Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1937-12-16

al Adjustment Act; take away the
refinancing of debt-ridden landown-
ers and the resultant payments Of
thousands of dollars in taxes; then
remoye all the hundreds OF thou
sands that have come through CWA.
PWA, and WPA. forgetting entire
ly the vast sums coming through di-
rec relief 10 care for the needy.
just where would we be?
Through the influence OF civic
organization. or the pull of pol
itical friends, we urge increases in
every conceivable federal grant
available: we sound off vociferously
at even the first sign of curtailment
in the ranks of WpA; we ask for
still more liberal feed and seed
loans when eastern Congressman
(viewing our record of repayment
over past years. declare the govern
ment Is only pouring money down
a rathole;" we send delegations to
Washington to plead with our in
f~luential senator's; kilograms by the
cor have asked for this or that
increases. And all these efforts
have been most effective-no mis-
take about that-and deservedly so.
The people of Sheridan county
and the entire drouth-stricken area
have been in dire need; without as
~sistance they could not have car
ried on; our whole economic struc-
ture would have collapsed. But the
thing that many seem TO overlook is
that the very program for which
they appeal is the program of the
president-the spending policy
of the Administration; yes, what we
continue TO seek for our people land
justly SOL represents a big portion
OF the huge federal debt which
critics declare is driving the nation
into bankruptcy"
. : g
Too, we in Montana. chiefly
through untiring efforts Of two SEN
ators and federal heads of depart
ments within the state working in
fullest cooperation with them, are
extremely fortunate in that we are
getting more than money to relieve
the distressed situation. Hundreds
of miles of state and county roads
have been constructed chiefly at
government expense, that will make
markets more accessible; a water
conservation program is being car
ried on throughout the state which
will be paying dividends to future
generations beyond even our capac-
ity to evaluate now; new public
buildings by the score-courthouses,
school plants, postoffices, commun-
ity centers, armories-are rising all
over the state to meet long felt
needs. We are getting something for
the money expended.
A good example of what may be
expected when the President earn
estly sets out to balance the budget
occurred recently when he asked
Congress to suspend federal aid for
highway construction during the
next year. Immediately a cry went
up from every section of the coun-
try but the far east, where natur-
ally the highway systems are practi-
cally completed. The argument of
course was advanced that the thou
sands of men who would be thrown
out of work would have to be TAX
Ell care of, they would be unable to
find employment in other fields of
labor, alrady overcrowded, and con-
sequently the obligation would fall
on the federal government to pro-
vide for them. Then why not get
something-road building in states
where relief loads were not only
highest, but road programs were far
from complete. 1t vas sound rea-
soning, but only serves to illustrate
what is certain to happen in any
other attempt at retrenchment. Each
section of the country will be look
ing out for the interests Of its own
federal spending on which we have
people and when some form of the
come to depend, is cut off, we are
going TO say, ''cut somewhere else,
but not here" Now, how would you
like TO be President?
There's another angle to this in
flationary program which we've
heard discussed that seems to have