Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1919-05-22

manufacture of dyeStuffs and related
chemicals. Our complete dependence
upon German supplies before the war
made the interruption of trade a
cause of exceptional economic dis
turbance. The close relation between
the manufacturer of dyestuffs and of.
explosives and poisonous gases, more-
over, has given the industry an excep-
itional significance and value.
although the United States will
gladly join in the program of inter-
national disarmament, it will be q
policy Of prudence to make certain
of the successful maintenance of
many strong and well-equipped chem
ical plants. The German chemical in
dustry, with which we will be brought
into competition, was and may we'll
be again, a thoroughly-knit monopoly,
capable of exercising a competition Of
a peculiarly insidious and dangerous
kind. ds
sThe United States should have the
means of properly protecting itself
whenever our trade is Disseminated
against by foreign nations, that we
may be assured of that equality of
treatment which we hope to promote
the world over. Our tariff laws pro-
vide no weapon of retaliation in case
other governments enact legislation
unequal in its bearing in our prod
ucts as compared with the products
of other countries. Hostile legisla.
tfon by other nations may have to
be met by counter. legislation. The
United States tariff commissions re-
cent report has shown very clearly
that we ought to have the instru-
ments necessary for the assurance of
equal and equitable treatment I
recommend that this phase of the
tariff question receive early attention.
"Will you not permit me to speak
once more and very earnestly of the
proposed amendment to the consti-
tuition which would extend the ,suf-
frage to- women and which passed the
house of representatives at the last
session of congress? Every consid-
GRAFTON of justice and of public adj
vantage calls for immediate adoption
Of that amendment and it's submits
sion forthwith to the legislatures of
the several states. Throughout all
the world this long-delayed extension
of the suffrage is looked, for; in the
United States longer, | believe, than
| anywhere else, the necessity for it
and the immense advantage of it to
the the national life, has been urged
and debated by women and men who
saw the need for it and urged the
policy of it when it required stead
fast courage to be so much before
hand with the common conviction,
and I, for one, cOvet for our country
the distinction of being among the
| first to act in great reform.
"The telegraph and telephone lines
will be returned to their owners so
soon as the retransfer can be eff
fected with least possible inconveni.
| ence to the public and to the owners
handed over to- their OWNERS at the,
end of the calendar year. In the case
of the telegraphs and telephones. as
in the case of the railways, 1T is clear
| ly desirable to make OF these instru-
mentalitieS of our modern life a uni
| form and coordinate system. which
will afford those who use them as
complete and certain means of conn
munication with all parts OF the coun-
try as has so long been afforded by the
postal system of the government. and
at rates as uniform and ineligible.
Exhaustive study of electrical
i
the nation can unity and improve it,
if undertaken by congress, would re-
suit in a great public benefit.
Decentralization of the military
forces of the country has progressed
to such a point that it seems to me
entirely safe now to remove the ban
upon the manufacture and sale of
wines and beers, but am advised
that without further legislation I
have mot the legal authority to re-
move the present restrictions T,
therefore. recommend that the act
be amended or REPEALED in so far as
it applies to wines and beers.
| II sincerely trust that ] shall very
soon be at my post in Washington
again to report upon the matters
which made my presence at the peace
table apparently imperative, and to
put myself at the service of the con-
gress in every matter of administra-
! tion or counsel that may seem to de-
mand executive action or advice"