Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1930-12-04
What Other Editors Think
THE RUSSIAN MENACE
(Lewistown Times-Democrat)

So much so-called information that
is vague and unreliable comes out of
Russia that it is most difficult for the
average reader to obtain anything like
definite impression of actual condi-
tons, either political or economic
which obtain in that huge country For
some months the report has been per-
sistently circulated that it will be but
a matter Of two or three years before
Russian wheat will flood all of the
markets of Europe, and the fear is felt
that even the markets of America may
become dumping ground for grain
from that country We, of course will
be able to protect ourselves as our
tariff would then become effective, but
it is questionable If the production
over there will be SO increased that
there will be great deal of wheat to
export within six or severn years and
no one can tell what further disorders
may occur in the meanwhile to dis
turb the agricultural program. Stain
and his associates are now working n
five-year economic plan and have
solemnly assured the masses Of Russian
people that at the end of that period,
which has but some two or three years
to run now, that they will be econom-
ically independent and able to enter intq
competition with the "capitaIstic" ma
tons for trade in land and manufactured
products. The best informed opinion
is that this program can not be any
where near completed within the time
specified and further suggests that it,
may require at least two decades The
masses of Russian people are suffer-
ing great privations rather hcileIy with
the understanding that their day Of
glory is soon to dawn If the time is
extended, a potential restlessness is
certain to grow and perhaps result. in
violent changes. Some indication Of the
uneasiness in high government circles
is to be found in the renewed attempts
of the soviet leaders to inspire in the
people an antagonism toward other
countries One of the last resorts of a
desperate dictatorship is the Indictment
of the war spirit and if they find their
position becoming dangerous, nothing
would be simpler than for the Stain
group to find some pretext for start
ing a conflict with one of the neigh
boring countries. There is now in prog
ress the trial of number of technical
rlen who are charged with counter
revolutionary activities, and the ac-
cused have made extended confessions
which have been sent out through the
country by radio and which involve
alleged completely on the part of re-
sponsible statesmen in France and
other countries in the reasonable de-
signs. Somehow one can not avoid a
| LlIlSS vi SuSRlIlOil do W liiC SittliG IES-
ularity of these proceedings. They have
the appearance of being staged for the
purpose Of creating the impression of
acute danger from abroad which might
be so serviceable to the government in
time of domestic stress. Adverting to
| the wheat situation, although the
danger from Russian competition may
not be immediate, it is rather obvious
that even without the most favorable
developments in Russia, we are going
to be under the necessity of limiting
our production to something near the
level Of domestic needs. That this is
likely to come about sooner than we
have imagined it would appear likely
since the utter generalization Of our
wheat prices will undoubtedly result
in decreased acreage for the mex,
harvest.