The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1942-01-16
CCo.opti11'aIs'
E.U.C.T.A..
Don't Worry, Said He.
Ware the Submarine.
Flax, Rubber, Tin.
An Incentive Price.
He is Dead Right!

ian, ANdObCi3 hls
An Incentive Price.
He is Dead Right!
A story going the rounds in Wash
ington, d. c., has to do with the de-
struction by fire of 10000 tons OF
crude rubber at one of the Firestone
plants. Aware of the tremendous
shortage of rubber, one of Jesse
Jones' assistants rushed in to tell him
of the terrific loss to our defense pro-
gram. Mr.. Jones is said to have re-
piled: Don't worry; it is fully COW
cred by insurance" This may not be
true of Mr. Jones but 1t represents
the attitude of some officials who
seem to think that, as long as we
have money in plenty. the country is
safe, even if the money can't buy the
materials sorely needed.
In some way, like that, the urgent
need for drying oils, the bulk of which
comes from flaxseed, has been BACKED
out Now the country finds itself fac
ing a shortage of the oils needed to
cover planes, ships and vehicles and
while having the money, is unable to
purchase them. In 1897 the United
States imported four-fifths of all the
it used, so says the Depart
ment of Agriculture Year Book of
1940 To keep it coming-as it did
mainly from Argentina-an to solid
ify Western Hemisphere goodwill, we
maed trade pact with Argentina to
permit the importation of more flax
seed by cutting the tariff duty IN half
1t was a nice gesture, but nobody
seems to have thought of the ubiqui-
tous submarine and our entrance into
war. There is no assurance that
available-when loaded with
flax from South America will not dock
In Dayy Jones' locker instead of New
York harbor! On top of that risk,
ocean cargo rates have jumped from
S6 to $22 ton, which is more of a
barrier than any tariff duty.
M. w. Thatcher, who has made a
special study for the past Ia years
Of flax production in this country,
sees the analogy between the press
ng need for rubber and tin, and that
'or drying oils such as we are now
beginning to experience. Like tin
and rubber, our imports are cut off.
We get, besides, flaxseed, hemp, per-
liza and tung drying oils from China,
Japan and the Orient That source of
supply is shut off. The United States
seeds 100000 acres of flax What |
We need now is 100000 acre plant
ng next spring. viii we get it?
During the week before Christmas
md the past week, M. w. Thatcher
vas In Washington hammering home
hese and other facts and blasting at |
in high office about the !
Urgent need for action. At last all |
he higher-ups in many departments |
Il the defense program have begun
o see the obvious. 1t actually be- |
inns to look as If there were to be a
lefinite program to increase flax pro-
uction in the United States. What |
have so many other commod-
ties they can produce profitably that
hey are unlikely to plant flax unless
n incentive price is fixed and guaran-
eed by the federal government. I'M
ortant conferences have been held
il the past week in Washington on
his subject and the final one is being
ED as this column is written.
So that there might be no slip-up,
n his return from Washington, jan
airy 8, Mr.. Thatcher wired the Sec
etary Of Agriculture, as a reminder
D him and his flaxseed committee,
hitch held its final meeting the fore
DON of January 10, to this effect:
Hon. Claude r. Wickard, Secretary
Agriculture, Washington, d. c.:
Re Flaxseed: IS percent of parity
t this time about s210 net to farmer.
.verage freight and market expense
bout zoe, which would make $3.50, II
Flaxseed production
lost questionable as records show.
lust have plenty of linseed oil and
Il cake. Urge program for million
cres with guarantee of SIPS net
, the farmer. Otherwise we may Il
ave a rubber experience. Don't let
nyone talk you out of this one. Fail
re in production will fall squarely |
n your neck and none other. Re- II
ards, M. w. THATCHER" H
And Mr.. Thatcher is dead right |
hen he says that such definite as
gnments, with definite responsible 4
y, are the only means of stopping up 1
10 defense program. Then we know
whom to look for production of |
lie various commodities. 1t can't be |
1T to chance, or luck or whim-not
this mans war.