PALMER ALASKA. _ _ _ _ _$ARL RASMUSSEN, EDITOR.
Published every Friday at Palmer, Alaska, for the Matanuska ^nlley
i'crmcrs Cooperating Association, for the purpose of giving news of the
Association^ work, problems and accomplishments k news of interest.
Subscription by mail $ 1.75 yearly. Box j 1.00 , Single Copy 10 £
Once again we are approaching a mile stone on the road of life,
and soon we will hear the wail^'f a lusty infant that will inagurnte
the begaining of a New Year. Here at home we can congregate in protected
homes with our friends and relatives,, so dear to us, to enjoy the food
and friendly cheer that is still abundant in our land. True many of the
young men from our comunity are away,and their absence will be felt
very keenly. But in many ways we are better off than any country in
World, even tho we are at war andva terribly serious situation confronts
us and it may last for many months"and possinbly several years.
While complaining and weeping over the woes we have, is not a
good way to meet the condition that exists, still we should careful to
use discretion in the celebration of the closing year for we have many
serious tasks to do and our minds should be clear and unmuddled so that
we can face our job with confidence and a clear conception of the thing
thfet we are best-fitted for,and are trying to do.
While constructive criticism nearly always helps in any ^rert
undertaking, it is most necessary that it be constructive criticism
and not just merely carping and fault finding about things that cannot
be avoided. As long as we have plenty of nutritious food to eat and a
good home to shelter us from the elements, with sufficient clothing to
maintain health and comfort, we certainly have no just reasons for
complaint. Just compare your lot under these conditions with that of
most of our Allies and conqured countries and see ^ow unfair and
ridiculus it is to allow ourselves to get into this frame of mind.
Ton who enjoy the confidence of the Leaders of our Government,
and who have accepted positions of trust and responsability in public
life should be careful to remember that not all of the tratiors are on
fireing line in the war zone, but that those on the home front who use
their power and authority to feather their own nest and to promote
their own interests at the expense of the men at war and the people who
trying to do their bit at home, are really just as detrimental to the
nation.
. The mainstay of a successful war effort is the support and
Cooperation of all people of the Nation, with intelligent, unselfish
direction by those who are elected or appointed to adminstrate. That
the people of the Matanuska Valley have accepted and promoted un effort
to help in this effort can not be denied. And now that we are on the
threshold of another year, let us again do the part that we are fitted
for to the best of our ability, with the tools and recources that we
have to work with.