The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1940-08-15
Unpreparedness A Temptation
TO The Greedy


Senators Henrik shipstead and Ernest Lundeen
were condemned in a resolution at the twentysecond
annual state convention Of the American Legion at
Hibbing August 18th, for alleged failure to support
legislation relating to preparedness. The resolution
asked Legionaires to support man from the ranks
Of the Legion who supports the detectives and prin
ciples of the American Legion in its stand on ma
tional defense
The resolution reads 1.-THE American Legion has
been for more than 20 years most vocal in support
of national defense and the need of adequate nation
al defense is now more pressing than ever before
in the history Of the nation Since neither Of the
present United States senators has supported
appropriation to increase the national defense be it
resolved that such failure Of the senators to in
behalf of preparedness is vigorously condemned
being opposed to the principles Of the American
Legion and the best interests and welfare Of the
United States"
Although many Americans are opposed to
scription and favor other means Of increasing the
manpower Of land, air and sea in peacetme most
people do favor preparedness program and they
expect their representatives in Washington to
1t out Recent examples Of unpreparedness in France
and all the other conquered nations have shown the
folly Of sitting idly by doing nothing until it is too
late. As the richest country in the world, we are
not exempt from attack and although that situation
may seem remote and fantastic at present, it can
happen. Unpreparedness is temptation to piratical
minded neutrality-suspicious. a warming keep
hands off,"
Big Cities Shrink
Offhand would hardly think that of
the largest cities of the country could have lost
population during the last 10 years, but such is the
case, according to preliminary reports of the 1910
In fact eight of the first Is cities in respect
to population showed Philadelphia Cleveland,
St. Louis Boston, Pittsburgh Newark and Rochester.
New York showed gain Of four and a half mil
lion, but Chicago barely held it's own, showing gain
of only about 5000 Jersey City and Portland, Ore,
were crowded out of the list of largest 25, Jersey
City dropping from 23d place to 3Oth which isn't
anything for Mayor-Dictator Hague to about.
Houston and Denver got into the big Is class for
the first time, Houston jumping from 2sth place to
21st place.
Washington passed the half-million mark for the
first time now having 66315S inhabitants, gain of
of only about 5000. Jersey City and Portland Ore,
176,284 in 10 years. This increase due largely
to the greater number Of government payrollers in
tne nations capital which was almost exactly doub-
led. not to mention those who live nearby in the
adjoining states of Virginia and Maryland but work
In Washington offices.
Smaller cities and towns nearly all showed in
creases in population, did most rural commun-
files. This is perhaps healthy trend concentra
tons Of people into crowded areas do not, rule.
next decade Is expected to show a still further
decentralization of population.
Peace Parachutists-
The of parachute troops has been tried in
war with varying success but the United States
Forest Service has been training group of para
chutists for use in time of peace. This force
will be composed of fighters. too but they will fight
fires instead of human beings
It Is estimated that average of about $4,000
forest fires in this country every year. result
ing in loss Of timber valued at between so and 60
million dollars Much of this loss might be prevent
ed If the fires could be attacked quickly when they
start and thus prevented from spreading over wide
Observation towers throughout the large forests
have been Of great value in enabling lookouts to
locate fires promptly but even when they thus
located 1t is often impossible to rough noun
famous country in time to stop their spread. 1t is
to enable fire fighters to reach a beginning blaze
quickly that the parachute force to be dropped
the fire by airplanes, is being tried.
In experiments already made, the parachutst car
ries light portable radio for reporting the progress
of the fire, and coil of rope to enable him to
descend safely If he lands In tree Fire fighting
equipment Is dropped near him by another parachute
Officials of the Forest Service believe that this sys
tenn be developed to prevent much fire
damage that would otherwise occur.