The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-06-23

tools OF action when they are free.
4 We are about to set them free by re-
moving the trammels OF the protec-
tive tariff. Ever since the Civil war
they have waited for this emancipa-
ton and for the free opportunities It
will bring with it. 1t has been re-
served for US to give 1t to them. Some
fell In love, indeed, with the slothful
security of their dependence upon the
government; some took advantage Of
! the shelter of the nursery to set up
mimic mastery OF their own within
! Its walls. Now both the tonic and
the discipline OF liberty and maturity
rec c-ustments OF purpose and point
OF view. There will follow period
of expansion and new enterprise.
/ freshly conceived. 1t is for us to de-
termine now whether 1t shall be rapid
and facile and of easy accomplish
ment. This it can not be unless the
iresourceful business men who are to
deal with the new circumstances are
to have at hand and ready for use
the instrumentalities and convenient
! ces Of free enterprise which indepen-
dent men need when acting on their
own Initiative
It Is not enough to strike the
shackles from business. The duty of
craftsmanship is not negative merely.
It is constructive also. We must show
that we understand what business
needs and that we know how to sup
ply 1t. No man, however casual and
superficial his observation Of the con-
ditions now prevailing in the country,
can fail to see that one Of the chief
things business needs now. and will
need increasingly as 1t gains in scope
and vigor in the years Immediately
! ahead OF US, is the proper means by
| which readily to vitalize It's credit,
corporate and individual, and It's
originative brains. What will 1t profit
us to be free if we are not to have
| the best and most accessible instru-
mentalities OF commerce and enter
prise? What will 1t profit us to be
quit OF one kind OF monopoly II we
are to remain in the grip OF another
and more effective kind? How are we
to gain and keep the confidence of
the business community unless we
show that we know how both to aid
/ and to protect It? What shall we
say II we make fresh enterprise
necessary and also make 1t very DIFF
ficult by leaving all else except the
4 tariff just as we found 1t? Do we
not know how to act upon It? II a
man can not make his assets avail
able at pleasure, his assets Of capa-
city and character and resource, what
satisfaction is 1t to him to see oppor-
Ftunity beckoning to him on every
hand, when others have the keys of
credit in their pockets and treat them
as all but their own private posses
sion? 1t is perfectly clear that 1t Is
our duty to supply the new banking
and currency system the country
= needs. and that it will Immediately
need 1t more than ever.
/ The only question is, When shall
we supply it-now, or later, after the
i demands shall have become re-
1 proaches that we were SO dull and SO
4 slow? Shall we hasten to change the
tariff laws and then be laggards about
making 1t possible and easy for the
country to take advantage OF the
change? There can be only one
answer to that question. We must
act now, at whatever sacrifice to our
selves. 1t is duty which the circum-
stances forbid us to postpone.
. should be recreant to my deepest con
victions of public obligation did not
, press it upon you with solemn and
; urgent insistence.
| The principles upon which we
: should act are also clear. The couu.
) try has sought and seen its path in
this matter within the last few years
!. secs 1t more clearly now than II
: ever saw it before much more clear
: ly than when the last legislative pro
posals on the subject we're made. We
: must have a currency, not rigid as
) now, but readily, elastically respon
; sive to sound credit, the expanding
and contracting credits of everyday
transactions, the normal ebb and flow
of personal and corporate dealings
! Our banking laws must mobilize re
serves; must not permit the concen
: tration anywhere in a few hands Of
} the monetary resources Of the coun
try or their use for speculative pur
: poses in such volume as to hinder
or impede or stand in the way Of
] other more legitimate, more fruitful
uses. And the control of the system
: of banking and OF issue which ON