Oxford eagle., 1913-12-04


prepared to report Its repyrt ought
TO make Il easiS for US to determine
what methods win be best suited TO
cur own farmer. hope ard believe
that the committees Of the senate and
house vtli address themselves 70 this
matter with the most fruitful results.
and I believe that the studies and re-
Gently formed plans OF the depart.
meut OF agriculture NAV be made 20
serve them very greatly in their work
OF framing appropriate and adequate
legislation u would be indiscreet
ard presumptuous In anyone 10 dog
matire upon 80 great and many-sided
. question. bet feel confident that
common counsel will produce the re
suits We must all desire.
Let Sherman Law Stand
Turn from the farm TO the 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 the
business communities of the country
Is 10 prevent private monopoly more
enectnally than II has yet been pre-
vented. think IL will be easily agreed
that we should let the Sherman anti
trust Law stand. unaltered. as It Is.
with its debafabie ground about II.
but that we should as much as posi-
bic reduce the area OF that debatable
ground By further and more explicit
legislation: and should also supple
ment that great act BY legislation
which will not only clarity IL but also
facilitate It's administration and make
Il fairer to all concerned No doubt
We shall all wish. and the country viii
expect. this to be the central subject
Of our deliberafiors during the pres
ent session: but IL is a subject SO
many-sided aud 80 deserving OF care
fai and discriminating discussion that
shall take the liberty OF addressing
you upon IL In . special message at a
later date than this II 10 Of capital
importance that the business men OF
this country should be relieved OF all
uncertainties of Law with regard 90
their enterprises and Investments and
. clear path indicated which they can
travel without anxiety, II Is as I'm
portant that they should be relieved
Of embarrassment and set free TO
prosper as that private monopoly
should be destroyed The ways OF
action should be thrown wide open
. I turn 10 = subject which I hope
can be handled promptly and with
out 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 expectations OF the
country when urge the prompt
enactment Of legislation which will
provide for primary elections through
out the country at which the voters Of
the several parties may choose their
nominees for the presidency without
the Intervention OF nominating con-
veutions- I venture the suggestion
that this legislation should provide
fd the retention OF party conventions.
q only for the purpose OF declaring
I'D accepting the verdict OF the pri-
fAaries and formulating the platforms
the parties: and ! suggest that
taese conventions should consist not
of delegates chosen for this single par-
p3re. but OF the nominees for con-
xr&ss. the nominees for vacant seats
in the senate OF the United States. the
senators whose terms have not yet
closed. the national committees,
and the candidates for the presidency
themselves. In order that platforms
may be framed by those responsible TO
the people for Carrying them into ef-
feet.
Independence for Philippines
These are all matters Of vital do
mestic concern. and besides them. out
side the charmed circle OF our own
national life in which our affections
command Us. as well as our con
sciences. there stand out our obliga-
tions toward our territories over sea
Here we are trustees Porto Rico.
Hawaii. the Philippines. are ours. once
regarded as mere possessions. are no
longer TO be selfsh.y exploited; they
are part Of the domain OF public con-
science and OF serviceable and enlight-
ened Craftsmanship. We must admin
ister them for the people who live In
sponsibility 70 them rs toward our
own people in our domestic Affairs No
doubt ne shall successfully enough
bind Porto Rico and the Hawaiian Is
lands 70 ourselves By ties OF justice
and affection. but the performance OF
our duty toward the Philippines is
more difscult and dehatable matter.
We can satisfy the OBLIGATIONS OF gen
ercus justice toward the people OF
Porto Rico by giving them the ample
and familiar rights and privileges ac-
corded our own citizens In our own
territory and our obligations toward
the people OF Hawaii by perfecting the
provisions Of self-government already
granted them. but in the Philippines
we must go further. We must bold
steadily in view their ultimate indie
pendence. and we must move. toward
the time OF that independence as
steadily as the way can be clea- d and
the foundations thoughtfuliy and per
manently laid
Test Of Responsibility.
Acting under the authority con
ferred upon the president By congress.
have already accorded the people OF
the islands a majority IN both houses
Of their legislative body by appointing
Ave instead Of four native citizens to
the membership Of the commission
believe that In this way we shall
make proof OF their capacity In coun-
sci and their sense OF the responsible
ity in the exercise Of political power.
and that the success OF this step will
be sure to clear our view for the steps
which are to follow. Step BY step
we should extend and perfect the sys-
TEN OF seif-government in the islands.
making test OF them and modifying
them as experience discloses their
successes and their failures. that we
~-~~~~-~-~~~----~-----
Hopeless Casa