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Stricken Europe Needs Large Imports of Food Never Able to Raise Enough Fare for Its Teeming Masses, Old World's Demands Aggravated by Ravages of War. By BAUKHAGE Netc$ Analyst and Comunantator. WNC Service, 1?1? Eye Street, NW, Washington, D. C. I've Just come up from the barn yard of a Maryland farm. In the bam was a comfortable crop of hay and wheat, QUtside a herd of fat Guernseys of all ages from a two weeks' old calf up. Most of the chickens were already cooling them selves in a locker. There was only one thing for the farmer to com plain about and the hogs got a break out of that?the oats. "Just too wet this year," he said. For fear it would set the barn afire, if he stored it in that condi tion, the farmer explained that he "had to dump it" and a batch of shoats were leaping around in the spoiled grain like jack-rabbits. Most of the farmers hereabouts lost their oats, too. All week in Washington, I'd been reading, talking and thinking about farm products along with our other reconversion problems. We, in the United States, are going to get only about three-quarters of what we raise this year, according to unoffi cial estimates. Europe is going to need about 25 per cent more food and textiles than she normally needs. I hear the questions asked: Why should we be expected to send all this food to Europe? Why can't she produce her own? Are the people too lazy, or inefficient or what? I put those two questions to a member of the department of agri culture who is just back from an in spection tour of Europe. "Europe has always imported food, in peace and in war, in fat years and lean," he answered. "To send food to Europe Is the natural thing. Not to send it would be un natural." Food Production To Dip Further "In IMS, Europe's production was 10 per cent under her normal pro duction. Next year, production will be 19 per cent under thli year, mat means the people of Europe will need 29 per cent more than in nor mal time*. It does not necessarily mean that the United States will fur nish a total of 29 per cent more of everything. For instance, Canada will furnish more wheat than before so we won't have to increase our quota, but we shall probably be called upon for more of the protein foods, especially the milk products." Before answering my second ques tion, my friend explained the para dox that peace has cut down Eu rope's producing power. While the European nations were overrun with a conquering army, he elucidated, jyhile part of the fields of the con tinent were being riddled with shells and later gutted with tanks, produc tion fell off only some 10 per cent from normal. This is the reason: The Germans had to maintain a working economy in the nations they occupied and also they did not wish to destroy the resources of territory which they hoped to ex ploit. When they knew they were beaten, they stole what they could cat or carry and tried to destroy what they couldn't move: much breeding stock had already been slaughtered. Of course, we must not be led astray by this figure of 10 per cent ?the decrease in the total produc tion in Europe in wartime. There was a sharp cut in certain products and an increase in others. The en tire pattern of the agriculture was altered. For example, the livestock raisers always imported feed. When it was cut off there had to be a shift from livestock to root crops. Potatoes and beets make for a very monotonous diet, but they were fill ing while they lasted. The Germans organized and regi mented farm labor in all countries including their own. They main tained transportation fairly well un til Just before the invasion. Now transportation is utterly disrupted, there are millions of displaced per sons, farm machinery la broken down. But this doesn't answer question number two: Why can't Europe feed herself in normal times? Are the people so much lazier or be hind-the-times that they can't make things grow as we do? Before answering that question, my friend reminded me that it eras true that nobody always worm at maximum efficiency, that most peo ple can do more when they have to than when they don't, especially when there is some extraordinary urge such as war. Take our own case: with thousands of farm boys in the munitions factories and with the armed forces, what did America do? American farm production in 1944 was increased, despite its handicap, 36 per cent beyond the 1939 to 1939 level. Brit ain't Farm Output High But what about England where the boys were in the army and the muni tions factories, too; where farmers had to farm in the blackout and around the shell-craters in their fields? The British increased their production 65 per cent ? they were nearer to the front than we were. They had a greater incentive. For the same reason, the distribu tion was far better than in Ameri ca. Regimentation was more strin gent. The government in England bought all the food and distributed it itself. It cracked down hard on the black markets. In this country, popular opinion prevented such in terference with private enterprise. And so in America we permitted the processing and distribution in dustries to operate at a profit. In Britain, it was a non-profit, govern ment operation. Rationing was stricter, too. So much for Britain's wartime ef fort. Now, what about the efficiency of her production in normal times? My informant gave me some im pressive figures. He pointed to America's two typi cal farm states which taken together are just about equal to Britain in area: Iowa and Indiana. Believe it or not in normal times Britain pro duces