The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-01-22

People who ought to know tell US that
very serious times are ahead unless
we increase production. Can we not
deal with this in the same spirit and
the same way that we dealt with the
problems of war? Can we not pre-
pare a local program of work that,
although it be local, will be national
in its effect? We have demonstrated
time and again during the past four
years what organized effort and
aroused public opinion viii accomp-
lish. Why not, then, prepare a pro-
gram that is big and vital and then
educate and organize public opinion
in its support.
"Let US make this a little clearer.
Your community. does not end with
your municipal boundary lines. Your
community extends onward and out
ward to cover your entire retail ter
ritory 1t is the betterment of bust
ness and living conditions in that ter
ritory that we must have in mind.
That is our charge. Now anything
that can be done to increase produc-
ton in our retail trade territory in
creases purchasing power and adds
to the wealth of both merchant and
producer. This is a national as well
as a local service 1t is doubtful if
there is a community anywhere in
our country that equals its produc-
ton possibilities. Let Us have Com
mittee on Production whose task it
will be to formulate plans for in
creased production. The right sort of
committee composed of men famil-
lar with the territory, ought soon TO
be able to make a definite, practical,
convincing statement of what can be
attempted, and this statement can be
made the opening gun in a campaign
to secure public support of the plan.
Another subject demanding our
attention is transportation. By this
is not meant the checking of way
bills, advising as to routes Of ship
ment and informing members of
changes in the ruling of the Inter
State Commerce Commission. It is
much bigger than that. 1t is not
enough to increase production; unless
we have quick and easy routes and
transport to market our increased
production may be largely without
avail. 1t is the task OF Transporta-
ton Committee to study the trans
portation situation in your retail
trade territory, ascertain what are
the obstructions to the free flows of
traffic and formulate plans for the
removal of the distractions. Some
times these will be found to be lack
of deep water in harbor, sand bar
IN navigable river, inadequate dock
age facilities, ferry where a bridge
ought to be- or insufficient railway,
electric or motor truck service, but
most of the obstruction TO the free
flow Of traffic are found to be the
character and condition of the high
ways leading into town. We have
come TO understand that the great
national highway is not the road from
New York to San Francisco; but that
1t is the road from farm to town. The
Transportation Committee should be
able to report plans for the removal
of traffic obstruction and the provi-
sion Of improved facilities that Will
be so compelling in its nature as to be
certain of public support Not an
everything-at program, but q
one-thing-at-a-time, and as rapidly as
the public can be made to respond
Industry, commerce and eivics
should all have q place on the organ
ization program. Careful consider
alton should be given TO the subject
of industrial relations, to improved
merchandising methods, the better
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