Milford chronicle., 1946-03-22

FRIDAY, MARCll 22, 1916
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH has from
very ancient times observed a period of 10
days at this time of year, as preparation
for the celebration of Easter. The custom has
been so ancient and persistent because it has
been felt to produce results in the improve
ment of character and the turning of peoples
thoughts to the deeper meanings of life
The fundamental idea of Lent has been
that people should repent of their sins and
errors, and that their spiritual life would be
promoted if they made some sort of Sacri-
flee. The period is not observed nearly so
strictly in these times as in former years,
but it is an occasion when the churches make
4 special effort to turn the thoughts of the
people toward higher things and direct their
attention to the real meanings Of life.
1t is a time when people can we'll ask
what they were sent into the world for
what purpose the Divine power had in mind
when it put them here, how far they are full
filling that purpose what is the meaning of
the experience we call DEATH what becomes
of us when we pass from this scene and what
we can do to conform to the aims of the
Creator.
Many people feel they do not have any
need for repentance, and they are doing
about as well as they can in this world Of
mystery. 1t will not hurt people any to ask
themselves seriously, if they are doing their
full duty, if they are making sufficient eff
fort to be just and fair and generous and
friendly, and to treat the world as they would
like to be treated themselves thus following
the golden rule laid down by Jesus.
ALTHOUGH FINANCIALLY SOUND at
present the average farmer would be much
happier If he could get Il new tractor new
machinery and be assured Of reasonably
secure tomorrow AS always, his chief 1916
concerns are the weather and farm prices
His world revolves about that dual axis in
good years and bad. But the concern which
ranks next on his worry list is shared with
city residents. 1t is imitation. After making
good money for several years, he is concern
ed with maintaining the purchasing value Of
the dollars which have rolled in. The farm
erS' qualmS over runaway imitation are very
real After the 1929 crash, for instance, the
prices paid for farm goods skidded much low
er than the prices of the things he had to
buy. In addition depresson-struck city dwell
lers flocked back to the family homestead at
time when it was ill-equipped to support
them. The farmer knows the same thing
could happen again and the knowledge has
made him cautious.
During the past several years he has been
paying off his debts and saving his surplus
cash. Mortgages are being paid off far in
advance of schedule. He has resisted, in most
NaSeS, the temptation to expand land hold
mgS at mfatlOnary prices. He has been aided
by the fact that his savings have increased
faster than living COSTS And, in sharp con-
trast to the skttish performance of financial
markets, the market for his products remains
bullSh Selling prices continually press
against ceilings and he is assured of a ready
and eager market for an indefinite period
lie can thus WOrry about his less rosy long
term prospects in shOrt-term comfort-if in
fiatlon is held within bounds
&~oN~
1T is INTERESTING to observe the con-
trasting approaches to similar problems in
this country and England, now that England
has become socialist state In England each
new problem immediately is met by gov
ernment action-usualy entaiIing further ex-
tension of government controls.
Socializing the English coal mines is typi-
cal. Coal mining in Britain is up against
some tough problems that mere change of
ownership won't solve. And vet news reports
indicate Specialization is to be the cure-aI
Apparently the main concern hereafter will
be the division of earnings from the mines
if any.
In this country the situation is different.
The American coal mines must get out and
hustle-they are private enterprise operating
IN competition with other private enterprise.
They must sell coal in competition with other
fuels, or go out of business There are no
taxpayers to make up the difference for them.
If there is loss. To increase sales of coal
they are pursuing an aggressive research
program to devise and promote more eff
cient methods of burning coal, and to make
coal more convenient to USE
American consumers will take these ef
forts of the coal industry as a matter of
course Research and progress are charac-
terlStlcs of all industry in this country. But
suppose our coal industry became the prop
erty of government which considered it no
longer necessary to meet competition. About
the first thing that would be eliminated would
be the headache of promoting sales through
scientific development
Stagnation is one of the prices of gov
ernment in business-the consumer pays it.