The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-05-20

The congress has already SHOWN the
way to one reform which should be
world wide, by establishing the eight
hour day as the standard day IN
every field OF labor over which 1t can
exercise control. II has sought to
find the way to prevent child labor,
and will, hope and believe, pres
emily find it. 1t has served the whole
country by leading the way in de-
veloping the means of preserving and
safeguarding life and health in dan
gerous industries. 1t can now help
in the difficult task Of giving new
form and spirit to industrial organi-
cation by coordinating the several
agencies of Cancellation and ADJUST
ment which have been brought into
existence by the difficulties and
mistaken policies of the management
OF industry and by setting up and
developing new federal agencies OF
advice and information which may
serve as clearing house for the
best experiments and the best
thought on this great matter, upon
which every thinking man must be
aware that the future development
of society directly depends. Agen.
cies of international council and
suggestion are presently to be Gre
ated in connection with the league
of nations in this very field; but 1t
is national action and the enlight-
ened policy of individuals, corpora
lions and societies within each ma
ton that must bring about the actual
reforms. The members of the COM
mittee on labor in the two houses
will hardly need suggestions from
me as to what means they shall seek
to make the federal government the
agent of the whole nation in pointing
out and, If need be. guiding the pro-
cess of reorganization and reform.
| am sure that it is not necessary
for me to remind you that there is.
nne immediate and very practical ques-
ton Of labor that we should meet in
the most liberal spirit. We must see
to it that our returning soldiers are
, assisted in every practical way to
find the places for which they are mt
ted in the daily work of the country.
This can be done by developing and
maintaining upon an adequate scale
the admirable organization created by
the department 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 enterprises
The secretary of the interior has
nointed out the way by which return
/, ing soldiers may he helped to find and
take UP land in the hitherto nnde-
yeloped regions of the country which
the federal government has already
prepared or can readily prepare for
cultivation and also on many of the
cut over or neglected areas which lie
within the limits of the older states;
and I once more take the liberty OF
recommending very urgently that his
plans shall receive the immediate and
substantial support of the congress.
Peculiar and very stimulating con-
ditions await our commerce and IN
dustrial enterprise in the immediate
future. Unusual opportunities will
presently present themselves to our
merchants and producers In foreign
markets and large fields for profitable
investment will be open to our free
capital But it is not only of that that
/ am thinking; it is not chiefly OF that
am thinking Many great industries
Frustrated by the war walt to be re-
habilitated in many parts Of the world
where what will be lacking Is not
brains or willing hands or organizing !
capacity or experienced skill, but ma !
chinery and raw material and capital.
I believe that our businessmen, our
merchants, our manufacturers and our
CAPITALISTS, will have the vision to see
that prosperity in one part OF the |
world ministers to prosperity every |
where: that there is in very true I
sense solidarity of interest through /
out the world of enterprise, and that I
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- /
stiles we seek IN the right way to |
serve.
Our new merchant ships which have I
in some quarters been feared as de-
structive rivals may prove helpfal
rivals rather and common servants
very much needed and very welcome. /
Our great ship yards new and old viii /
be opened to the use of the world SO
that they will prove immensely serv- 4
iceable to every maritime people in /
restoring. much more rapidly than
would otherwise have been possible, /
the tonnage wantonly destroyed in I.
the war have only to suggest that
there are many points at which we
can facilitate American enterprise in |,
foreign trade by opportune legislation /.
and make 1t easy for American mer-
chants to go where they will ne well
come as friends rather than as dread
ed antagonists,
America has a great and honorable Y
service to perform in bringing the
commercial and industrial undertake Il
ings of the world back to their old 1
scope and swing again, and putting a
solid structure of credit under them.
All our legislation should be friendly
tc such plans and purposes.
And credit and enterprise alike will
be quickened by timely and helpful
legislation with regard to taxation.
hope that the congress will find it I,
possible to undertake an early recon
sideration of federal taxes, in order to
make our system of taxation more
simple and easy of administration,
and the taxes themselves as little bur-