The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-12-02

out theae every street would be SILENT
every office deserted. every factory
fallen into disrepatr. And yet the
farmer does not stand upon the same
footing with the forester and the
miner in the market Of credit He IL
the servant of the seasons. Nature
determines how long he must wait toE
his crops, and will not be hurried In
her processes. He may give his note,
but the season Of it, maturity depends
upon the season when his crop ma
lures, lies at the gates of the market
where his products are sold. And the
security he gives II Of . character not
known in the brokers office or e
Familiarity as 1t might be ON the
counter Of the banker.
Agricultural Department
The agricultural department OF the
government il seeking to assist 3s
never before to make farming an Of
flcient business. Of wide cooperative
effort, in quick touch with the mar
kets for foodstuffs. The farmers and
the government will henceforth work
together as real partners in this field.
where we now begin to see our way
very clearly and where many intellt-
gent plans are already being put into
execution. The treasury OF the Unit
ed States has, by q timely and we'll
considered distribution Of its deposits.
facilitated the moving of the crops in
the present season and prevented the
scarcity Of available funds too often
must not allow ourselves to depend
upon extraordinary expedients. We
must add the means by which the
farmer may make his credit con-
stantly and easily available and COM
mand when he will the capital by
which to support and expand his bust
ness. We lag behind many other
- vurnr1A
in attempting to do this. Systems OF
rural credit have been studied and de-
veloped on the other side Of the wa
ter while we left our farmers to shift
for themselves in the ordinary money
market You have but to look about
you in any rural district to see the re-
suit, the handicap and embarrass-
ment which have been put upon those
who produce our food.
Conscious of this backwardness and
neglect on our part, the congress re-
Gently authorized the creation OF q
special commission to study the vari-
Gus systems Of rural credit which
have been put into operation in Eu-
rope, and this commission Is already
prepared to report. It's report ought
to make it easier for US to determine
what methods will be best suited to
our own farmers. I hope and believe
that the committees Of the senate and
house will address themselves to this
matter with the most fruitful results.
and 1 believe that the studies and re-
Gently formed plans OF the depart
ment Of agriculture may be made to
serve them very greatly in their work
of framing appropriate and adequate
legislation. 1t would be indiscreet
and presumptuous in any one to dog
Matte upon so great and many-sided
q question, but I feel confident that
common counsel will produce the re-
suits we most desire.
The Business World.
Turn from the farm to tho world
Of business which centers in the city
and in the factory, and I think that
all thoughtful observers will agree
that the Immediate service we owe
try is to prevent private monopoly
more effectually than 1t has yet been
prevented. think It will be easily
agreed that We should let the Sher-'
man antitrust law stand, unaltered,
as It is, with its debatable ground
about 1t, but that we should as much
as possible reduce the area Of that
debatable ground by further and more
explicit legislation: and should also
supplement that great act by legis-'
lation which will not only clarity 1t
but also facilitate its administration
and make 1t fairer to all concerned.
No doubt we shall all wish, and the
country will expect, this to be the con-
trail subject Of our deliberations dur
ing the present session: but 1t IL q
subject so many-sided and SO deserv-
ing Of careful and discriminating dts
cussion that I shall take the liberty
Of addressing you upon It in a special
message at q later date than this. It
is Of capital Importance that the bust
ness men of this country should be
relieved of all uncertainties Of law
with regard to their enterprises and
investments and clear path indi-
Gated which they can travel without
anxiety. 1t Is as important that they
should be relieved Of embarrassment
and set free to prosper as that pri-
vate monopoly should be destroyed.
The ways Of action should be thrown
wide open.
turn to a subject which 1 hope
can be handled promptly and without
serious controversy of any kind.
mean the method Of selecting nomi-
nees for the presidency of the United
States. feel confident that do not
misinterpret the wishes or the expec-
tations of the country when urge the
prompt enactment of legislation
which win provide for primary cleo
lions throughout the country at which
the voters OF the several parties may
choose their nominees for the presi-
dency without the Intervention Of
nominating conventions. venture
the suggestion that this legislation
should provide for the retention 81
party conventions, but only for the
purpose of declaring and accepting
the verdict of the primaries and for
mulating the platforms Of the par
ties; and I suggest that these conven-
lions should consist not of delegates
chosen for this single purpose, but Of
the nominees for congress, the nomi-
nees for vacant seats in the senate Of
the United States. the senators whose
terms have not yet closed, the ma
tiona1 committees, and the candidates
for the presidency themselves. in or
der that platforms may be framed by
those responsible to the people for
carrying them into effect.
0voR TyuRRafnFv