The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-12-03
Address of President Wilson to Congress

where we now begin TO see our way
very clearly and where many intelli-
gent plans are already being put in
To execution, The treasury OF the
United States has. BY a timely and
well considered distribution OF Its
deposits. facilitated the moving OF the
crops in the present season and pre-
vented the scarcity of available funds
ton often experienced at such times
But we must not allow ourselves to
depend upon extraordinary expedl-
ents, We must add the means by
which the farmer may make his cred
II constantly and easily available
and command when he viii the capi-
tai by which TO support and expand
his business. We lag behind many
other great countries OF the modern
world IN attempting TO do this Sys-
TENS Of rural credit have been stud
led and developed on the other side
OF the water while we left our farm
crs to shift for themselves in the Or
dinary money market. You have but
TO look about you In any rural district
TO see the result. the handicap and
embarrassment which have been put
upon those who produce our food,
Commission at Work,
Conscious OF this backwardness md
neglect on our part, the congress re-
Gently authorized the creation of a
special commission to study the va
rious systems of rural credit which
have been put into operation In Eu-
nd
prepared TO report It's report ought
TO make 1t easier for u.s. to deter
mine what methods will be best suit
cd 10 our own farmers. hope and
believe that the committees Of the
senate and house VIII address them
selves TO this matter with the most
trnitful results. and I believe that
the studies and recently formed plans
or the department OF agriculture may
be made TO serve them very greatly
IN their work OF framing appropriate
ana adequate legislation. II would
De indiscreet and presumptuous In
anyone 10 dogmatize upon so great
and ma NY sided a question. but I
reel confident that common counsel
VIII produce tho results we must
all desire.
Antitrust Legislation.
Turn from the farm to the world
OF business which centers In the city
and in the factory. and l think that
all thoughtful observers will agree
that the immediate service we owe
the business communities of the
country Is to prevent private mo-
nopoly more effectually than II has
YET oeen prevented. think Il Will
bo easily agreed that we should let
the Sherman antitrust law stand.
unaltered. as II Is, with its dehata-
Bile ground about It. but that we
should as much as possible reduce
the area OF that deba table ground
ny rurther and more explicit Ieg!s-
lation; and should also supplement
that great act by legislation which
VIII not only clarity Il but also ia
cilitate its administration and mako
II fairer to all concerned No doubt
we shall all wish and the country
VIII expect, this to be tho central
subject OF our deliberations during
the present session, but It is a sub
ject so many sided and 30 deserving
or careful and discriminating discus
sion that I shall take the liberty
OF addressing you upon II In a spe-
cial message at a later date than
this, 1t Is Of capitnl Importance
that the business men OF this co,ln-
try should be relieved OF all uncer-
tainties OF law with regard to their
clear path indicated which they can
travel without anxiety. 1t is as
important that they should be re-
lleVed OF embarrassment and set free
to prosper as that private monopoly
should be destroyed, The ways OF
action should be thrown wide open.
Primary Elections.
I turn to subject which I hone
can be handled promptly and with
out serious controversy OF any kind.
I mean the method OF selecting nom
inees for the presidency OF the United
State ] feel confident that I do
not mlslnterpret the wishes or the
expectations OF the country when L
urge the prompt enactment OF leg
isIat'on which will provide for prl-
mary elections throughout the coun-
try at which the voters OF the sew
eral parties may choose their nomi-
nees for the presidency without the
intervention Of nominating conven-
tions. ] venture the suggestion that
this legislation should provide for the
retention OF party conventions. but
only for the purpose OF declaring and
accepting the verdict OF the prima-
r1es and formulating the platforms