The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1942-03-12
MAIN STREET
is THE REAL AMERICA

MAIN STREET
is THE REAL AMERICA
THE MAIN STREETS of America
represent more of our national val
ues than do the Broadways, the
State streets, the boulevards of our
great cities. People of Main street
communities are more typical OF
our American culture. They are, as
a class, better educated, with a far
higher standard of literacy than is
found as the average in the cities.
Our Main streets represent agri-
culture, the foundation of American
production and national wealth.
They represent our forests, and very
largely our mines. Without these,
three things, our cities could not
exist.
The Main streets of America,
serving people of the towns and
farms, represent one-haf of the peo-.
pie of the nation. From districts
represented only by Main streets
are sent to the national house of
Representatives SO per cent Of its,
members. People represented by
our Main streets can constitute
controlling force in national legisla-
ton.
Our Main streets are rural Amer
lea and it is rural America that
makes of us great nation. With
out our Main streets, there would
be no Broadways or State streets or
city boulevards. Main street is the
foundation.
IMPERIALISM
AND THE PEACE
IMPERIALISM has dominated ev-
cry peace conference following an
international war. The first thought
of the victors has been what can
we get-what territory, what re-
sources, what markets-that will
strengthen us and weaken our de-
feated opponents?"
That was true of the peace con-
ference following World War I. The
humanitarian ideas President Will
son took to Paris, with the expecta-
ton of writing a peace treaty that
would end wars, went glimmering
when he sat across the table from
Lloyd George and Clemenceau.
They had been willing to listen
to humanitarian ideas as propagan-
da to undermine the morale of the
enemy people, but not when the en-.
envy had been licked.
AS a gesture to President Will
son, they consented to taking enemy
territory under mandates, instead of
direct annexation, with the provi-
sion that such territory was to be
administered for the benefit of the
inundated people and was not to be
fortified.
Japan received the mandate over
some 700 Pacific islands under such
conditions, but these islands turn up
now as Jap air and naval bases.
President Roosevelt and Prime
Minister Churchill have proposed a
basis on which to fix the terms Of
peace when this war is over. Their
proposals sound good now, just as
President Wilson'S IA points sounded
good in 1918. But what will the
proposals be when the war is over
and the enemy is licked?
It is fairly safe bet that Lord
Vengeance and Lord Imperialism
will again dominate the peace con-
ference. If so, both the loser and
the winner will eventually pay.
CURRENT CROP
OF WEATHER PROPHETS
IN LARGE SECTIONS of America
snowfalls have been light during the
winter, and long-range weather
prophets are telling us we will have
a dry summer. Such weather condi-
tions are perfectly all right with peo-
pie of the cities, until they go to buy
food, when they complain about
prices. It is fine to enjoy the sun
shine, but all sunshine and no rain
means poor crops and high living
costs. The farmer prays for an ade-
ouate mixture of snow, rain and
sunshine.
PUBLIC NUISANCE NO.
PUBLIC NUISANCE NO. is the
guy who insists on tuning in on the
lounge car radio the noiSieSt Jazz