The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-03
PRESIDENT WILSON'S ADDRESS

United States has. by a timely and
well-considered distribution of its de-
posits, facilitated the moving of the
crops In the present season and pre-
vented the scarcity of available funds
too often experienced at such times.
But we must not allow ourselves to
depend upon extraordinary expedi-
ents We must add the means by
which the farmer may make his credit
constantly and easily available and
command when he will the capital by
which to support and expand his bush
ness. We lag behind many other
great countries of the modern world
IN attempting TO do this. Systems OF
rural credit have heen studied and
developed on the other side 81 the
water while we left our farmers to
shift for themselves in the ordinary
money market. You have but to look
about vou In any rural district to see
the result. the handicap and embar-
rasement which have been put upon
those who produce our food.
Conscious of this hackwardness
and neglect on our rar1, the Con
Cress recently authorized the crea
ton OF special commission to
study the various systems of rural
credit which have been put into OPP
Grafton in Europe. and this commits
sion is already prepared to report.
- liz TN
FOR MS TO determine what methods
will be best suited ia or~ own farm
ers I hope and believe that the
committees of the Senate and House
will address themselves to this mat
ter with the most fruitful results
and | believe that the studies and
recently formed plans of the Depart
mcnt of Agriculture may be made
to serve them very greatly In their
work of framing appropriate and
adequate legislation 1t would be
ipdtsereet and presumptuous in any
one 70 dogmatize upon so great and
many-sided question, but | feel
confident that common counsel will
produce the results we must all de-
sire
Turn from the farm to the world
Of business which centers in the city
and in the factory, and / think that
all thoughtful observers will agree
that the immediate service We owe
the business communities Of the
country is to prevent private mon
opoly more efYectuaily than it has
yet been prevented ! think it will
be easily agreed that we should let
the sherman antitrust law stand,
unaltered, as 1t is with its debatable
ground about II, but that We should
RS much as possible reduce the area
Of that debatable ground by further
and more explicit legislation, and
should also supplement that great
act by legislation which will not only
clarity il but also facilitate its ad-
ministration and make il fairer to
all concerned. No doubt we shall
all wish. and the country will expect,
this to be the central subject of our
deliberations during the present
session; but it is a subject so many
sided and SO deserving of careful
and discriminating discussion that |
shall take the liberty Of addressing
you upon 1t In special message at
later date than this 1t Is Of capt.
tai Importance that the business
men OF this country should be re-
lleved of all uncertainties of law
with regard to their enterprises and
investments and a clear path indi-
Gated which they can travel without
anxiety, 1t Is as important that
they should he relieved of embar-
rassment and set free to prosper as
that private monopoly should be de-
stroyed. The ways of action should
be thrown wide open.
turn to a subject which l hope
can be handled promptly and with
out serious controversy of any kind.
mean the method of selecting nom
inees for the Presidency of the
United States feel confident that
] do not misinterpret the wishes or
the expectations OF the country when
urge the prompt enactment of leg
islation which Will provide for pri-
mary elections throughout the coun-
try at which the voters OF the several
parties may choose their nominees
for the Presidency without the In
tervention Of nominating conyen-
tions. | venture the suggestion that
this legislation should provide for
the retention Of party conventions,
hut only for the purpose of declar-
ing and accepting the verdict Of the
primaries and formulating the plat
forms OF the parties; and | suggest
that these conventions should con-
sist not Of delegates chosen for this /
single purpose, but Of the nominees
for Congress, the nominees for va
cant seats in the Senate OF the /
United States, the Senator'S whose /
terms have not yet closed the ma
tionai com mittees. and the candi- /
dates for the Presidency themselves. |
in order that platforms may be
framed by those responsible to the /
people for carrying them into effect. +
These are ell matters of vital I
domestic concern, and besides them, |
outside the charmed circle OF our
own national life In which our af- /
fectiOnS command MS az we'll as our +