Gilpin observer., 1913-12-04


to make it easier for US to determine
what methods will be best suited to
our own farmers. l hope and believe |
that the committees of the senate and |
house will address themselves to this |
matter with the most fruitful results. |
and l believe that the studies and re-
Gently formed plans of the depart
ment of agriculture may be made to
serve them very greatly in their work
of framing appropriate and adequate
legislation. 1t would be indiscreet
and presumptuous in anyone to dog
matize upon so great and many-sided
a question, but / 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 l think that all
thoughtful observers will agree that
the immediate service we owe the
business communities of the country
is to prevent private monopoly more
effectually than it has yet been pre-
vented. think it will be easily agreed
that we should let the Sherman anti
trust law stand, unaltered, as 1t Is,
with its debatable ground about 1t,
but that we should as much as possi-
BILE 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 it but also
f,f,~ tirv, ,,a1ly q
it 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 pres
ent session; but it is subject so
many-sided and so deserving of care
full and discriminating discussion that
/. shall take the liberty of addressing
you upon 1t in special message at
later date than this. It is of capital
Importance that the business men OF
this country should be relieved OF all
uncertainties of law with regard to
their enterprises and investments and
a clear path indicated which they car
travel without anxiety. 1t 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 o
action should be thrown wide open.
turn to a subject which l hop'
can be handled promptly and with
out serious controversy Of any kind
mean the method Of selecting nomi
nees for the presidency of the Unite'
States. I feel confident that
| int hn UviS c
or the expectations of tn
country when l urge the promr
enactment Of legislation which wi
provide for primary elections through
out the country at which the voters c
the several parties may choose thei
nominees for the presidency withor
the Intervention of nominating col
ventions. venture the suggestio
that this legislation should provid
and accepting1th verdict of the pr
! maries and formulating the platform
OF the parties; and l suggest ths
these conventions should consist NJ
OF delegates chosen for this single pu
pose, but of the nominees for col
gress, the nominees for vacant seat
In the senate OF the United States. tn
senators whose terms have not We
closed, the national committee,
and the candidates for the presidenc
themselves. in order that platform
may be framed by those responsible t
the people for carrying them into e.
feet.
independence for Philippines.
These are all matters of vital dc
mestic concern, and besides them, out
:. side the charmed circle of our owl
national life in which our affection
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. ono,
regarded as mere possessions, are M
longer to be selfishly exploited: the,
are part of the domain of public con
science and of serviceable and enlight
ened craftsmanship. We must admin
lister them for the people who live in
them and with the same sense OF re-
sponsibility to them as toward our
own people In our domestic affairs. Nc
doubt we shall successfully enough
bind Porto Rico and the Hawaiian is.
lands to ourselves by ties of justice
and affection, but the performance OF
our duty toward the Philippines Is a
more difficult and debatable matter.
We can satisfy the obligations of gen.
erous justice toward the people of
Porto Rico by giving them the ample
and familiar rights and privileges ac-
corded our own citizens In o,,r o.,r
territory and our obligations toward
the people OF Hawaii by perfecting the
provisions of self-govegnment already
granted them, but in Vhe Philippines
we must go further We must hold
steadily In view their ultimate inde-
pendence. and we must move toward
the time OF that independence as
steadily as the way can be clea and