The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1944-01-06

December 8, l943. -
Let it be understood at the
ntset that the conclusions set
firth in this paper will be un-
acceptable to those who believe
4 is in the national interest to
encourage and foster production
N foreign countries, for impor-
ntion into the United States, Of
AGRICULTURAL commodities which
with adaptation and encourage
ment can be produced within
our own boundaries. The con-
] ja,sions reached will be unaccept-
~@ to those who believe in an
economy of scarcity rather than
one of production and obviously
also to those who believe we are
not to face some acute problems
regionally and nationally in sup
plying our postwar food and fibre
requirements. My conclusions will
not be agreed to by those who
believe that we can spend our
selves out of any economic or UNI
employment maladjustment on
borrowed money expended on un-
regenerative, make-work projects.
Finally, do not expect confirma-
ton of my conclusions by those
who hold that a solution Of world
problems after the war has a
preferred claim on our brains and
money over the task of building
prosperous, productive and
powerful United States. -
The views / shall express and
the program recommend will
only find favor with those who
hold views Numerically opposed
ito those just stated.
AT this point let met set the
record straight. I am not an iso-
Ilationist but / am nationalist
first and an internationalist Sec
Iond. refuse to sit in an ivory
tower and dream up grandiose
schemes for lettering the lot the
world over of so-called common
men-whoever they are with the
.swledge that the foundation of
own ivory tower is insecure
land may collapse at any time. To
further clarity my position: There
sare two schools of thought about
how to be a good neighbor. One
lis to let your own house remain
lin poor repair with an ill-kept
yard, while telling your neigh
Dor how to keep up his house and
yard and, if necessary, provide
him the help and the funds to
do it. The other school-and I
belong to that school that
you should paint and repair your
house and trim your own grass
and shrubbery, then and then
only, if you have surplus time
and means, are you in position
70 begin on your neighbours house
and yard. I believe the power
Of example is greater than words
no matter how finely phrased.
You are no doubt by this time
thinking, what has all this to do
With the topic Postwar Develop
nent of Irrigation in the West'?"
My answer is that decision to pro-
iced with any extensive program
Of utilizing our arid lands through
construction of irrigation works in
the postwar era must be based up
Aon acceptance of the following
Premises:
l. That it is good economics,
common sense and sound business
10 produce so far asspossible our
lsEnt and future food and fibre
requirements in this country.
2. That the change-over from
4 war to a peacetime economy
will test severely the brains and
zarawn and financial resources of
3his country. That effecting such
aehange-over without widespread
3aslocation of established business
and chaotic unemployment and fl
4aancial conditions is our number
ae problem and responsibility
Father than world rehabilitation.
8. That sound International re-
Halonships must be based upon
solvent, stable and satisfactory
aahonal economy in this country.
4. That deficit spending must
0me to stop somewhere; con-
squently public works programs
obsorb unemployment and slim
uate business should be, so far
possible, regenerative in char
S1er and self-liquidating as to
apltal expenditures.
however you may disagree in
elall, agreement with these gen.
a principles is necessary if you
VETO endorse a program for re-
dmlng western arid lands by
n1gation as economically desir-
rue and sound business invest
sat In the postwar period.
NOW to get down to the SUBJ
get assigned.
Safeful reconnaissance and en-
aeerlng investigation, principally
~ me Federal Bureau of Reclaim
: a.s@ has disclosed the existence
~ Visible projects which would
10 about 20 million irrigable