The Glenwood post. (Glenwood Springs, Colo.) 1897-current, 1921-02-26
Ilack Ted's Bed Time Stories
Current Events For the Children
and 0rown-ups. Too
WAR DEBTS AND GEOGRAPHY.

map, any way 10 WAN sAo PCSH@S
who make Biographies would make all
the maps Of the countries ON the same
scales. These maps give me wrong
idea Of the size of some of the coun-
tries.'' 1t was Ruth talking, and in
reply Jack exclaimed:
''The figures prove that l was right,
whatever the maps look like"
"What's the discussion about"
inquired Uncle Ted, looking up from
the paper he was reading as he sat deep
in the cushions Of big easy chair.
Teacher was telling my class today
about some Of the changes in the geo.
graphy because of the war;" responded
Jack, "and was just now telling
Ruth about the big colonies England
got in Africa. She wouldn't believe
me when l told her that one of these
colonies alone is as big as all our
southern states east of the Mississippi
River, and sometime will be just about
as valuable. 1 proved it to her by the
figures in the encyclopedia.
''That's fine, Jack I'm glad you
have learned to use the encyclopedia.
You can't carry all kinds of informa-
tion in your head, but you can find
nearly everything in good encyelo-
pedia, and it's good thing to form
the habit of looking things up when a
question arises like that you and Ruth
have been discussing. You won't for
get the facts you have learned in this
way"
"Then, too," continued Uncle TED,
"I'm glad this discussion came up,
for it will make you interested in some
further facts concerning the treaty of
peace and the relations between the
United States and the countries that
went to war with Germany. If you
think you'd be interested, III tell you
a few things that are just now r,ceiv-
ing a good deal of attention from the
big men of the country"
"Go ahead, Uncle Ted exclaimed
Ruth 81 don't like to have Jack
beat me out in dispute, but Pm glad
lie told me some things l don't know.
What is it the big men of the coun-
try are talking about9"
"Well, it's like this,' said Uncle
Ted. "You know the war was orig
inally a European war growing out of
the commercial rivalries of European
nations. In the beginning we had no
direct interest in it, but it became our
business to get into the war when it
became apparent that Germany intend
ed to sink our ships in violation of in
ternational law. After we entered the
war it became apparent that the Allies
were out of money and supplies, so we
loaned the various nations different
Sums, amounting in all to about &c.
OOO,o00,oO0. Nearly half of this we
loaned to Great Britain, and she made
loans to some of the other countries.
The United States did not have the
money in its treasury to loan to tho
Allies, so it borrowed money from its
own people by selling them bonds. The
people of the United States supplied
the money, and they must eventually
pay the bonds through taxation, except
to the extent that the Allies repay the
money we loaned them.
CHOW, just to give you general
idea of the situation, and without deal.
ing in exact figures, but figures that
are approximately correct, the United
States raised for war purposes about
1876, 900 100000, of which about 100000
100000 was raised by taxes and 25,-
OO,0oo,OOO by sale of bonds and other
evidences of debt. We are still in debt
more than $4,000, 100000, but the Al
lies owe us about $4,000, 100000. Some
time ago Great Britain made a sugges-
tion to the United States that we can.
eel the debt of $4,000, 100000 the AL.
lies owe MS. Of course, if we cancelled
the debt, that would mean that the
people of the United States who pay
taxes would have to pay the 10 900, 600.
900, for the United tsates has its bonds
ont for that amount, which we raised
to loan to the Allies. The additional
burden would fall upon all the people
Of the country, for, although lots of
people do not pay any income tax, or
any other kind Of tax, directly, yet
they pay the tax indirectly whom they
buy goods, for of course taxes are fQ.
hred in as part Of the cost Of doing
business. There are about 10000, 900
people in the United States, 80 you can
EASILY figure out that il we cancel the
lebt of the Allies it will mean, on an
lveragc, placing an additional debt Of