The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1906-12-07

GLIDING In this term all industrial edu.
cation, from that which fits a man to
be a good mechanic. a good carpenter
or blacksmith to that which fits q man
to do the greatest engineering feat.
The skilled mechanic. the skilled work.
man. can best become such by tech.
meal Industrial education. The far
reaching usefulness of Institutes of
technology and schools of mines or of
engineering is now universally ac.
knowledged. and no less far reaching
Is the effect Of q good building or me-
chanical trades school. textile or
matchmaking or engraving school.
| In every possible way we should help
the wageworker who tolls with his
hands and who must 1--WE hope in n
constantly increasing measure) also
toll with his brain. Under the constitu.
ton the national legislature can do but
little of direct Importance for his wei.
fare save where he is engaged In work
which permits it to act under the in.
terstate commerce clause of the cons ii,
tuition, and this is one reason why !
SO earnestly hope that both the legis.
lative and judicial branches of the gov,
eminent will construe this clause of
the constitution in the broadcast posi-.
BILE manner.
| The Farmer.
The only other persons whose wei
fare Is as vital to the welfare of the
whole country as is the welfare Of the
wageworkers are the tillers of the soil
the farmers.
! Several factors must cooperate In
the improvement Of the farmers con
| dition. He must have the chance to
be educated in the widest possible
sense, in the sense which keeps ever in
view the intimate relationship between
the theory Of education and the facts
Of life.
Organization has become necessary
in the business world, and it has &C.
complished much for good in the world
| of labor. 1t is no less necessary for
farmers. Such a movement as the
grange movement is good in itself and
is capable of we'll nigh infinite fur
Their extension for good so long as it is
kept to it's own legitimate business
| The benefits to be derived by the as
ISOLATION Of farmers for mutual adj
vantage are partly economic and part
ly sociological.
Irrigation and Forest Preservation.
| Much Is now being done for the
states Of the Rocky mountains and
| great plains through the development
| of the national policy of irrigation and
forest preservation. No government
policy for the betterment of our inter
| nal conditions has been more fruitful
of good than this.
| Divorce Legislation.
| am well aware Of how difficult 1t Is
to pass q constitutional amendment
Nevertheless. in my judgment. the
whole question of marriage and di-
vorce should be relegated to the au-
thority of the national congress. The
change would be good from every
standpoint. In particular 1t would be
good becauce 1t would confer on the
congress the power at once to deal
radically and efficiently with polygamy
| and this should be done whether or
not marriage and divorce are dealt
with. 1t is neither safe nor proper to
leave the question of polygamy to be
dealt with by the several states.
| Merchant Marine.
Let me once again call the attention
of the congress to two subjects con-
corning which have frequently be-
fore communicated with them. One is
the question of developing American
shipping l. trust that a law embody-
| ing in substance the views or a major
| part of the views expressed in the re-
| port on this subject laid before the
| house at its last session will be passed
1t seems to me that the proposed meas.
ure is as nearly unobjectionable as any
| can be.
| The Currency.
especially call your attention to the
second subject, the condition of our
| currency laws. The national bank act
| has ably served great purpose in aid
| ing the enormous business develop
| ment of the country, and within ten
/
circulation per capita from $21.41 to
| $33. For several years evidence has
| been accommodating that additional leg
| islaton is needed The recurrence of
| each crop season emphasizes the de-
fects of the present laws. There must
| soon be revision of them. because
| to leave them as they are means to in
cur liability Of business disaster. Since
your body adjourned there has been Il
| fluctuation in the interest on call
money from > per cent to so per cent,
and the fluctuation was even greater
| during the preceding six months. The
secretary of the treasury had to step
i'm and by wise action put II stop to the
most violent period of oscillation.
I do not press any especial plan. Va
rious plans have recently been pro.
posed by expert committees of bank.
ers. Among the plans which are posi-.
bly, feasible and which certainly should
| receive your consideration is that re-
peatedly brought TO your attention by
the present secretary of the treasury,
the essential features of which have
| been approved by many prominent
bankers and business men. According
| to this plan. national banks should be
| permitted to issue Il specified proper
ton of their capital in notes of n given
kind, the Issue to be taxed at so hig,
rate as to drive the notes back when