The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1913-06-23
WILSON SPEAKS ON
CURRENCY REFORM
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE

| try, can lall 10 see tnat one OF lut
chief things business needs now, and
will need increasingly as it gains is
scope and vigor in the years immedi-
ately ahead of us, is the proper means
by which readily to yitalize its credit,
corporate and individual, and its orig
NATIVE brains. What will it profit
us to be free if we are not to have
the best and most accessible instru-
mentalites of commerce and enter
prise? What will it profit us to be
quit OF one kind of monopoly If 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 if we make fresh enterprise
necessary and also make it very diff
cult by leaving all else except the tar
if just as we found it? The tyran-
nies of business. big and little, lie
with the field of credit. We know
that. Shall we not act upon tho
knowledge? Do We not know how to
act upon it? If man can not make
his assets available at pleasure, his
assets of capacity and character and
resource what satisfaction is it to him
to see opportunity beckoning to him
on every hand, when others have the
keys of credit in their pockets and
treat them as all but their own pri-
vate possession? 1t is perfectly clear
that it is our duty to supply the new
banking and currency system the
country needs, and that it will i'm
mediately need it more than ever.
The only question is, when shall we
supply it-now or later, after the de-
mands shall have become reproaches
that we were so dull and so slow? ?
Shall we hasten to change the tariff
laws and then be laggaris about max
ing it possible and easy for the coun-
try to take advantage of the change?
There can be only one answer to
that question. We must act now, at
whatever sacrifice to ourselves. 1t is
a duty which the circumstances for
bid us 10 postpone. / should be rec
reant to my deepest convictions of
public obligation did | not press it
upon you with solemn and urgent in
sistence.
The principles upon which we
should act are also clear. The coun-
try has sought and seen it's path in
this matter within the last few years
sees it more clearly now than it
ever saw it before-much more clearly
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 every day
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 our
new laws are to set up must be pub
lie, not private, must be vested in
the government itself, so that the
banks may be the instruments, not
the masters, of business and of indi-
vidual enterprise and initiative.
The committees of congress to
which legislation of this character is
referred have devoted careful and
study to the means of
accomplishing these objects. They
have honored me by consulting me.
rhey are ready to suggest action.
have come to you, as the head Of
he government and the responsible
leader of the party in power, to urge
action now, while there is time to
serve the country deliberately and as
we should, in a clear air of common
appeal to you with a deep
conviction of duty. / believe that
you share this conviction. l there
'ore appeal to you with confidence. |
I'm at your service without reserve
20 play my part in any way you may
,all upon me to play it in his great
of exigent reform which
{ will dignity and distinguish us to
perform and discredit us to neglect.
Firm Behind the Bill.
IN1ashington u. c.. June 23-The