more wheat, barley and oats than those two states combined. Britain also produces more cattle than Texas which is six times as large?more potatoes than all our chief potato states including Maine and Idaho, more dairy products than Wisconsin. "Then why on earth," I inter rupted, "can't they feed themselves over there?" Back came the answer: "For the ?ame reason that New York state with Its skilled farmers, its splen did soil, its up-to-date methods, can't feed Itself any more than the District of Columbia can. In Europe as in these more heavily populated areas in the United States, there are Just too many people." If we want these Europeans to live and prosper and earn the money to buy our automobiles and type writers and other gadgets which keep our factories running, we'll have to keep on sending food to Eu rope as we always have. ? ? ? Recently I was asked to make a recording which was to be deposited in the archives of George Washing ton university, as part of a series made for the use of the class of the year 1007. It is a somewhat fantastic idea to be sure, but it is seriously undertaken and I responded in as serious a vein as I could muster. I can't repeat what I said as that is supposed to be held as a big sur prise for the class of 1007. However, the whole idea intrigues me so much that I have been thinking about it aver since. The fact that this year begins what some people call the "atomic age" makes the speculation all the more interesting. In 1939 when the first successful experiment In "split ting the atom," and releasing the vast power which literally holds the world together was reported chiefly In scientific publications, as of great academic importance. One writer said the experiment might have no results of interests beyond the labo ratory. Six years later continua tion of those experiments ended the Japanese war. The forces released, however, were largely uncontrolled and pure ly destructive. Will the class of 3007 have to look up the word "coal" because it has been forgotten? Will all our mod ern means of generating power be displaced by the atom's forces, care fully controlled and directed to the i uses of peace and progress? BARBS . . . by B aukha gt H the boy* have to mQ applet this time they may get them mixed with hand grenades. ? ? ? The surrender day vigil at the 'White Hoaee spawned many epi grams. The secretary of state dis appeared at one time. The officials would ten HI nothing, so: "The state 11 l.mil. | , in | AJJt.. - a is oeptruneni noaies whim aynm ? I III Reconversion query: Win rede ployment mean re-employment, or how soon win the redeployed become the re-employed? ? ? e Don't eay American buaineea can't come back fast ? the day after surrender day a aUk hoae salesman called at my office. And I expect the rwtired auto salesman wUl be next. ^ - - Production of Gvilian Radios Gets Under Way Production of radio* for civilian tale hat started in foil force. One of the first radio production line* in | the conntry it pictured at a Plymouth, Ind., plant. The capacity of the plant will ahortly be 2,MO sets a day. This will aid materially in making radio sets available for almost every need. Production hat speed ed up beyond earlier reports with every indication that the market will shortly be well supplied. Cabinet Meets on Reconversion Planning Program President Truman calls his cabinet to consider all ancles of reconversion brought to a head by the Japa nese surrender. Photo shows, left to right: Clinton P. Anderson, agriculture; Lewis B. Schwellenback, labor; John B. Blandlord Jr., housing ageney; J. A. Krug, WPB; J. E. Snyder, war mobilisation; William Davis, economic stabilisation; Leo T. Crowley, foreign economies; Henry A. Wallace, commerce; Abe Fortas, undersecretary ef interior; Robert Hannegan, postmaster general; Henry L. Stimson, secretary of war; James F. Byrnes, secretary of state; President Harry 8. Truman; Fred M. Vinson, treasury; Tom Clark, at torney general; and James F. Forrestal, secretary ef navy. ? Landing Map of Surrender Group OBclal map released by the Japanese Imperial headquarters, show k| where lindhi paints were made available for the airborne troops accompanying General MaeArthnr and his staff. The main point of con tact eras the Atsagi airleld, M miles soothsrest of Tokyo. Following the landing by air, strong V. 8. troops were to be provided with landing porta in Yeheeaka, ssath of Tokyo bay. Navy Father Enlists Triplets . Ma their aether looks so. Charles ADea, Janu Milton and Bobert y1T ."!'r *? 'W triplets, are swera late the nary by BaWa dirtrtet. "ihe l7t?hfs*|J?-Hydf1'' USN' ?e"tor la the I After New Honors Weighted with medals and shoot ing tor the national swimming championship is 17-year-old Frances Kenney at Raleigh, N. C., three-time Carolina swimming champion. She also holds three junior AAU nation al medals as well as relay team first place. DeGaulle at Capital Photograph shows Geo. Charles do Gaulle with President Trauma, daring De Gaulle's reeeat tIiK to Washington. They are sbowa dar ing the playing of the aatioaal aathem, as the White Hoaao troops paid hanor to the Prsoefc loader. TREASURY'S COMPLEX TAX PROBLEMS (Ed. Note?la Drew Pearson's I absence, Fred M. Vinson, see- \ retary of the treasury, contrib utes a guest column on one of the most important problems of the treasury?tax evasion.) Drew Pearson has offered me his Washington Merry-Go-Round col- i umn to present any subject of in terest to the treasury department and to the American people. I know of no subject of more immediate concern than the treasury's cam paign against tax