The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1919-12-05

interstate commerce and to exclude
them from interstate shipment, il the
requirements of the law are not con-
piled with.
Some such regulation is Imperative
lly necessary. The abuses that hay 9
grown up in the manipulation of prices
by the withholding of foodstuffs and
other necessaries of life cannot other
wise he effectively prevented. There
can be no doubt of either the necessity
or the legitimacy of such measures.
Civic Associations Can Play Big Part.
As pointed out in my last message.
publicity can accomplish great deal
in this campaign. The aims of the
government must be clearly brought to
civic organizations and state officials,
who are in position to lend their as
sistance to our efforts.
You have made available funds with
which to carry on this campaign. but
there is no provision in the law au-
thorizing their expenditure for the pur-
pose of making the public fully in
formed about the efforts of the gov
ernment. Specific Recommendation has
been made by the attorney general in
this regard l would strongly urge up
on you its immediate adoption, as it
constitutes one of the preliminary
steps to this campaign.
I also renew my recommendation
that the Congress pass law regulat-
ing cold storage as it is regulated, for
example, by the laws of the state of
New Jersey, which limit the time dur
ing which goods may be kept in stor-
age, prescribe the method of disposing
of them if kept beyond the permitted
period and require that goods released
from storage shall in all case bear the
date of their receipt.
Purchaser Would Know .'rofits.
1t would materially add to the serv-
iceability of the law for the purpose
we now have in view, if it were also
prescribed that all goods released from
storage for interstate shipment should
have plainly marked upon each pack
age the selling or market price at
which they went into storage. BY this
means the purchaser would always be
able to learn what profits stood be-
tween him and the producer or the
wholesale dealers.
| would also renew my recommends
| tion that all goods destined for inter-
state commerce should in every case
where their form or package makes il
possible, be plainly marked with the
/ mil. ,t wi ri, bax- Inf hun,lS N
the producer.
| We should formulate n law requiring
a federal license of all corporations en-
gagged in interstate commerce and EN-
bodying in the license. or in the condl-
tons under which it is to be issued,
specific regulations designed 10 secure
competitive selling and prevent uncon-
scionable profits in the method of mar
keting
Such Il law would afford Il welcome
1 opportunity to effect other much need
ed reforms in the business of inter-
state shipment and in the methods of
corporations which are engaged in it !;
but for the moment | confine my rec
concentrations TO the object immediate
| ly in hand, which is to lower the cost
of living.
Capital and Labor Must Be Partners.
No one who has observed the march
OF events in the last year can fail to
| note the absolute need of definite
program TO bring about an improve
ment in the condition of labor. There
can be no settled conditions leading
|
tion in the cost of living If labor and
capital are to be antagonstic instead
OF partners. Sound thinking and an
honest desire to serve the interests of
| the whole nation, as distinguished from
the interest of class, must be applied
to thes olution of this great and press
ing problem.
The failure of other nations to con
slider this matter in vigorous way
has produced bitterness and jealousies
and antagonisms, the food of radical
| ism.
The only way to keep men from agi-
tating against grievances is to remove
the grievances. An unwillingness even
to discuss these matters produces only
dissatisfaction and gives comfort to
| the extreme elements in our country
which endeavor to stir up disturb
ances in order to provoke governments
to the solution of this great and press
and repression. The seed of revolution
is repression.
Give Workers Rights.
| The remedy for those things must
not be negative in character. 1t must
be constructive 1t must comprehend
the general interest. The real anti
dote for the unrest which manifests
itself is not suppression but a deep
consideration of the wrongs that beset
our national life and the application
of remedy.
Congress has already shown its
Willingness to deal with these indus
trial wrongs by establishing the eight
hour day as the standard in every
field Of labor. 1t has sought to find