The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-24
WILSON POINTS THE WAY


ing men--the whole country, in short-recog.
nizes that banking and currency reform Is Inn
perative
There is practically no difference of opinion
on this question The Republicans and Pro
gressives in congress know 1t and admit it
Many OF them have known 1t for sixteen years
That during four administrations the Repub
cans have done little nothing to supply the
needs OF the nation in this respect does not
mean that the Republican party has not realized
the necessity of revision OF banking and
currency laws. 1t means merely that they were
unequal to the task, 1t means that some OF
them have placed party above country, that some
Of them have been Indifferent; that some of
them have been true to the special Wall street
interests which satisfied with the system
which concentrated currency In their hands;
that those who both knew the need and wished
to supply 1t were unable to get together on a
proper measure. 1t means that the Republican
party had Wilson and had few leaders like
those In the house who could override the
servants Of special privilege and hold in line
the conflicting elements among the Others
ct is perfectly clear" said Mr.. Wilson In
his address to congress yesterday, that 1t is
our duty to supply the new banking and cur
rency system the country needs, and that It will
Immediately need more than ever" 1t Is also
perfectly clear that the Democratic leaders In
congress are able to supply the need. The only
remaining question is as President Wilson said
yesterday When shall we supply it-now or
L.,
iproaches that we were SO dull and slow"
The answer 1t seems to The Virointan, can
be but one. The time to act is now
Some of our Democratic contemporaries in
Virginia are inclined to believe that 1t is un-
wise to bring up the question OF banking and
currency until the tariff bill has been adopted.
Their opposition is on the ground that congress
should be left free to deal with the tariff sche-
dulles and that no other question should be
forced upon Its attention until the first Is dis
posed of. This argument does not appeal The
house will have to consider the banking meas
ure first and the house has all but finished with
the tariff bill. The senate will not receive the
banking measure until 1t has passed the tariff
bill While the house was working on the tariff
|
working on that question the house is doing
little. The latter is free now to consider cur
rency and banking; the senate does not have
to consider 1t now. The two do not conflict
1t is true that the amended senate bill will
have to come back to the house for concurrence,
but the senate amendments are not sufficiently
numerous nor sufficiently important to compel
@ba ,Harc of hons IN gil r.
of their time to their attention. 1t can con-
slider the currency measure until the senate
caucus OF Democrats and the senate as whole
has acted and can then lay II aside for week.
more or less. to agree to the senate amendments
BY the time the tariff bill has become law the
house will have whipped into shape and passed
the currency measure and the senate, with
nothing to distract it's attention, can get down
to work upon It.
4 The Importance OF prompt action Is so great
that the little time the house will be compelled
to spend in consideration Of both measures at
once Is a matter OF little moment. The objec-
ton to present action that will have the greatest
influence with tho members OF congress is that
mentioned and answered by President Wilson, in
his message The heat. the work involved the
performance OF that work Immediately follow
ing the completion of task Of labor and patrio-
tism. the danger to health from many hours OF
daily labor In midsummer things which con-
gress will consider and which few blame them
for considering, but President Wilson points out
to them the road they should travel. There
are occasions of public duty" he says. when
these things which touch us privately seem very
small; when the work TO be done Is so press
ing and so fraught with big consequences that
we know that we are not at liberty to weight
against 1t any point of personal sacrifice
! That is the appeal OF a patriot to patriots. the
appeal OF a man who is willing to sacrifice all
private consideration TO the public veal and
who believes himself to be addressing men OF
like calibre.
The Virointan believes that he is appealing
to men OF like calibre. II believes that the De
mocrats In congress will hear and heed the ap-
peal.
woULD-BE CUTIE FISH.