Glacier County chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1931-1940, 1940-07-12
GEN ERAL
HUGH 8.
jon N SON
..!.G.Hc!'''':'
uai,.s r.,wr. vnvsr.,
Washington, d. G
RUBBER, TIN 'HOKUNi'

RUBBER, TIN 'HOKUM'
/ It would be worth a good many
.llions, not to mention great re-
Employment, Strengthening of our
:efense and reduction of our danger,
debunk the hokum about our be-
ng so dependent on the British and
butch East Indies for rubber and
l..
That bunk plus gross exaggeration
our tiny commercial stake in
lina, projects the sphere of our
laval strength far west of any line
4 defensive necessity in the Pa
aic On every occasion we build
japanese enmity. That, in turn, re-
uires even greater naval strength
the Pacific. We maintain the
hole fleet equipped for this great
stance, which is far greater ra-
bus of action than Western hemi-
Fhere defense requires.
We are truly told that we have not
early the naval strength we need
hr that defense. Yet, here we are
tttering away much of that
rength chiefly on this rubber and
. argument.
Every time somebody mentions
be fact that Bolivia is a prolific
piential source Of tin, we get
use of clever propaganda-that the
Re has to be sent to England to be
Eelted-that Bolivian reserves Of
re aren't great enough and that
hey require mixture of other tin
res.
We have no tin smelters. But why
Event we? Because a British car
controls tin. II doesn't want US
smelt tin or buy in Bolivia. That
MT good enough now. There is no
ystery about the tin smelter. To
uld the necessary shelters and
Sc Bolivian tin at once fits with ev-
~ sound American policy, and not
do so collides with all. It en-
bys American rather than British
Dor. It builds up Western henri
here trade and ties US closer to
nth America. It strengthens our
tense and reduces our danger and
pendence on distant sources. Why
II such a move number one in our
" national defense effort?
can't say on the basis of known
cts and recent surveys that Boil
IN tin would be enough. But nei-
er has it been demonstrated by
~ such means that it wouldn't be
luugh. Certainly. nobody has TAX
any steps to make it enough. I
told by metallurgists that they
N easily lick the few bugs in the
Of Bolivian tin.
there is a very wide field for the
nservation of tin. II is largely
ed for attractiveness where black
Gets would serve as well. There
a vast field for substitutes-par-
eularly glass. Finally, tin can be
claimed after original use. We
row it on the garbage dump. Any
ply alert defense policy would act
fmediately here.
The case of rubber is similar. It
ny be true-although it seems in
sdible-that we can't now rely on
ttlng rubber from its native home
South America, but it is ne longer
ae that we have to 60 half way
ind the world to get it. We have
less than six all-American rub
substitutes. Two of them are far
ltter than rubber.
Yes, they cost more, but if we
Eied on them entirely and so went
% mass production, they would
st very little more-maybe not as
uch-as the process is perfected in
:. AS matters stand at this mo-
ent, due to their longer life and
liter quality, thetrue cost would be
more. If you consider this great
~ field for employment of Ameri-
labor to replace Asiatic coolie
Dor, our economic advantage
euld be much greater. II to that
Vantage we add, as in the case of
the avoided cost and danger of
antaining an American naval
seat in Asia then all considerations
both economics and defense SIM
shrek for immediate action
re. What is a council of national
aense for anyway?
Temptations.
Now that the course and leader
? Of the Republican party is set
there are only two major un-
ftainties TO fertilize with worry
ne gray hairs-the war in its re-
1on to US and the November cleo
rs.
Specifically there is temptation
write q third-the convention
use and leadership Of the Demo
q ltic party. But, we know that
&c is no uncertainty. Mr.. Roose-
will be nonninrted by acclama-
3. He win write his own plat
m.
lhere II no more reason for .
mocratic convention than there
I'D BE- Of . meeting Of the Reichs-
to decide whether Mr.. Hitler