Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1915-12-08

put them at: the disposal of those who
will use them promptly and ntelli-
gently, as was sought to be done in
the admirable. bills submitted to the
last congress from its committees on
the public lands, bills which l earnest
" recommend in principle to your con-
sideration; that we should put into
early operation some provision for
rural credits which will add to the ex-
tensive borrowing facilities already
afforded the farmer by the reserve
bank act adequate instrumentalities
BY which long credits may be obtained
on land mortgages and that we should
study more carefully than they have
hitherto been studied the right adapta-
ton Of our economic arrangements to
changing conditions.
Many conditions about which we
have repeatedly legislated are being
altered FROM decade to decade, it Is
evident, under our very Eeyes and are
likely to change even more rapidly
and more radically in the days imme-
diately ahead, Of us when peace has
returned to the world and the nations
of Europe once more take up their
tasks of commerce and industry with
the energy of those who must bestir
themselves to build anew.
Needed to Make Lines More Useful
Servants Of Country.
In the meantime, may 1 make this
suggestion? The transportation prob
lem is an exceedingly serious and
pressing one in this country. Ihere
has from time to time Of late been rea-
son to fear that our railroads would
not much longer be able to cope with
it successfully, as at present equipped
and co-ordinated. l suggest that 1t
would be wise to provide for a COM
mission Of inquiry to ascertain by
thorough canvass of the whole ques-
ton whether our laws as at present
framed and administered are as serv-
iceable as they might be in the solu-
ton of the problem. 1t is obviously
problem that lies at the very foun-
dalton of our efficiency as people.
Such an inquiry ought to draw out
every circumstance and opinion worth
considering. and we need to know
all sides of the matter if we mean to
do anything III the field Of federal leg
islation.
No one, am sure. would wish to
take any backward step. The regua-
ton of the railways of the country by
federal commission has had admirable
results and has fully justified the
hopes and expectations Of those by
whom the policy Of regulation was
originally proposed. The question is
not, What should we undo? 1t is
whether there is anything else we can
do that would supply us with effective
means. in the very process OF regu-
lation. for bettering the conditions I'M
der which the railroads are opelatcd
and for making them more useful serv-
ants of the country as a whole. 1t
seems to me that it might be the part
of wisdom therefore. before further
legislation in this field is attempted.
to look at the whole problem of co-or-
and efficiency in the full light
of a fresh assessment of circumstance
ana ol)ilioii' as h Suiue ~ "e''''u7 Will
the several parts of it.
For what we are seeking now. what
in my mind is the single thought of
this message. is national efficiency and
security. We serve a great nation.
We should serve it in the spirit of its
peculiar genius. 1t is the genius Of
common men for self government. in
dustry. justice, liberty and peace We
should see to it that it lacks no in
no facility or vigor Of Law.
to make 1t sufficient to play its part
with energy. safety and assured Sue
cess. In this we are no partisans but
heralds and prophets Of new age.