billions more, while |
It was selling army supplies of the
iefunct empires at ridiculous prices
for its own benefit--army trucks go
ing at 5000. Enough TO discourage
the most cheerful readjusters.
Morale High.
"But the morale of the people is
high, better than in western Europe.
The people are full of enthusiasm,
willing to work long hours and bear
sacrifices; the order of the days in
Bohemia is: order, production, saw
ng.
"About America, all these peo-
pies hold the most exalted ideas: |
everybody looks to the United |
States as their best friend. But un-
il conditions are somewhat restored |