The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1943-07-15
Released by Western Newspaper Union.

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Released by Western Newspaper Union.
GOVERNMENT
AND OUR ALLEGIANCE
TO WHAT DO WE, as Americans,
owe first allegiance? Is it the gov
eminent of the Republic, or to some
one of the many organizations to
which we belong? Is each one OF us,
or each group, to be law unto our
selves, or are we to be governed by
the choice of majority of all OF
us? Shall each one of us, or each
group, set up a code, policy, and
follow that, regardless OF its effect
on all of us?
Government has encouraged and
supported the organization of groups.
That has been especially true in la
Dor and agriculture. Government
has encouraged and supported the
rise of group leaders, the labor union
and the agricultural organization
leader. Government has listened to
and needed the wishes of these peo-
pie in forming legislation and execu-
tive DEGREES. These things have
been done in the cause of what we
have termed social gains"
AS matter of protection, bust
ness and industry have organized
other groups. There are groups OF
bankers, manufacturers, retailers
and what have you. The result is
that we have become nation OF
groups instead of united whole as
is needed, especially in time of
war.
Through the encouragement, or
the forcing of group organizations
by the government, we have erected
a juggernaut that may destroy the
government of the Republic. We
have builded a monster that defies
government. We have encouraged
the erection of a super-government
to which members of groups give
their first allegiance.
When the workman lays down his
tools and walks out of the plant in
defiance of the needs of the nation,
he recognizes himself and his group
as those to whom he owes first al
legiance.
Should manufacturers demand the
meeting of conditions if they are to
continue the operation of their
plants on war production, they would
be displaying that first allegiance to
the interests of their group. Should
the farmers of America refuse to
sow or to reap until their demands
were met, they would be displaying
allegiance to their group, rather
than to the government of the
nation.
All this has been encouraged by
government, catering to minority
groups even in time of war. We
have made the interest of the group
paramount to the interest of the
whole. We have created leaders of
groups that believe themselves
greater and stronger than the ma
tional government as represented by
the President of the United States.
We have erected juggernaut that
may destroy US.
TARIFF
AND WORLD TRADE
THE INGENUITY of Americans
in applying machinery to the needs
of production has made two jobs
grow where only one or less grew
before. 1t is machinery that has re-
duced costs, made increased pur-
chases possible, increased man
hour earnings, reduced working
hours, provided more time for rec
reation and enjoyment of the things
produced.
That condition could not long con-
tinue if our 40 hour week produc-
ton time and our high wages had to
compete with, for example, Japan's
"a to 80 hour work week and her
exceedingly low standard of wages.
Our American purchasing power
is approximately SO per cent of that
of the entire world. To throw our
market wide open to the world must
reduce our standard of living, with
out raising standards in other coun-
tries. International free trade is not
the solution for. world ills. An in
ternational tariff system that will
force higher wage standards in
backward countries would help.
World tariffs based on production
costs in exporting countries would
do the job.
CHILDREN AND RATIONING
THE SOLUTION OF THE EAT
ING problem in these days of ra-
tioning is to have big family Of
small children. ! was reminded of
it when in market trying to stretch
the meat rationing points for two
adults so they would cover the needs
for butter, cheese, shortening, ba-
con and other meats. Beside me
was a man trying to find enough in
the store to use all the points in his
eight books. He had six children,
no one of them over ten, and the
youngest were twins of two months.
/ envied him a family for which
he was allowed a surplus Of food.
Now is not the time to advocate
birth control.
FREE ENTERPRISE
IF WE WANT TO CONTINUE the
American system of free enterprise,
we msst give industry an opportu-