Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 May 1918 — INDEPENDENT OF GERMANY [ARTICLE]

INDEPENDENT OF GERMANY

The people of this country have a lively recollection of the days following the outbreak of the war in Europe, when the German ships wefe driven from the seas and imports into this country from Germany ceased. The distress in many lines of industry emphasized .the extent to which we had to depend, upon German-made products. Who cannot recall the occasion of the submarine running the blockade with a cargo of dyes, and with what joy wCre received in this country? C The war awoke u< to the humiliating fact that this country name far short of being self-sustaining. It demonstrated to us that without the goods of other countries. Ger-

many especially, industrial and social life in America was badly crippled. But the war has another effect. It has caused us to seek out the lines of endeavor in which we were deficient and to set about to remedy that deficiency. This we are doing more fully as time passes. For instance, we hear no more complaint of the scarcity or inferiority of dyestuffs, from the fact that American-made dyestuffs have fully taken the place of the German article, and appear to be giving general satisfaction. General chemistry is .also a line in which we have heretofore rePed almost wholly on Germany, this from the fact that American chemists were not willing to undergo the rigorous study and research necessary to attain high standing in that lihe. But this too is fast being changed, and in a vmy short time, if not already, American chemists will be fully tl?b equals of any in the world.

In fact, we are just now waking up to the fact that there are a number of lines of industry, wherein we have heretofore been content to -rely upon other peoples, that, If we are to maintain our position among the nations, we must master and conduct for ourselves. We have been too deeply absorbed in what we termed the big things of life, and many smaller matters that, nevertheless, play an important part in the economy of life, have been neglected. If the war, viewed purely from an industrial or commercfal standpoint, shall have caused us to stop and gather up the loose ends of/industry, it will at least not have been all bad.

There should be special efforts in every community of the country this season looking to closer co-op-eration in the drive for food production. American farmers, live stock breeders and truckers should abandon the old hit-and-miss custom of operating every man for himself, get together, discuss the question of production with intelligence, and all pull together for a common object. The needs of the community should be developed and provided for. Where it is clearly seen that any particular crop must be increased or resort to shipping in from other points, this crop should be promptly speeded up. This Is imperative if we are to comply with the government’s request to draw as lightly as possible on transportation . facilities. The government has urgent need for every available freight car in the country. If the farmers of the various communities can provide for the annual needs of their respective centers, this will help greatly in releasing cars for government needs. Each community should also develop a fairly accurate estimate of the probable ! amount of any supplies it will have 1 for export. The communities that attend to these matters will be the wide-awake centers, and will profit largely by their care.

The state board of medical examiners of Tennessee have recently taken action that will attract na-tion-wide attention, when that body revoked the licenses of four physicians convicted of violating the Harrison anti-narcotic law. Tennessee was up against the fact that so long as these physicians retained their state licenses, the federal authorities hand no power to refuse license. As the violations of the anti-narcotic laws had become flagrant in that state, the authorities determined on drastic measures and i revoked the liceses. The action was | taken on recommendation of fedi eral authorities who sought a legal I cause to revoke the federal licenses. | The outcome of the action will be | watched with great interest all over | the country, as, if the action is in accord with state and national law, the country will -have been shown a practical means >of combating this great evil.

Happy Hooligan is in China, and it is a great pity he couldn’t have taken his brother, Gloomy Gus, with him. We meet him on every corner. He is in evidence wherever men foregather, and his pessimistic forebodings are as a wet blanket on the brightest enthusiasm.. He just knowswe will soon be fighting the Huns from our shores. He can sees no cause for satisfaction in the magnificent stand of the allies in Flanders, but sees the German hordes already pouring over fair France. He bemoans the slowness of this country’, but it is noticeable that he has done nothing to speed up operations, not even to the purchasing of a thrift stamp. He is a veritable rain crow, and as it is not permissible to kill him, he should be caged.