Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-08-31
WHERE THE TROUBLE LIES.

! Beyond doubt there are abuses al
home, but the real cause of our trou-
BILE just now is the demand in Europe
for our foodstuffs. Europe is drain
/ ing us of our foodstuffs, cotton and
leather and we are draining Europe
of the remnant of its gold Incident
ally, we have contributed one hundred
million dollars worth of our own
necessities, recently, to the allevita-
tons of European needs.
Meanwhile, all over Europe produc-
ton is being curtailed by strikes for
shorter hours and higher pay.
The condition in Europe IS clearly
stated in the following excerpt from
recent speech of Congressman Fess
in the house of representatives.;
Europe is not only demanding
what we produce, but expecting us to
loan that with which to pay, in the
hope that it will not be called upon to
pay it back. While we are assisting
Europe in her dire distress, we must
not put our own people to the point
of suffering because of a sentimental
ity that has no sounder basis than
mere maudlin sympathy.
THE remedy here is to force
Europe to work. Self helpfulness must
be resumed. War has had the effect
to induce idleness, as may be seen
today in France and Belgium and else
where Already can be read placards
all over Paris, To work! TO work.
There must be a relief from that
idleness which persists in the belief
that L have done my duty; now let
the government provide bountifully
for me the rest of my days Re-
Mobilization of Europe can only be as
sured by organized production encom-
passing the entire population. Here is
where our influence should be felt,
rather than in too great willingness
to supply all their needs with gratu-
itous altruism.
Exports must be regulated. The
power that fixes the price of our
surplus can easily fix that of the entire
home production. Here is function
of the government in its regulatory
administration to insure against actual
suffering of our own people, while We
are busy looking after the interests of
Europe and Asia. The sooner we are
both Europe and America.
The constitution prohibits us from
levying export duties, but it does not
prohibit us from regulating exports. In
provision for limiting exports the
Ohio congressman has laid a logical
basis for relieving domestic scarcity,
and thus bringing prices down, but his
plan would be a real Kindness to
Europe.
What Europe needs more than any,
thing else to relieve her war-slckness
is the lesson of self-help. If We send
foodstuffs to Europe that Europe
should produce for herself, and lend
Europe the money to pay for them,
when Europe should be earning her
own money by resumed production,
1t is nothing short of mistaken char
ity-especially If Europe contemplates
escaping the payment of the loan.
This is the view Herbert Hoover
takes of it. He announces that food
relief will be greatly curtailed with
the coming in Of the European har-
vests. The feeding of more than three
million under-nourished children Will
| be continued In other words, Mr.
Hoover sees the need of compelling the
peoples of Europe to help themselves
1t is also time for a similar policy re-
garding other necessities than food
stuffs
Mr.. Hoover says that the great de-
feet in central Europe is failure OF
production. This is not due to lack
of man-power since many hundreds
of thousands are drawing out
of-work stipends from the already
bankrupt government and from relief
societies. He says the greatest evil
is dissemination of people to work.
| Let US adopt a policy that vii
make living cheaper at home and that
will compel Europe to work.