The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-12-08
PAN-AMERICANISM FEATURE OF ADDRESS

agricultural industry. that, at the
same time that we safeguard aud CON
serve the natural rcsotrces of the
country we should put them AT the]
disposal of those who VIII use theiul
promptly and intelligenily. as wasI
sought 70 be done IN the admirable
pllla submitted to the last tongress1
from It's committees OH the pubiicI
lands, bills which I earnestly recon-
mend In principle to your considera-
tlon; mat We should put into early
operation some provision for rurai|
credits which will add TO the exten-|
sive borrowing facilities alreadt af-I
bank act adequate instrumentalities
by which long credits may be obtain
ed on land mortgages, and that vel
should study more carefully than theyI
have hitherto been studied the right
adaptation of our economic ARRANGED
ments to changing Conditions.
Many conditions about which wei
have repeatedly legislated are being
altered from decade to decade. 1t ID
evident, under our very EYES and are
likely to change even more rapidly
and more radically In the days i'm.
mediately ahead of us. when peace
has returned to the world and the ma
tons OF Europe once more take upI
their tasks of commerce and indus
y
must bestir themselves to build anew
Just what these changes WITH be mol
one can certainly foresee or conf
IDENTIFY predict. There are no call
culabie, because no stable, etenentsI
in the problem. The most We canl
do In to make, certain that ne havcI
the necessary instrumentaiities OF in-l
formation constantly at our servicel
so that we may be sure that we knowI
exactly what we are dealing with
when we come to act, II It should be-
necessary to act at all. We must
first certainly know what II IL thatI
we are seeking TO adapt ourselves to-
! may ask the privilege of addressing
you more at length on this important
matter little later in your session.
Transportation Problem
In the meantime may I make thts2
suggestion? The transportation prob (
lem Is an exceedingly serious andS
pressing one in this country. There
has from time to time of late beenS
reason to fear that our railroads
would not much longer be able To-
COPE with il successfully. az at pres
ent equipped and co-ordinated. sug-
gest that 1t would he wise to provide
for n commission OF inquiry to ascer-
tain By q thorough canxass Of thez
whole question whether our laws, as
at present framed and administered
are as seryiceabIe as they might be
in the solution OF the problem. II
is obviously problem that lies at
the very foundation of our eff
ought 10 draw out every circum-
stance and opinion worth considering
and We need to know all sides of ths$
matter II we mean to do anything in
the field OF Federal legislation.
No one. am sue. would wish I'd
take any backward step. The regu-
lation of tile railways OF the country
by Federal commission has had ad-
rnirable results and has fully justified
the hopes and expectations of those
by whom the policy OF regulation wa
originally proposed. The question Ii
not what should we undo. I, In
whether there Is anything else we can
do that would supply Us with effective
means. in the very process of regula
ton, for lettering the conditions un
der which the railroads are operated
and for making them more useful ser
wants of the country as n whole. II
seems to me that IL might be the para
OF wisdom, therefore. before furthes
legislation in this field Is attem pied
to look at the whole problem of co,
ordination and efficiency In the fui
light OF d fresh assessment of cir
eumstance and opinion. as q guide ID
dealing with the several parts or il.
For what We are seeking now, VIVA
in nay mind is the single thought OF
this message, is national efficiencIz
and security. We serve a great ma
ton. We should serve IL In the spiri
OF Its peculiar genius 1t is the
genius of common men for self-govI
eminent. industry, justice. liberty and
peace. We should see to 1t that i
lacks no instrument, no facility OF
vigor of law, to make it sufficient I'd
play its part with energy, safety and
assured success. In this we are nd
parttsans. but heralds and prophet
OF a new age.