West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-06-22
MERCHANT MARINE.


subject to many unnecessary and vex.
atious obstacles I'm the way OF legisla.
ton of Republican Congresses. Until
the recent Democratic tarifr legisla.
ton IL was hampered by unreasonable
burdens of taxation. Until the recent
banking legislation Il had at it's dis
posal few of the necessary instrumen.
taltties OF international credit and ex-
change. Until the formulation OF the
pending act 10 promote the construc-
tion OF merchant marine, Il lacked
even the prospect of adequate carri-
age by sea.
We heartily indorse the purposes
and policy OF the pending Shipping
Bill and favor all such additional
measures of constructive or remedial
legislation az may be necessary TO re-
store our flag to the seas and to pro-
vide further facilities for our foreign
commerce. particularly such laws as
may be made TO remove unfair condi-
tons of comctition i'm the dealings OF
American merchants and producers
with competitors in foreign markets.
CONSERVATION
For the safeguarding and quicken
ing of the life of our own people. we
favor the conservation and develop
ment of the natural resources of the
country by means OF policy which
shall be positive rather than mega
tive, "A policy which shall not with
hold such resources from development
but which while permitting and en-
couraging their use. shall prevent
both waste and monopoly I'm their ex
ploitation. and we earnestly favor the
passage OF acts which will accomplish
these objects, and we reaffirm the de-
claration of the platform OF 1912 on
this subject. The policy of reclaiming
our arid lands should be steadily ad-
hered to.
THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE
FARMER
We favor the vigorous prosecution
OF investigation and plans to render
agriculture more profitable and coun-
try life more health, comfortable and
attractive, and we believe that this
should be dominant aim of the ma
tion as well as of the states. with all
its recent Improvement, farming still
lags behind other occupations I'm de-
velopment as business. and the ad-
yantages OF an advancing civilization
have not accrued TO rural communi-
ties in fair proportion.
Much has been accomplished in this
field under the present administration
far more than under any previous
administration. In the Federal Re
serve Act OF the last Congress and the
Rural Credits Act OF the present Con
gress the machinery has been created
which Will make credit available TO
the farmer constantly and readily,
and he has at last been put upon n
footing OF equality with the merchant
and the manufacturer I'm securing the
capital necessary to carry on his en-
terprises. Grades and standards nee
essary to the intelligent and success
ful conduct OF the business Of agricul-
ture have also been established, or are
In the course OF establishment by law.
The long needed Cotton Futures Act,
passed by the Sixty-third Congress, has
now been in successful operation for
nearly two years. A Grain Grades
bill, long needed, and Permisslve
Warehouse bill intended to provide
better storage facilities and to enable
the farmer to obtain certificates upon
which he may secure advances of
money, have been passed by the House
Of Representatives, have been favor
ably reported to the Senate and will
probably become law during the pres
ent session of Congress. Both Houses
have passed a good roads measure,
which will be OF far reaching benefit
TO all agricultural communities
Above all, the most extraordinary
and significant progress has been
made under the direction OF the de-
partment Of agriculture, in extending
and pcrfecting practical farm demon
stration work. which is so rapidly sub
stituting scientific for empirical farm
ing But 10 is also necessary that
rural activities should be better di-
rected through cooperation and or
ganizaiion. that unfair methods OF
competition should be eliminated. and
the conditions requisite for the just
orderly and economical marketing OF
farm products created We approve
the Democratic administration for
having emphatically directed atten-
ton for the first time TO the essential
interests of agriculture involved iu
farm marketing and finance. for ere
ating the office OF markets and rural
organization in connection with the
department OF agriculture, and for ex-
tending the cooperative machinery
necessary for conveying information
TO farmers by means Of demonstra-
tions We favor continued liberal pro.
vision not only for the benefit Of pro.
duction. but also for the study and
solution OF problems Of farm market
ing and finance, and for the extension
OF existing agencies for improvini
country life
GOOD ROADS
The happiness. comfort and prosper
fly OF rural life and the development
Of the city are alike conserved by th
construction Of public highways W