The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1920-11-04

South Dakota. Millions OF people in
Central European countries, Poland.
Czechoslovakia, Austria and Germany
are out of work for lack OF raw ma
terial. Textile mills are idle and in.
dustry paralyzed. Starvation is ram
pant, and "a brings in its track the
curse Of unrest, riot and bolshevism.
In America stabilized markets, for
agricultural products in particular,
are impossible under present condi-
tons. Wheat, wool, hides. livestock
and all farm products are off to an
extent that has sacrificed agricul-
tural prosperity, seriously crippled
farming operations, n actually
supply. AS soon as the war was actu-
ally over the South Dakota depart
ment of markets turned it's activities
from the emergencies of wartime to
constructive planning for permanent
improvement of marketing operations.
The most obvious outlet for our super
nuous production was to sell it TO
the war-rayaged countries Of Europe,
tered the refusal of the federal gov
arnment to cooperate in plans to find
a foreign market.
The countries of Central Europe
went our products but they have
neither cash nor recognized credit.
The Polish officials offered to buy our
range horses, but Washington refused
20 stabilize proposed financial arrange
wents. The wool market collapsed
in May. Or. Smetana, consul of
CzechosloVakia, and Mr.. Masyrk, son
Of the president Of that new republic,
entered into correspondence and per-
sonal negotiations with myself as di-
rector Of markets, offering to establish
a barter system for taking over the
wool of South Dakota and neighborin2
staes, or arranging other plans where
by that country might take over our
rev material and set the idle mach'n-
cry in motion and provide employment
for its people.
A plan was formulated and | vent
to Washington, laid the same before
the secretary of the treasury and re
quested and demanded that financial
arrangements be made whereby
Czechoslovakila or other nations might
buy our products, thus making a mar
ket for our farm stuff, take that much
debt off our farmers and also keep
the money at home. This would put
those foreigners to work for America,
instead of turning their thoughts TO
strife to be settled by American arms.
1t would help them and help us. After
a delay of several weeks Secretary
Houston notified South Dakota that
he has no authority to aCceed to our
plan. This was mere Subterfuge. In
the meantime other agencies made
similar demands upon Secretary HOus-
ton and pointed Out this power for
financing such an arrangement by re
establishing the war finance corpora
ton. Thereupon Mr.. Houston fatty
refused and stated that further fl
nancing of exports by this govern
,ment is not justified" accompanying
this statement with ~derogatory re-
marks about the credit of Central Eu-
ropean nations.
Meanwhile England is doing this
very thing and doing it on money Sc
cured in the United States. Every
step in our proposed plan is outlined
in consular reports as being put into
operation by England. A large New
York exporting house cooperating
with the department of markets in
attempt to find a wool outlet in Aus
tria as well as n~eighboring countries
wired me under date of October 18th,
among other things as follows:
Gables from Austria indicate Aus
trians negotiating English wool credit,
therefore uninterested in American
wool" In other words, if the present
attitude towards foreign trade is main
tanned at Washington, this country
will find the world markets for wool
and other agricultural products con-
trolled by England and that country
will virtually be a non-essential mid
dleman through whom we will be
forced to deal.
This is surely a business PROPOSE
ton. We have the stuff to sell. We
have buyers who want it, but who
have no money and whose credit is
not recognized. They have the labor
and are willing and anxious to work
for us. Their labor will pay for our
products. Let us stake them and put
them to work.