Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-12-03

or dealt with by the Government of
the United States. We are the friends
of constitutional government in Amer
lea: we are more than its friends, we
are its champions; because in no other
way can our neighbors, to whom we
would wish in every way to make
proof Of our friendship, work out their
own development in peace and liberty.
Mexico has no Government. The at
tempt to maintain one at the City of
Mexico has broken down, and mere
military despotism has been set up
which has hardly more than the semb-
lance of national authority. 1t origi-
mated in the usurpation of Victoriano
Huerta, who, after brief attempt to
play the part Of constitutional Presi-
dent, has at last cast aside even the
pretense of legal right and declared
himself dictator. AS a consequence. a
condition of affairs now exists In Mex
leo which has made It doubtful wheth,
er even the most elementary and fun
damental rights either of her own
people or of the citizens Of other coun-
tries resident within her territory can
long be successfully safeguarded, and
which threatens, If long continued to
imperil the interests of peace, order,
and tolerable life in the lands imme-
diately to the south of us. Even II
the usurper had succeeded in his pur-
poses, In spite of the constitution of
the Republic and the rights of its peo-
pie, he would have set up nothing but
a precaricus and hateful power, which
In h,,t xx,hfI 10
and whose eventual downfall would
have left the country In more de-
plorable condition than ever. But he
has not succeeded. He has forfeited
the respect and the moral support
even of those who were at one time
willing to see him succeed. Little by
little he has completely isolated. BY
a little every day his power and pres
tige are crumbling and the collapse Is
not far away. We shall not, 1 believe,
be obliged to alter our policy of
watchful waiting. And then, when the
end comes, We shall hope to see con-
stitutional order restored in distressed
Mexico by the concert and energy of
such Of her leaders as prefer the liber-
ty of their people to their own ambi-
lions.
I turn to matters of domestic con-
Germ. You already have under consid-
Grafton a bill for the reform Of our
system of banking and currency, for
which the country waits with impa-
thence, as for something fundamental
to it's whole business life and neces-
sary to set credit free from arbitrary
and artificial restraints. need not say
how earnestly hope for its early en-
actment into law. I take leave to beg
that the whole energy and attention of
the Senate be concentrated upon 1t till
the matter is successfully disposed Of.
And yet feel that the request is not
needed--that the Members Of that
great House need no urging in this
service to the country.
I present to you, in addition, the
urgent necessity that special provision
be made also for facilitating the
credits needed by the farmers OF the
country. The pending currency bill
does the farmers great service. 1t
puts them upon an equal footing
with other business men and masters
of enterprise, as it should; and upon
it's passage they will find themselves
quit of many of the difficulties which
now hamper them in the field of credit.
The farmers, of course, ask and should
be given no special privilege, such as
extending to them the credit of the
Government itself. What they need
and should obtain is legislation which
will make their own abundant and
substantial credit resources available
as a foundation for joint, concerted
local action in their own behalf in
getting the capital they must use. 1t
is to this we should now address our
selves.
1t has, singularly enough, come to
pass that We have allowed the indus
try of our farms to lag behind the 9TH
er activities of the country In its de-
velopment. I need not stop to tell you
how fundamental to the life of the
Nation is the production of Its food
Our thoughts may ordinarily be con-
centrated upon the cities and the hives
of industry, upon the cries of the
crowded market place and the clangor
of the factory, but 1t is from the quiet
lulSISpdCeS Oh Tie open NdHeyS dio
the free hillsides that we draw the
sources of life and of prosperity, from
the farm and the ranch. from the for
est and the mine. Without these ev-
cry street would be silent, every office
deserted, every factory fallen into dis
repair. And yet the farmer does not
stand upon the same footing with the
forester and the miner In the market
Of credit. He Is the servant Of the
seasons. Nature determines how long
he must wait for his crops, and will
not be hurried in her processes. He
may give his note, but the season Of
its maturity depends upon the sea-
son when his crop natures, lies at the
gates of the market where his prod
ucts are sold. And the security he
gives is of a character not known in
the brokers' Office or as Familiarity as
it might be on the counter of the
banker.
The Agricultural Department Of the
Government is seeking to assist as
never before to make farming an eff
cient business, Of wide cooperative ef-
fort in quick touch with the markets
for foodstuffs. The farmers and the
Government will henceforth work to-