Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-03-29

sether and Permit economic laws to
once more have free PLAY supple
| menting them by an extension of orr
| system of farm loans and if need be
oy direct aid in putting seeds and
FERTILIZER and machinery in the hands
OF the farmer and in procuring neces-
sary means for the Transportation
and marketing or his products.
Those who have studied the subject
with a background of experience.
nave little faith in either the first or
second of these alternative remedies.
so long as the present policy is ad-
bered to, relief is not in sight but
may We not hope for the adoption of
| sounder policy and for a new op-
poftunity for the farmers of the
| Country &
The Republican party has es
poused always the cause of the SOL
dief. The Union Army was an army
OF young MEN. We feel today an over
whelming sense OF obligation and
have a keen appreciation of the lit
tleness OF what our country has done
Tor them. For those who served in
the Spanish War we have like feel
ing. Again young men. fathers, moth
ers. wives are sacrificing. Opportuni-
ties are being given US, careers
blighted, homes wrecked. hearts
broken. Again will come back to us,
the unfortunate, the sick, the Grip
Pied, the dead. All that science, all
that wealth. all that gratitude. all
that the love Of a great people can
give is 'lue those serving humanity.
Let our party recognize this obliga
ton and 50 far as is in our power
meet it.
In these latter months we have
witnessed our traditional beliefs and
ipractices. as to the proper distribu-
ton of governmental powers and re-
Sponsibilities disregarded and porten-
tous changes in the very structure of
our institutions come to pass. The
Executive in an amazing degree has
more and more encroached upon the
co-ordinate legislative authority and
the legislative branch at executive re-
quests md on its own initiative,
again and again has delegated its
function and powers to the executive
and to commissions and boards not
chosen hy You and not responsible to
you. Industry. transportation, pro-
duction, the distribution of the fruit
of the farm and the product of the
factory, the financial activities of the
whole country, our entire economic
structure and life is either regulated
and controlled or has been taken over
by the executive Or by some agency
Of the executive. Business by force
looks toward Washington. War pow
rightfully be disturbed at the tenden-
cy toward Capitalization manifested
during the last decade and which has
skilfully seized upon the war as an
excuse TO further and unprecedented
governmental interference with the
affairs Of men. There are possibilities
inherent in this spirit which are of
vital interest to the American peo-
pie and to which their attention
should be turned. Too much govern
ment is a dangerous thing. In my
opinion the close of the war will call
for the application of a process of
. decentralization, in our government.
flor drastic action for the return of
,our government to it's original pur-
poses, and for restoration of the
4, business and financial life of this
icountry TO a sounder basis than now
; exists upon which a permanent eX-
pansion Of trade and industry can be
built. confidently look to the Re
: publican party for leadership in these
| efforts.
But III this readjustment we Snail
: not revert to the conditions and prac-
, tees of the past. A new spirit Will
. find expression in our industrial and
commercial life. We shall see in la'g-
or degree cooperative effort and =
fuller measure of collective control
than formerly existed. Co-opera ton
we must seek, but subject always to
these limitations IA the interests ~
the individual.
since, the BIZ h CT .oui' party odr
country has seel a material develop
ment without parallel in the history
of the world. But we cannot blind
, ourselves !, the fact that there OK
list occa sions for grave concern. The
wear has brought to our mind with
tragic force the fact that we have in
our country an enormous unasslmi-
lated alien population. They present
a perplexing problem. We want CHI
| zens but not aliens. We must inspire
these people to become in law and in
spirit loyal Americans. The task calls
for a spiritAof Cancellation. for en-
couragement for education. In UNI
.. dertaking their solution, would have
the Republican party spread the Cos
pei of the duty Of education in citi-
, zenship and of participation in its Oh
legations and privileges. So long as we
recognize that liberty is safe only
during the supremacy Of law this re-
nublic will endure. This truth should
be taught now and always.
/ would have the Republican party
turn its mind to problems of neces-
|; sary Establishments of wage. of en-
coura gement to agriculture and the
distribution Of the product OF tho
! farm, Of. Lying conditions, of unem-
yloyment, Of invalidity, OF old age, of
labor representations in the manage
ment Of the industrial activity OF
which il is part, and kindred ques-
tions which are both social and ecf-
nomic and which will be the burning
tissues Of the next decade. The solu-
ton Of these problems calls for NJ
appreciation of the truth that TO
man iiveth unto himself: that each Of
us touches his fellowmen in a hum
dred WAYS; and that we are here no,
oIr h1lf IN