The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1923-06-07
MENACE OF THE SWISS NAVY
BY Guy Flenner

By Guy Flenner
The American Falls reservoir pro
ject. now assured, and one of the
biggest single developments in the
history of south Idaho, was threat.
ened with serious delay, If not aban-
donment, and all other reclamation
activity in his state was similarly
menaced- by the Swiss navy
There is no Swiss navy, you know
and there was not so much real basis
as claimed, for statements that men
aced irrigated Idaho's advancement,
and what there was might better
have been coYrageously left unfired
The Swiss navy in this case was
representations giving an exagger-
ated idea of the conditions in this
state.
Some of these resolutions, and dec
larations in other forms, sounded
like famine in Russia. They told
of the terrible conditions-so bad
that no one could pay the govern
ment what he owed under reclama-
tion contracts.
These statements went to congress,
to officials in Washington, and, worst
of all, over the entire United States
telling the nation that Idaho was
impoverished and lifeless.
The enemies of reclamation
those who oppose spending any gov
eminent money excepting on eastern
and southern harbors, rivers and
creeks-were delighted to have the
west furnish this evidence for their
campaign against the west. And
what does anyone imagine investors
and prospective home seekers thot
about that testimony?
True, conditions had not been the
best here; but we participated in a
nationwide depression. Why shouldn't
our balloon come down after
the war? The other fellows did. |
We did pretty we'll during the war.
Why not take our own medicine II |
we fooled the gate receipts away?
People who owe Uncle Sam for
money advanced ought to expect to
oay 1t the same as any other debt.
They should not all expect blanket
md indeterminable extension Of re-
ief because some really need and
hould have it. And above all, they
hould not spread alarm to the det-
iment of their state.
We have got to forget this Swiss
lavy stuff and, in the knowledge
hat we have one of the most prom
sing state in the northwest, get in
nd drill
Perhaps it may not be cause for !
that hard working, in
ustrious, thrifty but temporarily
oppressed and discouraged people /
re too often unnecessarily alarmed {
hen men who are posed as leaders s
thought are continually setting i
p scarecrows! +
1t is regrettable that there is 8
ass of politicians ever1astingIy
-ating and writing about the Swiss i
avy. Z
Why do not these men rise to n
instructive standards? Why do +
ley apparently lay awake nights o
svising ,bugaboos with which to 4
tighten the farmer, the laborer and N
e merchant, attempting to force a
emselves into the position of de- t,
yerers? I,
The ammunition of these gunners r
the Swiss navy is abundant, IL b
uttery; they shoot with ceaseless 81
lergy. Everything is going to the il
ernal bow-wows unless, forsooth, t,
ey shall be put on a pedestal and D.
to office and kept there. Taxes, NJ
eight rates, religion, schools, high g.
lys, bobbed hair, earrings, jazz 81
lsic, ct cetra and then some are 9,
lployed to invite attention to them is
Ives and to scare the public into =
series of fits so the public may
IL them as the only doctors.
Also it seems necessary to keep =
e people stirred up over politics
Give months each year, to the dis
vantage of their employment and
it Is always easier to
t over fallacies when the audience
disconnected
Things too high? Some things
ong? Certainly; but such men
little if anything to produce a
nedy They are long on salvos
short on solutions What they
is to embroil folks at home until
} latter are hardly capable of calm
lgment, and antagonize outside -
,ncies that could be made helpers
our development through friendly
ticism instead of possible oppon-
S because of bitter and meaning
5 attack
70 wonder we common folks some
es get scared without reason when
Sc men vociferate that the Swiss
y will get us if we don's watch