evasion. Here, in a nutsheil, is the situation ' the treasury faces: In 1940 there were 4,999,999 in dividual taxpayers. Today there are more than 50,000, 000. In an effort to handle the vastly increased task of processing returns | and collecting taxes ,2 the personnel of the bureau of internal | revenue was in creased from about ed 22,000 to about 90,- f,e 000. I With the manpow er shortage the bu- yc Fred Vinson reau could not ex- i pect to Increase its forces propor- tio tionately with the number of tax payers. And in many respects bu- p, reau employees found their work pa increased out of proportion to the number of returns. Under the with holding program, a large part of the work formerly done by the taxpay er is now done in the bureau. The processing of wartime tax relief pro visions also threw much additional work upon the bureau. Under these conditions the normal investigative _ work of the bureau inevitably suf- ? fered. The bureau has always proceed ed upon the theory that the average American is honest, and that a small but efficient force could deal with the dishonest. But millions of us are now tax payers and the honest must be pro tected against those among us who, . tempted by war-swollen incomes and shortages in civilian goods and serv ices, would cheat the rest of us. No city, however small, can afford to be without a police force. And no city, which has experienced a popu lation increase of more than ten fold in a five-year period, would think of trying to get along without enlarging its law enforcement groups. That is why the treasury is build ing up its investigative forces. Our object is to recruit and train 5,000 men. This will be no Gestapo. It will be a taxpayers' law enforcement group protecting the government's interest in taxes, and at the same time pro tecting the honest taxpayer against the black market operator, the rack eteer and every other kind of tax evader. And it will be good busi ness, too. We expect to collect $20 for every one spent. When taxes are evaded the honest taxpayer loses, since ev ery dollar evaded increases by that mneh the harden borne by other taxpayers. In many eases, the honest taxpayer has espe- ? eial reason to welcome the tax- , evasion campaign. A reputable I farrier or jeweler, for instance, could not continue in business if a next-door competitor should be permitted to sell furs or jew- ? elry without collecting excise Art or hnsisiass Ism swlilol. ? cheats the government by fail ing to pay for the services which government provides is engaged in dishonest competition, Just as mneh as if it cheated the land- a lord out of his rent or workers * oat of their pay. Taxes are Ugh, but they most be collected fair ly. And so long as any substan tial portion of the taxes dne remains uncollected, it operates to defer the redaction of tax rates. Much more than expedience di rects this tax-evasion campaign. Fundamental morality is involved. The man who evades taxes picks his neighbor's pocket. And in these times, when we are asking so much from the men in uniform, any pock- ^ et picking at their expense becomes - unthinkable. As President Tinman h has said: "We are not fighting this war to _ make millionaires, and certainly we ~ are not going to allow the black market operators or any other rack eteers to be in a favored class, when the men in the armed forces, and our citizens generally, are sacrific ing so heavily." My readers may say, "All right. Tax evasion is indefensible. How bad is it? What are you doing about it?" The answers to the two questions go together. The treasury is gath ering, from many sources, informa tion that will give the entire picture of tax evasion. That same informa tion will serve as evidence to bring tax evaders to justice. The treasury is enlarging its investigating forces, as I have noted, to handle a tremen dous backlog of fraud cases, accu mulated during recant years and the cases now piling fax. ansy and Pineapple Doilies T opnotcben* 5711-^^ ? ^ g 1MB? "'HE "pansy" doily with its 1% inch pansies crocheted in dot purple and lavender thread ? ally a beauty and the jineapple" doily is one of the ciest and most delicate iu could possible wish to have! ? * ? ro obtain complete crocheting taatniB ns for the Pansy Doily (Pattern Mm. 11) and the Pineapple Dolly (Pattern >. 5806) send 16 cents In coin far WMM ttern, your name, address and tta ttern numbers. SEWING CIRCLE NEEDLEWORK 1156 Sixth A ye. New Tart. XL T. Enclose 16 cents for Pattern No Name ? , | So Crisp- j j Solksfy ill JkJ mmi'itmiis "Tta >mw Intm fmv IB \ Dab a Day keeps P. 01 away! (*UwfcfBfa PmpiroMM Odor| JM YODORH DEOIOHflUT CUM ?isn't stiff ot stickyl lull t spreads like face creata. ? Is actually soothing! Oaa l%te altar sharing? srill not irritate, ?has light, plaaaant scant.Noil 1% small to dine to fingers or cM% ?will net spoil delicate fabrics. 1st testa in the troplrs made by an? -pro*a that Yodora protscta tolaay tg conditions. la lebac ar frr\ Tla Mb MIO IN T V B IS I Millions at people enSeslte Nate simple Piles, has# lesat peaaate relief artth PAZO olataaeat- iWa wh. Ptrst, PAZOolat il 11 iN ? late ani areas ullaiaa sate mad S?. Second. pazo ateamteS a tee hardeoed. dried amte present cracklaa ead nil naaa Third, pazo alatnM seate to radnce aneUlte and ckack atete KS^n^al^aSL Pipe nakea application ilate tharangh. Year dec tee can ?? pan a beat pazo elatmiat SBPPOSITOIIIS fOBI paiawee^ i^MllaSnlS .
The Alamance Gleaner (Graham, N.C.)
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Sept. 6, 1945, edition 1
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