Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-09-19
The Fdr-reaching achievements
OF the Wilson Administration

The achievements of the Wilson administra-
tion remarkable for their variety as well as
their scope, touching every field national i'll
terest whether economic or social domestic
foreign and touching them all constructively. Few
administrations have done so much to conserve aA1
stimulate productive resources; few have done
50 much in the cause of social betterment; none
has done so much for Strengthening national de-
tense or in solving the vexed problems of for
eign affairs
The Wilson administration began with a pro-
gram of economic reforms and readjustments de-
signed not only to purge business practice of old
abuses and inequities but chiefly to set free and
energize the forces of business development
Its pledges TO that and end have been redeemed
in letter and spirit. The mere catalogue of what
it has done in this field is impressive
II has enacted a tariff law under which
mon rights no longer are sacrificed to special priv
ileges and under which the country's foreign trade
has reached unexampled proportions. In the same
connection it has established non-partisan tariff
commission, thus anording dependable and scien-
tifc basis for the future study and settlement of
tariff problems
II has enacted the Federal Reserve Banking
and Currency law which has banished forever the
fear of financial panics which has freed the South
and West and every part of the country from the
bondage of Wall Street and has made the United
States the dominant money factor of the world
II has enacted an antitrust law, supplemented
by a Federal Trade Commission, through which
the problems of Big Business are being worked out
with equal justice and moderation.
II has prevented disastrous strike and opened
a way for the permanent solution of such problems
II has put into effect federal income tax
whereby wealth is made to bear its rightful share
of taxation. and a federal inheritance tax whereby
vast fortunes like Hetty Green's, can no longer
escape their rfghtful tribute to the community.
Il has begun the construction of Government
railroad in Alaska for the release and development
of the natural treasure long locked up in that
territory
II has passed an act admitting foreign-built
ships to American registry. The substantial
suits of this legislation witnessed by the fact
that since it became operative the tonnage of ocean
merchantmen under American registry has in
creased one hundred and twenty-six per cent; and
the tonnage of steel merchantmen being built in
American ship yards has increased three hundred
and fifty per cent. While these developments are
due partly to war conditions. they have been
greatly strengthened and encouraged by helpful
legislation.
Still more important in the upbuiIdng OF a
merchant marine is the act empowering the Gov
eminent to assemble and organize capital for the
purchase and operation of ships for oversee trade
and creating ar the same time Government
shipping board with duties and powers similar to
those of the Interstate Commerce Commission.
These and sundry other measures constitute
the service Of the Wilson administration to indus
trial and commercial interests. No less substan-
tI and varied has been its service to agricultural
interests. Indeed, other administration in the
Governments history has done much to pro-
mote and enrich the country's rural life.
Witness the Farm Loan act which Herbert
Myrick calls "the Magma Charta of American farm
vrhf do
scrbes as the greatest piece of constructive leg
:sIation in the last half century"
Witness the Smith-Lever Agricultural Extern
sion act by which every rural county in the United
States is being provided with skilled farm demon
strators and by which the stores of agricultural
knowledge. gathered through years of research
and discovery are being carried directly to the
men behind the pillow and TO the wives and
daughters of the farm household.
Besides these far-reaching measures the Will
son administration has produced cotton futures
act which places the sale of cotton on a frmer
basis and puts end to unfair practices that have
cost cotton growers incalculable sums of money.
It has produced grain-standards act estab-
fishing uniformity in the grading Of grains and
also warehouse act that will develop better stor-
age facilities for staple crops and thereby enable
farmers to secure warehouse receipts which will
be easily and broadly negotiable.
:. has given the country a federal good roads
act. the first ever passed, under which fund of
seventy-ive million dollars will be expended for
the development of a national system of excellent
highways.
Had the Wilson administration confined its
efforts to these two fields of service-business and
agricuIturaI-its record still would be memorable
But its achievements have gone beyond the domain
OF things economic into the sphere of things
social and human. This record is Interestingly
summed up by the Springfield CMassachusetts)
Republican, representative New England news
paper and one of the leading independent journals