The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-10-22

tors OF this State, and also of the dis
tlnguighed Representative from the
State of Missouri, with whom it has
been my privilege to assist in the great
work we are trying to do for the ma
ton at Washington.
Senators Stone and Reed, and your
Congressman have stood by the Ad-
| ADMINISTRATION and have contributed in
a great measure toward the success of
the legislation which President Wilson
has ecommended to the Country.
"Now my friends, I want to talk to
you Just a minute about one particu-
lar achievement Of the Administration
and that is the great piece of finan-
cial legislation which owes its place on
the Statute Books today, absolutely
and purely to the Democratic Party.
For the so or 40 years that the Re-
publicans had control of the Govern
ment, they left business in this county
crippled and handicapped by an i'm
perfect currency system which during
Ill those years has rested most heavik
upon those who could bear its i'll eff
fleets least, the farmers of America,
the very class of our citizens VINO de-
serve not only fair treatment, but de-
serve a special consideration from our
Government, because it is to the farm
crs of this great nation, more than
to any other class that is due the pros
porous welfare of our country.
Way, my friends, do you realize
that if it we're not for what the farm
Hrs produced in this country and what
hey sell abroad each year in our for
eign trade, we would have absolute
disaster? Let me show you what an
important part the farmers play in the
prosperity Of this country.
Last year, VIC had exports amount
ing 20 $2,70O,GO0,OO0 more than any
previous record Of this country Of
that amount of exports, or foreign
trade, the farmers of this country con-
tributed in the crude products of their
farms, and in the manufactured pro-
ducts Of the farms, tthe amazing to-
a of more than fifty-nine per cent of
he total foreign trade"
Now, what does that signify?
1T means by friends, that unless we
10 that which is essential 20 the pro-
auction and conservation of the farms
f the farmers, and sae that they get a
square chance ami n .uare deal and
a fair place in the open markets or in
The competitive markets, SO that the
products ~ nc raDccs:'t. e.l 10 the beS
advantage, We az" gCi>E to have suf- |
fering and disaster at home, and ]
need make no other argument on that |
question, other than to call your at |
tention to the great European war,
which all of d sudden burst upon is
n August, 1914.
"Its first effects were a complete
of industry in this country, I
: complete disorganization of foreign
Exchanges.
"The farmers felt it, | am sure that
nc Missouri farmers must have felt it,
because grain was congested along our
;eaports in the South and on the high
,cas for the lack Of shipping facilities,
o such an extent that an embargo was
placed on shipments of grain because
t could not be moved from the mills.
This lasted for two or three months
md as things gradually loosened up
nd our trade began to resume its nat
lral character, and things began to OPP
rate in the way of finance a little
more easily, we began to experience
lgail the benefits Of restitution of
ur foreign trade.
"NOw the great difficulty about a
ituation such as that, which existed
n this country, is, that if there is at
ny time any serious interruption in
ur ability to supply our foreign mark
is, our business decreases and CORES
when our ability to trade
RELY with the world is kept open to
S, there is d proportionate increase
f our business because when our mar
cts are kept open, the demand, there
ore, is greater land in addition to this
on get more staple equality in the
natter of prices and a greater return
or your labor.
1T is lust as essential to the
armers of this land that the channels ,
f communication with all the nations
f the earth, On the high seas, shall
e kept open to US, Just exactly as it ,
5 essential to you that the railroads
n the land shall be operated in order
hat your supplies may be moved from
our farms to the markets whcIe they :
re sold.
''NOw we realized when we framed
he Federal Reserve Act how neces-
ry this thing was to you and we have
ramed that act in such a way that