The Washington herald., 1913-12-24
WILSON SIGNS
CURRENCY BILL
ooNrINuEp PROM PAGE oEE.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE
go home with the feeling that we are in
better spirits for public service than we
were even when we convened in April.
"As for the bill itself, I feel that we
can say that it is the first of a series of
constructive measures by which the Dem
ocratic party will show that it knows
how to serve the country. In. calling 1T
the first Of series of constructive meas
ures, I need not say that am not casting
any reflections on the great tariff bill
which preceded II. The tariff bill was
meant to remove those impediments to
American industry and prosperity which
had 50 long stood in their way. 1t was
a great piece of preparation for the
achievements Of American commerce and
American industry which are certainly
to follow. Then there came upon the
heel of it this bill, which furnishes the
machinery for free and elastic and un-
controlled credits. put at the disposal OF
the merchants and manufacturers of this
country for the first time in fifty years
Readjustntents Are Made.
81 was refreshing my memory on the
passage Of the national bank act which
came in two pieces, as you know in
February, 1853 and in June Of 1864: II is
just fifty years ago since that measure
suitable for that time was passed, and
and a half to come to an understanding
as to the readjustments which were
necessary for our own time. But we have
reached those readjustments. /, myself,
have always felt when the Democratic
party was criticised as not knowing how
to serve the business interests of the
country that there was no use OF re-
plying to that in words. The only salts
factory reply was in action. We have
written the first chapter of that reply.
1--WE are greatly favored by the circum-
stances of our time. We come at the
end Of a day OF contest, at the end Of a
day when we have been scrutinizing the
processes of our business, scrutinizing
them with critical, and sometimes with
hostile, eye. We have slowly been COM
ing to this time which has now, happily,
arrived when there is a common recogni-
ton of the things that II is undesirable
should be done in business and the things
that 1t is desirable she uld be done What
we are proceeding to do now Is to or
ganize our peace. is to make our prosper
ity not only stable. but free to have an
unimpeded momentum.
at is so obvious that II ought not need
to be stated that nothing can be good for
the country which is not good for all Of
the country. Nothing can be for the in
terest of the country which is not in the
interest of everybody; therefore the day
Of accommodation and o{ concession and
Of common understanding is the day Of
piece and achievement of necessity. We
have come to the beginning Of that day.
Men are no longer resisting the conclu-
sions which the nation has arrived at as
to the necessity Of readjustments Of its
business. Business men Of all sorts are
showing their willingness to come into
this arrangement which Il venture TO
characterize as the constitution Of peace.
So that by common counsel and by the
force of cooperation we
are going to seek more and more to serve
the country.
Sudden Acceptance.
"I have been surprised at the sudden
Of this measure by public
opinion everywhere. ] say surprised be-
cause it seems as IL it had suddenly be-
come obvious to men who had looked
at II with too critical an eye that it was
really meant in their interest. They have
Op6Ieu tilSlE eyes 10 see u InlIk WHICH
they had supposed to be hostile to be
and serviceable-exactly what We
intended it to be, and what We shall in
tend all our legislation to be. The men
who have fought for this measure have
fought nobody. They have simply fought
for those accommodations which are 60
ing to secure US in prosperity and in
peace. Nobody can be the friend Of any
class in America in the sense of being
he enemy of any other class. You can
,nly be the friend of one class by show
ng il the lines by which it can accommo-
late itself to the other class. The lines
II help are always the lines Of accom-
notation.
TT is in this spirit. therefore, that We
-ejoice together tonight, and cannot say
With what deep emotions OF gratitude I 4
EEL that have had a part in completing |
work which 1 think will be Of lasting |
benefit to the business Of the country"
Round of HandclappinE.
The ceremony of signing the bill lacked |
of the impressiveness of the |
Iigning Of the Underwood-Simmons tariff |
aw October 5. The President himself did |
rot seem as moved as he did on the pref
rious occasion.
After the guests had assembled and |
It his desk he noted that Chairman Car
er Glass, Of the House committee, was |
lot in evidence. Mr.. Glass, it turned out, |
lad taken an inconspicuous position be-
lind the crowd at the other end of the |
oom from the President. The President |
invited him to take a position beside his |
Iesk with Senator Owen, chairman of |
he Senate committee. AS the Virginia |
came forward the Presi-
ent shook hands with him warmly. This /
vas the signal for round OF hand
tapping.
As the President sat down at his desk
Ie said: 'I must do the deed first, and |
,erhaps 1 will have something to say
.fterwards." -
In signing the measure he used four
,old pens. With the first he wrote: '.Ap-I
,roved, I'D December, 1913" With the
econd he wrote: Wood with the third, /
row." and with the last, Wilson" The
irst pen was presented to Mr.. Glass, an
,ther to Senator Owen, and a third to
Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo, who
lad sat with the President. and the MEM
,ers of the Congressional committees at
he conferences at which the measure
bout to be signed was originally drafted. |
The fourth pen was reserved for Senator
hilton, of West Virginia, who had sent
; a.. TUt,f@. IIot,aa -rfft, ,..z,,o-k al