The Washington times., 1919-12-02

dependence upon German supplies be-
fore the war made the Interruption
of trade a cause OF exceptional eco
nomic disturbance. The close rela.
ton between the manufacture of dye
stuns, on the one hand. and Of explo-
sives and poisonous gases. on the
other, moreover, has given the Indus
try an exceptional significance and
value. Although the United States
viii gladly and unhesitstingly join In
the program of international dis
armament, IL will, nevertheless, be
policy OF obvious prudence TO make
certain OF the successful maintenance
OF many strong and we'll equipped
chemical plants. The German chem
ical industry, with which we will be
brought into competition, was and
may well be again. a thoroughly knit
monopoly capable OF exercising a COM
petition of a peculiarly insidious and
dangerous kind"
Farmer Deserves Recognition.
During the war the farmer perform
ed vital and willing service TO the
nation. BY materially Increasing the
production of his land, lie supplied
America and the allies with the in
creased amount of food necessary 10
keep their immense armies in the
field. He indispensably helped 10
win the war. But there is now
scarcely less need of increasing the
production in food and the necessar-
les of life. i ask the Congress TO
consider means of encouraging Ell
fort along these lines. The Import
ance of doing everything possible
to promote production along
economical lines. to improve market
ing, and to make rural life more at
traetive and healthful, is obvious. 1
would urge approval of the plans al
ready proposed to the Congress OF
the Secretary of Agriculture, to Sc
cure the essential facts required for
the proper study OF this question,
through the proposed enlarged pro-
grams for farm management studies
and crop estimates. / would urge
also, the continuance of Federal par
ticipation in the building OF good
roads, under the terms of existing
law and under the direction of present
agencies; the need of further action
on the part of the States and the
Federal Government to preserve and
develop our forest resources. espec-
ially through the practice of better
forestry methods on private holdings
and the extension of the publicly
owned forests; better support for
mite direction OF their courses Of
study along lines related to rural
problems; and fuller provision for
sanitation in rural districts, and the
building up Of needed hospital ana
medical facilities in these localities
Perhaps the way might be cleared
for many of these desirable reforms
by fresh, comprehensive survey
made of rural conditions by con-
ference composed of representatives
OF the farmers and of the agricultu-
raj agencies responsible for leader
ship.
Body Politic Restless
] would call your attention to the
widespread condition of political rest
lessness In our body polite The
causes OF this unrest, while various
and complicated. are superficial rather
than deep seated. Broadly, they arise
from or are connected with the failure
on the part of our Government to ar
rive speedily at a just and perma-
nent peace permitting return to nor
NAL conditions, from the TRANSMISSION
OF radical theories from seething
European centers pending such delay,
from heartless proffteering resulting
In the increase OF the cost OF living.
and lastly from the machinatioas of
g.
With the return to normal conditions
this unrest will rapidly disappear. In
the meantime, it does much evil. I,
seems TO me that in dealing with this
situation Congress should not BE- i'm
patient or drastic, but should seek
rather to remove the causes. It
should endeayor to bring our country
back speedily to . peace basis, with
ameliorated living conditions under
the minimum OF restrictions upon per-
sonai liberty that is consistent with
our reconstruction problems. And il
should arm the Federal Government
with power to deal in ifs criminal
courts with those persons who by
violent methods would abrogate nur
time-tested institutions With tie
free expression OF opinion and with
the advocacy of orderly political
change, however fundamental, there
must be no interference, but towards
passion and malevolence tending to
incite crime and insurrection under
guise of political evolution there
should be no leniency. Legislation to
this end has been recommended by the
Attorney General and should be en-
acted. In this direct connection
would call your attention to my rec
concentrations of August Sth. pointing
be effective in controlling and bring
ing down the present cost OF living.
which contributes so largely to this
unrest. On only one of these recon-
mendations has the Congress acted.
II the Governments campaign is TO
be effective, II is necessary that the
other steps suggested should be acted
on al once.
Would Extend Feod Control Act.
l renew and strongly urge the ne
cessity Of the extension of the pres
ent food control act as to the period
OF time in which it shall remain i'm
operation. The Attorney General has
submitted bill providing for an ex-
tension OF this act for a period of Elk
months. As ii now stands II is limited
in operation to the period of the war
and becomes imperative upon the
formal proclamation OF peace. 1t Is
imperative that il should be extended
at once. The Department of Justice
has built up extensive machinery for
the purpose of enforcing its proyis-
ions; all of which must be abandoned
upon the conclusion OF peace unless