Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 1942-05-20
| RISE
TO REMARK
Editor, Post-PreSs:

Editor Post-PreSs:
What can be done TO expedite war prep
arationS on the west coast? The first
answer to suggest itself to any thoughtful
Californian. and the first recommended
tion of the senate interim committee, is
to establish some authority on the coast
1t is inefficient; slow; wasteful of time;
distressing in war time, to have all decl-
SionS made in Washington.
Mail is delayed; phone calls pile up;
it is already being said that the only way
to get action is to go to Washington, pre-
pared to stay until the action is got
Soon TINS will slow UP, as did mail and
telephone Important decisions must be
made in Washington; we will admit that.
But important decisions are not causing
the bottleneckS; decisions over details
pile up and delay our war efforts.
Mr.. is told that his land is to be used
for some military purpose. He says that
the land selected is his richest bottom
land. while the adjoining land is equally
good if not better. for the military pur
pose intended, but not so good for beans.
He suggests that both beans and planes
are necessary in a war! He is told that
he is unpatriotic even to suggest such
thing. He can't plant his beans, and he
now sees the first building built on the
ldlIu apparently SClSSlNu W liAS PiOSS
of sticking pin in map in Washington
being lacked up and moved.
Hospital sites are selected by some
similar method; fields; and what have
you. Farmers are told to use our largest
tractors comparatively yet any author
itv on the ground would see that these
large tractors are now levelling air
fields: clearing ground of cat-claws; do
ing other things besides farm tractor
work
We are told to use tractors of differ
ent sizes than those for which we are
equipped; but complete change of equip
ment, which would then be necessary,
would take more steel than the tractor
itself.
Local authority would end this con-
fusion; this lack of understanding, at
least in part. The second suggestion OF
the committee is that there is nothing the
state department of agriculture could
do today, of more immediate value to
California farmers, than to send one or
more people to Washington, who know
California farms and farm equipment,
and let them stay there, to be on hand
every day, when some decision affecting
California agriculture is being made.
talked on April 8th over the long dis
lance phone, to the state director of agrl-
OH Dclldll VI Ille StlldtC llllCl I'LL
committee. on this subject He seemed to
be in complete agreement on the point of
urgency. He raised the question Of an
appropriation of the right person or
persons to send. ! write this on the 18th
of May SO far as | know, no action has
been taken. | rise to remark this is not
that kind of war If we need action
at all, we need it NOW. We have the men
of ability, if we are, in the words of the
governor, "to set aside politics for the
Duration; we can get the money. We
gave the department Of agriculture, a
year ago, from general and special funds,
about seven millions of dollars. We have
the emergency fund, originally intended
for emergencies" of which this is GER
tainly one.
| shall continue TO remark openly or
between the lines, that the immediate job
in California is to win the war, and if !
am forced to rise for some remarks on
the subject of whether or not politics has
actually been "set aside" for the war, |
can even do that,
SENATOR JOHN PHILLIPS.