The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1944-10-12
About the State
BY Guy L.aFollette

BY Guy LaFollette
Washington Should Become
Manufacturing State After War
There is every reason why
Washington should become one OF
the most diversified manufacture
ing states in the nation after the
wars are over and normal activi-
ties are again possible.
Climate, raw materials, album
dance of electrical power and ideal
living conditions are all factors
which should contribute to an
ideal community Of factories. Ev-
cry town of any size is suitable
for some of these activities. There
is no reason for our shipping lum-
Der for example to the Atlantic
seaboard, having il manufactured
into medicine cabinets, ironing
boards, furniture items and many
other things, then have the fin
ished articles reshipped to the
Pacific and sold here with the
added cost of transportation and
ether items. These things are now
common.
Development Jobs for Everyone
The only logical excuse for not
having manufactured many COM
mon and simple items here in the
PAST is lack of manpower, lack OF
initiative and lack of ideas on this
type of development. To start
these things is job for everyone.
Local chambers of commerce, de-
velopment clubs, newspapers and
public spirited citizens should all
combine in the task. 1t is large
enough for everyone of us and
there is variety enough for all.
If your town does not have one
or more of these small factories
it should have for small towns
are ideal for such development.
War Construction Has Set
The Pattern for Us
Pressure of wartime building
has forced decentralization in a
degree until today there are small
plants in most communities where
pools of available labor was al
ready to be had. This is most not
able in the case Of Boeing opera
tions.
Great manufacturing companies
notify the Ford company, have
found that efficiency is increased,
living conditions simplified and
many advantages come from pol
icy Of breaking up large plants as
a regular practice. This plan in
reverse, namely the building of
small plants in various COM
munities should therefore produce
ideal conditions and add the in
comes from regular payrolls to
that of the agricultural, livestock
and other earnings already es-
tablished. This should produce a
much better economy and in turn
absorb our men and women upon
their return to their home COM
munities from war activities.
Spiritual and Moral Values
Should Not Be Overlooked
While all of this planning is be-
ing done we should not overlook
the very important, perhaps the
most vital factor Of moral and
spiritual conditions in our state.
We have sorry condition in
many localities when we investi-
gate just what is happening.
We fight number of wars at
one time to protect our homes and
our country from things that are
of course very Objectionable but
at the same time. we overlook
many things that are growing up
within our very communities that
are slightly less desirable. For
these conditions we as people
are to blame. We alone can bet
ter these conditions by our own
conduct and our activity in the
community and the state.
Are We Rich Enough 10
Afford Some Of These ThinU7
An example of what we mean is
the statement from state authori-
ties that the state received more
than two million dollars in taxes
from operators of pin ball and
slot machines for 1913. Pin ball
to the operator are SUBJ
ject to a tax Of 10 percent we are
told, slot machines which are in
operation in only limited loca-
tons pay twice that amount for
the privilege Of committing "high-
way" robbery. It would seem then
that within the state somewhere
between Is and 20 million dollars
were taken by these operators dur
ing IL months. The sum ap-
proaches $40 per individual, per-
haps $50 per family! And we, the
people, legalize this business. What |
a business! This is but one of a |
number Of like conditions within |
our state. It would seem that
something might well be done
at our legislature about il. a
A Kennewick man remarks that
a LOT of japs are now on speaking |