The Palatka news and advertiser., 1916-09-08

modify to market, were subject to res
traint by novel and drastic process in
the courts, were for industrial acci-
dents, without federal assistance in
accommodating labour disputes, and
without national aid or advice in find
ing the places and the industries in
which their labour was most needed
The country had no national system
of road construction and development.
Little intelligent attention was paid
to the army, and not enough to he
navy. The other republics of Ameri.
ca distrusted us, because they found
that we thought first of the profits OF
American investors and only as an af-
terthought of impartial jutsice and
helpful friendship. Its policy was
provincial in all things; it's purposes
were out of harmony with the temper
and purpose of the people and the
timely development of the nations in
tereStS.
: Business and Industry Freed.
So things stood when the Demo-
cratic party came into power. How
do they stand now? Alike in the
domestic field and in the wide field of
the commerce of the world. Ameri-
can business and life and industry
have been set free to move as they
never moved before.
The tariff has been revised, not on
the principle of repelling foreign
trade, but upon the principle of en-
couraging it, upon something like a
footing of equality with our own in
respect of the terms of competition,
and a tariff board has been created
whose function it will be to keep the
relations of American with foreign
business and industry under constant
observation, for the guidance alike of
our business men and of our congress.
American energies are now directed
towards the markets of the world.
The laws against trusts have been
clarified by definition, with a view to
making it plain that they were not di-
rected against big business and the
pretense of competition where there
was none; and trade commission has
been created with powers of guidance
and accommodation which have re-
lieved business men of unfounded
fears and set them upon the road Of
hopeful and confident enterprise.
By the federal reserve act the sup
ply of currency at the disposal of ac-
tive business men has been rendered
elastic, taking its volume, not from
fixed body of investment securities,
but from the liquid assets of daily
trade; and these assets are assessed
and accepted, not by distant groups Of
bankers in control of unavailable re-
serves, but by bankers at the many
centres of local exchange who are in
touch with local conditions every
where.
Effective measures have been taken
for the recreation of an American
merchant marine and the revival Of
the American carrying trade indis-
pensable to our emancipation from the
control which foreigners have so long
exercised over the opportunities, the
routes, and the methods of our COM
merce with other countries.
The Interstate Commerce CommiS-
sion is about to be reorganized to en-
able it to perform its great and I'M
portant function more promptly and
more efficiently. We have created,
and improved the service of
the parcel post.
So much we have done for business.
What other party has understood the
task so we'll or executed it so intelli- I
gently and energetically? What
other party has attempted it at all
The Republican leaders, apparently
know of no means of assisting busi-
ness but protection" How to stim-
ulate it and put it upon a new foot
ing of energy and enterprise they
have not suggested.