Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-05-21

II am sure that it is not neces-
sary for me to remind You that
there is enc immediate and very
practical question Of labor that we
should meet in the most liberal spirit.
We must see to it that our returning
soldiers are assisted in every prac-
ticable way to find the places for
which they are fitted in the daily
work of the country. This can be
done by developing and maintaining
upon an adequate scale the admira-
BILE organization created by the de-
partment Of labor for placing men
seeking work; and it can also be
done, in at least one very great field.
by creating new opportunities for In
dividual enterprise. The secretary Of
by which returning soldiers may be
helped to find and take uo land In
the hitherto undevelooed regions of
the ccountry which the federal gov
errment has already prepared or can
readily prepare for cultivation and
also on many Of the cut-over or ne
elected areas which lie within the
limits Of the older states; and I
once more take the liberty Of rec
ommending very urgently that his
plans shall receive the immediate
and substantial support of the Con-
gresS.
Peculiar and very stimulating
conditions await our commerce and
industrial enterprise in the imme-
date future. Unusual opportunities,
will presently present themselves to
our merchants and producers jn for
eign markets and large fields for
profitable investment will be open
ed to our free capital. But it is not
only Of that that l am thinking: it
is not chiefly Of that that I am
thinking. Many great industries
Frustrated by the war wait to be re-
Facilitated in many parts OF the
world where what will be lacking is
not brains or willing hands or or
ganizing capacity or experienced
skill. but machinery and raw materi-
ais and capital. believe that our
business men. our merchants. our
will have the vision to see that pros
pority in one part Of the world min
listers to prosperity everywhere: that
there is in very true sense a solid
arity of interest throughout the
world Of enterprise. and that our
dealings with the countries that
have need Of our products and our
money will teach them to deem us
more than ever friends whose neces-
sites we seek in the right way to
serve.
Our new merchant ships. which
have in some quarters been feared
as destructive rivals, may prove
helpful rivals. rather. and common
servants, very much needed and very
welcome. Our great shipyards. new
and old, will be so opened to the use
Of the world that they will prove
immensely serviceable to every mari
time people in restoring. much more
rapidly than would otherwise be pos
sible. the tonnage wantonly destroy
ed in The war. I have only to sug-
gest that there are many points at
which We can facilitate American
enterprise in foreign trade by oppor-
tune legislation and make it easy for
American merchants to go where
they will be welcomed as friends
rather than as dreaded antagonists.
America has a great and honorable
service to perform in bringing the
commercial and industrial undertake
ings of the world back to their old
scope and swing again, and putting
solid structure Of credit under
them. All our legislation should De
friendly to such plans and purposes.
and credit and enterprise alike
will be quickened by timely and
helpful legislation with rega.1 to
taxation. I hope that re Congress
will find it possible to undertake an
early reconsideration Of Federal
taxes in order to make our system Of
taxation more simple and easy Of
administration and the taxes them
selves as little burdensome as they
can be made and vet suffice to SUD-
port the government and meet all its
obligations. The figures to which
those obligations have arisen are
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