East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1913-12-02

considered distribution of its deposits,
facilitated the moving of the crops
in the present season and prevented
the scarcity of available funds too Oft
en- experienced at such times. We
must not allow ourselves to depend
upon extraordinary expedients. We
must add the means by which the far
mer may make his credit constantly
and easily available and command
when he win the capital by which to
support and expand his business. We
lag behind many other great countries
of the modern world in attempting
to do this. Systems Of rural credit
have been studied and developed on
the other side of the water while we
left our farmers to shift for them
selves in the ordinary 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.
Conscious of this backwardness and
neglect on our part. the congress re-
Gently authorized the creation of a
Ous systems Of rural credit which have
been put into operation in Europe,
and this commission Is already pre-
pared to report Its report ought to
make II easier for us to determine
what methods will be best suited to
our own farmers. I hope and believe
that the committees Of the senate and
house will address themselves to this
matter with the most fruitful re-
suits, and / believe that the studies
and recently formed plans of the de-
partment of agriculture may be
made to serve them very greatly in
their work Of framing appropriate and
adequate legislation. 1t would be In
discreet and presumptuous in anyone
to domgatize upon so great and many
sided question. but 1 feel confident
that common counsel will produce the
results We must all desire.
Turn from the farm to the world
of business which centers in the city
and in the factory, and l think that
all thoghtful observers will agree
that the immediate service We owe
the business communities of the
country Is to prevent private monop-
oily more effectually than it has yet
been prevented. / think it will be
easily agreed that We should let the
Sherman antitrust law stand. unalter-
ed, as it is, with its debatable ground
about t. but that we should as much
as possible reduce the area of that de-
batable ground by further and more
explicit legislation; and should also
| supplant that great act by legislation
which will not only clarity it but also
facilitate its administration and make
1t fairer to all concerned. No doubt
We shall all wish, and the country
will expect, this to be the central
subject of our deliberations during
the present session; but it is subject
so many-sided and so deserving Of
careful and discriminating scussion
| that / shall take the liberty of ad-
dressing you upon it in special mes
sage at later date than this. 1t Is
of capital importance that the busi-
ness men of this country should be
relieved of all uncertainties of law
with regard to their enterprise and
| investments and a clear path indtcat-
| ed which they can travel without anx-
| iety. 1t is as important 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.
Urges Election Reforms.
turn tc a subject which l hope can
be handled promptly and without Sc
rious controversy of any kind. I
| mean the method of selecting nomi-
nees for the presidency of the United
States. / feel confident that l do not
misinterpret the wishes or the expec-
tations OF the country when / urge the
prompt enactment Of legislation which
will provide for primary elections
| throughout the country at which the
voters of the. several parties may
choose their nominees for the pres
idency without the Intervention OF
nominating conventions. 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 primaries and for
mulating the platform Of the par
ties; and i suggest that these con-
ventions should consist not Of dele
| gates chosen for this single purpose
but of the nominees for congress, the
| nominees for vacant seats in the sem
| ate Of the United States. the senators
| whose terms have not yet closed, the
\ !, ,otlnuol cou,r tttaos opd tho Canli-