The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-09

all corporations engaged in interstate
commerce and embodying in the IL
censs. or In the conditions under
which 1t is to be issued. specific regu-
lations designed to secure compete
tive selling and prevent unconscton-
! able profits In the methods Of market
Ing. Such a law would afford q well
come opportunity to effect other much
needed reforms in the business Of in
, terstate shipments and in the methods
OF corporations which are engaged in
It; but for the moment confine my
re concentrations to the object i'm
mediately in hand. which IL to lower
the cost of living
May I now add that there is bill
pending before the congress which.
II passed. would do much to stop
speculation and to prevent the fraudu-
/ lent methods of promotion by which
our people are annually feeced OF
many millions Of hard learned money
| ] refer to the measure proposed by
the capital issue committee for the
control Of security issues 1t is a
measure formulated by men who
know the actual conditions of BUSH
ness. and its adoption would serve
a great and benefcient purpose
We are dealing. gentlemen of the
congress, I need hardly say, with very
critical and very difiiqult matters.
We should go forward with conf
dencc along the road We see, 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 hear uttered
about me, but the condition of the
world is unquestionab1y very grave
and we should face IL comprehend
ingly.
The situation OF our own country
Is exceptionally fortunate We of all
peoples can afford to keep our heads
and TO determine upon moderate and
sensible courses OF action which will
insure 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
Must Pay Our Share.
The world must pay for the appal-
ling destruction wrought by the great
war, and we are part OF the world
We must pay our share. For Ave years
now the industry of all Europe has
been slack and disordered: the normal
normal quantity OF manufactured
goods has not been turned out. Not
until there are the usual crops and
tne usual production of manufactured
goods on the other side of the Atlantic
~'r F"ronei ratur"1 TO the former con-
ditions. and 1t was upon the former
t~...4>'oils,' mot me present. that our
'"''tc relations with Europe were
built up.
We must face the fact that unless
we help Europe TO get back to her
normal life and production a chaos
will ensue there which will inevitably
be communicated to this country For
tho present II is manifest. we must
s@''0~ 49, avn nroduc-
ton. We and we almost alone, now
.-~.t45. Upon our
steadfastness and self-possession de- I
pend the affairs OF nations everywhere ;
II is in this supreme crisis--this I!
crisis for all nankind--that America !,
must prove her mettie. In the pres (
ence OF "A world confused. distracted
she must show herself, seif-possessed. !
self contained. capable of sober and /
action. She saved Europe by I
her action in arms: she must now save /
ii by her action in peace In saving
Europe she will save herself as she .
did upon the hatuehelds of the war. !
The calmness and capacity with which /
she deals with and masters the prob
lens of peace will be the final test and /
proof OF her place among the peoples I
of the world i
And II only In our own interest we
must help the people over seas Eu- /
rope is our biggest customer. We |
must keep her going or thousands OF I,
our shops and scores of our mines /
must close. There is no such thing as
letting her go to ruin without our |
selves sharing In the disaster.
Need Light. Not Heat.
In such circumstances. face TO face
with sue htests. passion must be dis |
with such tests, passion must be dis |
the rights of others have no place in !
the counscls of a free people. We need !
light, not heat, in these solemn times F.,
of examination and saving action. !
There must be no threats. Let there |
be only intelligent counsel, and let the !
best reasons win, not the strongest |
brute force. The world has just de-
stroyed the arbitrary force of a mill |
tary junta. II will live under no other. |
Ali that Is arbitrary and coercive Is |
in the discard, Those who seek to en-
ploy 1t only prepare their own de-
We cannot hastily and over night !
revolutionize all the processes OF our !
economic life. We shall not attempt |
to do So These are days Of deep ex- |
element and OF extravagant speech; /
but with us these are things OF the |
surface Every one who is in real |
touch with the silent masses of our /
great people knows that the old strong |
fibre ana steady self control are still !
there, firm against violence or any dis
tempered action that would throw
their affairs into confusion.
I am serenely confident that they
will readily and themselves. no matter
what the circumstances, and that they
will address themselves to the tasks
Of peace with the same devotion and
the same stalwart preference for what
is right that they displayed to the ad-
OF the whole world in the
midst OF war.
And entertain another confident
hope. I have spoken today chiefly OF
m easures of imperative regulation and II
legal compulsion. OF precautions and 4
the sharp correction OF selfish pro-