The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1940-06-27

Only Production
Will Give Prosperity
Jobs cannot be made by reduc-
ing production" E. B. Winter, Miles
City, president, told the 3lst an
nual convention of the Montana AS
ISOLATION of County Commissioners
at its opening session in Havre last
week, pointing out that construction
of new things means jobs for all.
Let us not get behind any pro-
gram that is not sound" he contin-
ued. "A program is certainly not
sound that is not self-supporting.
Only production will give us pros
perity and happiness. Only produc-
ton will create and maintain jobs
!. Let US begin by putting both
men and machines to work. Gov
eminent made jobs at inadequate
wages are not SO good Therefore,
why not try private employment for
while, and give the employer of
labor a credit the same as we do on
our income tax for dependents.
President Winter, in his address
to the convention, pleaded that pol
tics be taken out of relief. He
urged that the duties Of the county
commissioners are far reaching in
effects on the community. These
county boards are not only the ex-
ecutives but also the fiscal agents
Of the county. They purchase coun-
ty supplies, levy county taxes, es-
tablish, construct and maintain
county roads and bridges and while
they have always been responsible
for the poor md INDECENT OF the
county, Under the recent federal
and state acts, they are now tex-of-
ficio' members of the welfare
board. God help them"
Let us see what ex-officio'
means he continued, "Mr. Web
ster says, BY virtue of or because
of office or position In common
parlance, ex-officio may be inter
preted to mean Soft Rubber
Stamps Men who because of po-
sition must constantly do what
someone else tells them to do. There
is no question but what social serv-
ice demands highly trained men ana
women.
Therefore, why make them the
ex-officio partners :. when they
have no training i. 1nasmuch as
we are the silent partners in this
partnership, we firmly believe that
this welfare act should be stream
lined by federal and state tax,
with the federal and state govern
ments in charge. Let those who do
the telling assume the responsibility
and leave the general relief to the
counties the same as always. Let
the responsibility remain to the au-
thorities who do the telling
The issue must me faced If
we are all going to demand secur-
ity at someone elseis expense, there
can be none for anybody. Is there
security for property, freedom of the
individual or even high standard
Of material living in Germany Italy
or Russia? Is there security for the
other nations they menace? Above
all, is there, with their suppression
Of news and discussion, any security
for progress in the future? What
started as a demand in one for or
other security has ended in insecur-
ity, war, mental stagnation and NOR
al degradation.
We have everything" continued
the president, everything in this
In a ~
decent society possible, except this
sense to- realize that we are living
in changed world in which all OF
us have to change somewhat.
Therefore it should be the de-
termination of every county officer
to give the people efficient
economical service, at the same time
cultivating the ability to say mo- in
order to maintain an even keel
Every community" he concluded
through its civic groups, and other
public spirited organizations should
study carefully what good county
government can mean to every com
munity in Montana. They should
study the problems Of the county
boards and uphold them in their eff
forts to perform efficient and eco
nomical service. They should re
member that they as citizens, as vel
as the public Official, have the re
sponsibility to discharge and theii
efforts should be constructive anc
not merely disgruntled cavilling.
John G. Brown, Helena, counse
for the association. in a brief i'm
promptu address urged again ant
again that administration of relic
should be removed as far as pos
sible from centralized power an,
placed as far as possible in the hand
OF local groups am one o
those who holds the view that it
terrible thing when those who ar
on the other side of society shoul
ever be placed in the position wher
1 Ex h