Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1923-05-31
MENACE OF THE SWISS NAVY
DIV Gnv ElAr,Ar

MENASE Of IHE SWISS NAt1
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
abandoned, and all other reclama-
ton activity in this state was similar
ly 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
menaced irrigated Idaho's advance
ment, and what there was might bet
ter have been courageously left I'M
fired.
The Swiss navy in this case was
representatives giving an exaggerat-
ed idea of the conditions in this state.
Some of those resolutions, and
declarations in other forms, sounded
like famine in Russia, they told OF
the terrible conditions-so bad that
no one could pay the government
what he owned under reclamation
contracts.
These statements went to congress
to officials in Washington, and,
WIS VI all ONSI lie 6ullIe
States-teling the nation that Idaho
was impoverished and lifeless.
The enemies of reclamation,
those who oppose spending any gov
rnment 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
thought about that testimony?
True, conditions had not been the
best here; but we participated in
nationwide depression. Why should
mt our balloon come down after the
war? The other fellows did. We
did pretty well during the war. Why
not take our own medicine if we
fooied the gate receipts away?
People who owe Uncle Sam money
advanced ought to expect to pay it
the same as any other debt. They
could not all expect blanket and in
determinable extension of relief be-
cause some really need and should
nave 1t. And above all,they should
not spread alarm to the detriment of
their state.
We have got to forget this Swiss
navy stuff and, in the knowledge
that we have one of the most promis-
ing states in the northwest, get in
and drill.
perhaps 1t may not be cause for
Wonderment that hard working in
dustrlous, thrifty but temporarily de-
pressed and discouraged people are
TOO often unnecessarily alarmed when
men who are posed as leaders of
thought are continually setting up
scarecrows!
1t is regrettable that there is
class of politicians everIastingJv
and writing about the Swiss
navy. ' 100
why do not these men rise to con-
'tructlye standards2 Why do they ap-
parently lay awake nights deyising
ougaboos with which to brighten the
armer, the laborer and the mer
'hant, ATTEMPTING to force themselves
INTO the position of deliveries?
The ammunit on OF these gunners
II the Swiss neYy is abundant. if
puttery; they shoo5 with ceaseless
mercy. Everything - going to the
ternal bow-wows unless, forsooth.
hey shall be put on u pedestal and
nto office and kept there. Taxes.
re1ght rates, religion, schools. high
'ays, bobbed hair, jazz music,
cetera and then some are employed
invite attention to themselves and
Q scare the public into a series of
its so the public may hail them as
ne only doctors.
Also it seems necessary to keen
ne people stirred up over politics 10
lonths of each year, to the disad-i
antage of their employment and
uslness-for it is always easier to
ut over fallacies when the audience
discontinued.
Things too high? Some things
'rong? Certainly; but such men do
tile II anything to produce a rem
dy. They are long on salves and
hort on solutions. What they do Is T
embroil folks at home until the
'tter are hardly capable of calm
logment, and antagonize outside
gencies that could be made helpers
our development through friendly
ritlcism instead OF possible oppon-
JUS because of bitter and meaning
'ss attack.
NO wonder we common folks some-l
mes get scared without reason when!
lese men voviferate that the swiss
aVy will get us IN wa DOME ,,,o.l