The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1922-07-27

time bid fair to become disastrous.
Europe needed wheat, France had
cut the rations Of her army to almost
the very edge of nothing, and Italy
had done likewise. There were
ships at the Atlantic seaboard, many
many of them, waiting for cargo
of the precious wheat, but none was
Forthcoming. There were also
thousands of empty box cars at the
same coast and Lord knows how manw
more were csattered around in OBJ
secure places and on out of the way
side lines. The wheat growing states
were calling for cars by the thousand
to carry away their enormous crops,
but none were forthcoming. For
some reason (known only to the men
n charge of things, under the Direct
nr General, men by the way, who,
in a large part were in the same
Jobs under private controD cars were
scarce as the proyerbial "hens teeth"
The farmers in America had wheat
galore, Europe had none. The Di-
rector General saw the necessity of
getting that wheat to Europe before
the morale of France and Italys
armies became so low as to lead TO
Generalization. He sent train after
train of empty box cars to the parts
of the country where they could be
filed with the grain that was needed
in war stricken Europe. The cars
we're returned to the coast where
the ships waiting TO them were quick
ly loaded and sent cover there" and
in a short time the result of this
was shown in the vigorous and de-
termined stand made by the fight
e,.s who were depending upon us for
bread.
Naturally, hauling empty box cars
the cost was nothing in comparison
cross the continent cannot be done
for nothing, it costs money. But
to the saving accomplished in CIV
ny the nations who were fighting
our battles, the necessary food TO
keep them going until we could join
them. The roads as well as politi-
clans who were keenly alert for any
thing that would enable them to find
fault with the administration, pounc-
ed on this incident as a choice NOR
sci and rolled it around in the mouth
while spreading it to all interested
parties. They took good care that
the public in general was also in
formed of it to the fullest extent,
and played it up as strong as posi-
BILE. They found in this caue for
the "huge deficit" that appeared
when the cost of operations and the
returns were Tailed up. They ding
donged this throughout the land as
an example of the inefficiency and
Extravaganza of government op-
Grafton. During the hearings be-
fore the Labor Board at the time
the roads were fighting against sign
ing a National agreement with the
me- who are now on strike, they
informed the public, that during
government control, men were hired
and without regard to ex-
perience or ability. They claimed
this was a cause of wasteful and
expense to the upkeep
and operation of the road. Who
hired these men? Practically the
same men who were officials under
private control, were retained in the
same positions during the operation
If the roads by the government.
The Director General had no more
to do with the "hiring or firing" of
them than did the King of Timbuc-
too.> Who else did, but the men
who had charge of things before the
Director General took charge of the
roads. Upon the return of the roads
to private ownership and control, a
down of the screws was
apparent almost at once. Orders
were put in effect concerning GER