New Britain herald., 1919-08-09

try, as well as greatly relieve local dis tress if the congress were to regulate all such matters very fully for the Dls- trict of Columbia, where it's legislative authority is without limit.
 T would also recommend that it be required that all goods destined for interstate commerce should in every case where their form or package makes 1t possible be plainly marked With the price at which they left the hands of the producer. Such re- quIrement would bear a close analogy to certain provisions of the pure food act. by which it is required that cer- tain detailed information be given on the labels of packages of foods and drugs.
 And it does not seem to me that we can cOnfine ourselves to detailed measures of this kind, if it is indeed our purpose to assume national con- trol of the processes of distribution. l take it for granted that that is our purpose and our duty. Nothing less will suffice. We need not hesitate to handle a national question in a na- tional way. We should go beyond the measures I have suggested. We should formulate a law requiring a federal license of all corporations en- gagged in interstate commerce and em- bodying in the license, or in the con- ditiOns under which it is to be issued specific regulations designed to se- cure competitive selling and prevent unconscionable profits in the method of marketing. Such @ law would af ford a welcome opportunity to effect other much-needed reforms in the business of interstate shipment and in the methods of corporations which are engaged in it; but for the moment I conf1ne my recommendation to the object immediately in hand, which is to lower the cost of living.
 Must Stop Speculation.
 May I not add that there is bill now pending before the congress which, if passed, would do much to stop speculation and to prevent the fraudulent methods of prom motion by which our people are annually fieeced of many millions of hard earned money. I refer to the meas ure proposed by the capital issues committee for the control of security issues. It is a measure formulated by men who know the actual condi- tions of business and it's adoption would serve a great and beneffcent purpose.
 we are dealing, gentlemen of he congress, I need hardly say, with very critical and very difficult matters. We should go forward with confidence along the road we seek, but we should also seek to comprehend the whole of the scene amidst which we act There is no ground for some of the fearful forecasts I hear uttered about me, but the condition of the world is unquestiona very grave. and we should face it comprehendingly The situation of our own country is ex- ceptionally fortunate. We, of all peoples, can afford to keep our heads and to determine upon moderate and sensible courses of action which will ensure us against the passions and distempers which are working such deep unhappiness for some of the dis tressed nations on the other side of the sea. But we may be involved in their distresses unless we help, and help with energy and intelligence.
 World Must Pay for War.
 The world must pay {for the ao- pallng destruction wrought by the great war, and we are part of the world. We must pay our share. For five years now the industry of all Europe has been slack and disor- dered. The normal crops have not been produced; the normal quantity of manufactured goods has not been turned out, Not until there are the usual crops and the usual production of manufactured goods on the other side of the Atlantic, and Europe re- turns to the former conditions-and it was upon the former conditions, not the present, that our economic re- lations with Europe were built up we must face the fact that unless we help Europe to get back to her nor nal life and production, a chaos will ensue there which will inevitably be communicated to this country. For the present, it is manifest, we must quicken, not slacken, our own pro- duction. We, and We almost alono, now hold the world steady Upon our steadfastness and self possession depend the affairs of nations every where. It is in this supreme crisis the crisis for. all mankind-that America must prove her mettle. In the presence of a world confused dis tracted, she must show herself self possessed, self-contained, capable of sober and effective action. She saved Europe by her action in arms; she must now save it by her action in peace. In saving Europe she will save herslf, as she did on the battIefields of the war. The calmness and capa- city With which she deals with and ma SterS the problems of peaoa will ba the final test and proof of her place among the peoples of the world
 Must Keep Europe Going.
 And, if only in our own interest. we must help the people overseas.