The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1945-08-02
Strows Show Thot
World Winds Are
Blowing Toward Left
BY Chas. d. Rowe


British election greatly surprised
most u. S. observers of world poll
tics. 1t was presumed the popular
war leader would have little diff
Guilty in his bid for reelection. His
defeat under a 2 to landslide
brought a jolt to many throughout
the allied world.
However, this result was predict
ed by a Libby man who has had
close personal contacts with condi-
tions in the British Isles and on
the continent of Europe. He ex-
pected to see Churchill defeated. To
that extent he proved himself a
prophet.
The British election is merely an
other straw showing the direction
that social and political winds are
blowing. That direction is toward
the left. Britishers have voted into
power labor government. Attlee,
the new premier, says that means
the people want the socialist pro-
gram put into operation, which in
cludes such things as housing and
slum betterment programs, social
security and old age pensions, pub
lie ownership of the Bank Of Eng
land, and eventually naturalization
of the land Churchill is member
of the Conservative party and has
its traditional distrust of some, at
least, of labor's program.
Immediately following the cleo
ton, a commentator, broadcasting
from London, said, in effect, that
once more the ramparts of feudal-
ism have crumbled. His words con-
tanned much truth. Class distinc-
tons and aristocratic privileges
have ruled altogether too long in
Britain and throughout Europe. The
mass of the people are still fight
ing for their simple rights They
may often be lead into error. Their
programs may contain much that is
unWise. But social revolution is
sweeping the world looking to bet
ter living conditions for the COM
mon people, If the old-time con-
sentative is wise he will recognize
the force of this movement, will
step in line with it, and will strive
to direct its progress away from
manifest error into wise channels.
Better living conditions for the
common people of Britain have been
too long delayed.
Excessive population in Europe
is always given as one Of the fac
tors contributing to the recurring
wars on that unhappy continent.
There is not enough land nor are
there great enough resources to
provide a decent standard Of living
for the people. Those who embrace
the economic Interpretation of his
tory contend that this provides a
powerful urge to war-go forth and
seize your neighbours lands and pos
sessions in order to have more for
your own hungry mouths.
That condition provides grand
opportunity for genuine world serv
ice by the United Nations, under
their new world organization Ex-
cessive populations of Europe should
be induced to move to sparsely pop
ulated continents. 1t is proposed to
move millions of them around with
in Europe SO as to lessen racial con-
flicts. How much wiser it would
be to move them into new lands
where there are abundant oppor-
tunities for the reWarding of hard
work and thrift.
1t is said Canada and Alaska
could take several thousands of such
settlers. South America could alb
sorb many more. Brazil has thou
sands of square miles of extremely
fertile land awaiting settlement and
cultivation. Africa could undoubt-
eddy find homes for many addi-
tional thousands. Australia is an
other land that needs a greater pop
ulation. Siberia could take its quota
in any such program of the shift
ing of populations. There are many
other similar possibilities for the
relieving Of the congested conditions
of Europe and at the same time pro-
vide new life and hope to struggling
millions.
But such an undertaking would
have to be worked out over a
stretch of years. A plan designed
somewhat along the lines of the u.
S. homestead laws might be the
answer. And it should be recog-
nized that settlers moving into new
lands would give up old national
loyalties and become true citizens
Of their adopted countries.
There are vast unpeopled and fer
tile lands in the world. Why let
crowded conditions breed recurring
wars in Europe2
- 49,
Says Nations Business, in its
August issue:
Rail congestion on single-track
ranscontinentals becomes more diff
ficult every week as increasing war
load moves to Pacific ports.
Office of Defense Transportation
reports that average freight trip per
car stretched from $40 miles in 1889
to 495 miles in IA.
Principal eastern lines lost TO-
000000,000 ton miles Of cargo time
in February storms when thou
sands of freight cars were literally
frozen to the ground"
Freight backlog piled up in those
three weeks was not fully breasted
until mid-June. Association of
American Railroads reports that
freight train now leaves its U. S.
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