The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1939-12-07

Per capita debt of Minn.--S309.20
9th District, Minnesota, population
(1930) ,242
9th District, Minnesota, computed
1888 estimate ........----..-.---.-..313,55 2
9Th District, percentage of Mime
sofa population -.-.------.-.-.---.--.--11.Sfo
Proportionate share of the national
debt burden for 9th
District ...---..-.-..- 500, 760, 600
Per capita debt for 9Th
District
A study of the above figures
should convince the most obtuse
that our national debt is essentially
a local problem. Minnesota's pro-
portionate share of that debt is
$50 million dollars. If we add to
that huge sum the debts of the
state and its political subdivisions
it will probably bring Minnesota's
public debt to 1 billion $50 million
dollars, the interest on which
amounts to about 80 million 500
thousand dollars annually or $12.25
on each man, woman and child.
Comes To America
The Bata Shoe Company of
Czechoslovakia, is putting i n
large shoe factory near Baltimore.
They will manufacture shoes in
mass production and it is planned
to ship the product all over the
world The Bata Company is
$50 million dollar concern and it
is expected that they will give en-
ployment to 10000 Americans, us
ing production methods that prov
ed so successful abroad. The Bata
Company was induced to move to
America because of the war. 1t is
possible that other large European
concerns will also transfer their
activities to this country. We may
hear more about this from time to
time.
An Interesting Letter
The other day I received a letter
from a very prominent English
statesman whose name, for obvious
reasons, 1 cannot give. He wrote
in part:
II see that the neutrality bill has
now received the signature of the
President, after having passed thru
Congress. No doubt it will help the
Allies and enable us to buy aero
planes and munitions in your coun-
try, which will assist us in carry
ing on the war. But really this
is the darndest war I have ever
teard of. They just stand up and
walk around each other like two
terriers, growing and snarling. I
affairs is going to last but it seems
to be getting on peoples nerves"
That letter was written on Nov
ember 9Th. On November 21st a
United Press dispatch from Lon
don stated that: Women arose in
the House of Commons today shout
ing they wanted peace. They scat
tered propaganda leaflets from the
gallary until attendants elected
them" 1t is significant that this
demonstration took place in the
House of Commons on the same
day that Premier Chamberlain ad-
dressed that body.
It is my guess that the people of
all the countries at war are weary
and tired Of it all. The leaders
should get together and work out
a basis for peace that will be perm
anent and reasonably satisfactory
to all concerned. War rarely set
ties anything. We can only hope
that out of the present turmoil a
confederation of European states
will emerge. Such a confederation,
to endure, would have to give due
consideration to chronological and
economic differences. Until some
thing like this Is brought about
poor Europe must remain a battle
ground with devastating wars at
frequent intervals.
Plan To Dodge Debt Limit
The present national debt limit is
40 billion dollars. That limit was
fixed in the Second Liberty Loan
law. Last summer there was talk
OF the Administration asking Con-
gress to raise the limit to an un-
determined level. Immediately, pro-
tests poured in from all sections
Of the country and the plan was
abandoned.
1t now appears that the Admin
istration's financial experts have
worked out a new scheme for get
ting round the statutory limitation,
which would employ the use of the
borrowing power of New Deal lend
ing agencies to help finance gov
eminent expenditures. The secret
plan calls for the selling of secur
tiles by the Reconstruction Finance
Corporation, The Home Owners
Loan Corporation, and the Federal
Housing Administration, to private
investors, the receipts to be used
to retire obligations now held by
the Federal treasury.
No doubt this or some other plan
equally deceptive will be put into