The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-05-07

NOR. The merchant with legitimate
business to transact must watch his
step or find himself loser rather than
gamer by a we'll conceived transac-
ton. The Red Cross commission to
the Baltic states, with headquarters
at Riga, transacts business in thir-
teen different currencies. Gold re-
serves are glimmer of the past. The
printing press runs merrily on.
Straight business, such as the ex-
change and production of commodi-
ties, is becoming more rather than
less difficult.
THE smooth running business ar
rangements of before the war are
gone. Quick railway transport, even
in individual countries, cannot be
procured. The payment from one
country to- another, formerly made
almost instantaneously, now requires
much negotiation and shrewd bar
gaining.
Can They Come Back?
mo wonder that the question is
often asked, Can these millions of
people regain their industrial life or
must they go back to the agricultural
state, where each community pro-
duces from the soil a living for its
members.
1.-THE standard of living has al
ready dropped back. Food, clothing
and housing have come down to a
most primitive basis. Food is the
first essential. Have we enough to
get through to the next crop, is the
main question. The industry of
farming is the first thought. 1t is
carried on for self-preservation with |
the simplest equipment and often the |
fields are turned by hand, for lack |
of pillow or horse.
"The cities, which are the nerve |
centers, show the full effect of these |
new conditions. The population of |
Vienna is steadily declining. Riga,
a splendid city with a former popu-
ation of 100000, now has half that
number. Of it's 800 factories, for
nerly employing 100000 hands, not
one is in regular operation. LODI,
Bialostock, Wilma, Rwinsk are in
much the same position. Petrograd,
rom reliable reports, is much worse
lfter two years of soviet misrule.
These are the conditions today
long the eastern front of European
ear or the year after no one may
ay.
Zone step further west, Germany
S farming every available patch of
round, but her industries are at a
ow ebb from lack of coal and raw
1ateria1.
Look to America
"Al1 eyes look toward America for
clip. Here alone they hope for
redits, material, markets. America
those people is an Ell Dorado
Thich can do anything, if it will; can
ut them on their feet or let them
rop still further.
1T would certainly be greatly to
ne benefit of Americas future bust
ess if she could take strong part
reviving the industry and civiliza-
on of Eastern Europe.
Have we the leadership, the fore
ght, the interest, and even with
lem all, the money and material to
lake such an effort?
This question can hardly be an
vered until the United States as
lines some definite status among
lie nations of the world. Her posi-
on today is too vague to allow the
aking of any plan of action by in
viduals, bankers or the govern
emit.
"The type of man we elect next
ovember as president will deter
inc, to a great extent, Americas
orld position for the coming gen.
alton. This is the most important
'cision which America has faced
nee the Civil war, and probably
nee the beginning of her existence"