The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1936-09-03
SEEN
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NATIONAL
CAPITAL
By Carter Field y
By Carter Field

should. It has been argued for many
years, and with apparently haWiess
logic, that in order for foreigners
to buy American products, it was
absolutely essential that we should
import foreign goods. Else now
would the foreigners pay for what
they bought?
No answer is apparent to that
question, and yet shreWd students
of international trade, foreign ex-
change, and all the intricate prob
lens involved, are far from beng
certain that what seems to be such
an obvious two plus two equals tour
will work out.
There is no doubt about one phase
of the problem. America is gong
TO increase her purchases of foreign
goods enormously in the next year.
She has no alternative. II there
had been no drought, it is possible
that agricultural imports might
have been less-What with the AAh
knocked out and soil erosion con-
tracts not yet firmly settled. 1t
may be that American farmers
would have produced SO much more
than last year, wher AAA restric-
tons applied, that last years rath-
er heavy farm imports would have
been cut.
But, with not much of surplus
left over, and with crops down to
fractions of what they should be
because of heat plus lack of rain,
the United States is going to have
to import feed for cattle, grain for
humans, and, after few months,
meat.
For the present the dumping on
the market of cattle for which there
is neither feed nor drinking water
will keep the domestic supply
plentiful. Later on meat must be
imported, just as it was last year,
only more of 1t.
Will Test Theory
Then will come the test of this
old tariff theory on which the two
major political parties have been
debating since the days of Grover
Cleveland without either ever con-
vincing the other, a theory on which
college professors and pure intel
lectuals have generally taken the
side of the Democrats, holding that
the sensible thing to do was for
this country to produce what it
could most economically, sell that
abroad, and buy from abroad things
it was more expensive, or perhaps
impossible, to produce here.
But no one ever really questioned
the Democratic statement that we
could not eat our cake and have it
too. Every one has always thought
that in order to export we must
import. Nothing else seemed to
make sense.
Incidentally this is the theory on
which the reciprocal trade agree
ments are based The theory seems
excellent. The difficulty, as in al
tariff matters, is in the practical
application. Naturally there is con
siderable bitterness in certain sec
tons because of the foreign compe
tition with local products this poll
cy involves. Lumber in the North
west, for example.
But with the whole world topsy
turvy, two and two may not make
four any more. Any nation with {
surplus to spare, and some that can
not really spare it las when Russia
sold US wheat in the early Hoover
days and made her people do will
black bread) will sell to us,
Weird Politics
Out in Nebraska they are having
some weird politics this year, No
that this should be SO surprising il
the state which projected William
Jennings Bryan and George w. Nor
ris into the national political arena
but there are some interesting nes
twists to the situation.
Most Of it revolves around a ger
tleman whose name is fairly neN
nationally, but who happens to b
the Democratic nominee for Unite
States senator, seeking the toga nov
adjoining George w. Norris. Hi
name is Terry McGovern Carper
ter, and he won 1.-The Democrat
nomination in primary, althoug
his state convention seemed little In
pressed thereby. The conventio
wanted to follow Franklin D. Rooss
welt and James A. Farley, VIII
thought Nebraska should return III
Gle George Norris to Washington.
What brings the situation to
head right now is the public di
cussion, started by Senator EdWar
r. Burke himself, as to whether
should not resign as Democrat
national committeeman because h
Burke, does not want Carpent,
elected. Burke's theory is that pc
haps a national committeems
should be for the whole ticket. 1
he is not for the whole ticket,
wonders if he should not resign.
But this is highly embarrassil
to Farley, chairman Of the natio
al committee. Fer Farley is abs
lutely with Burke in being again
Carpenter. and for the same RE
sons. N
There used to lie just one reas