Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-02

ing, and to make rural life more at
tractive and healthful, is obvious.
L would urge approval of the nlans
already proposed to the Congress by
the secretary Of agriculture, to secure
the essential facts required for the
proper study of this question. through
the proposed enlarged programs for
farm management studies and crop
estimates.
Develop Natural Resources
I would urge, also, the continuance
of federal participation in the build :
ing of good roads, under the terms of
existing laws and under the direction
of present agencies the need of fur e
ther action on the part of the states
and the Federal Government to pre-
serve and develop our forest re-
sources, especially through the prac-
tice of better forestry methods on
private holdings and the extension of
the publicly owned forests; better
support for country schools and the
more definite direction of their
courses of study along lines related
to rural problems; and fuller pro-
vision for sanitation in rural dis
tricts and the building up of needed
hospital and 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 agricultural
agencies responsible for leadership.
1 would call your attention to the
widespread condition of political rest
iessness in our body polite. The
causes of this unrest. while various
and complicated, are superficial rath-
er than deep seated.
Names Causes of Unrest
Broadly, they arise from or are
connected with the failure on the
part of our government to arrive
speedily at just and permanent
peace permitting return to normal
conditions from the TRANSMISSION of
radical theories from seething Euro
pean centers pending such delay,
from heartless profteering resulting
in the increase of the cost of living.
and lastly from the Vaccinations of
passionate and malevolent agitators.
With the return to normal con-
ditions, this unrest will rapidly dis
appear. In the meantime, it does
much evil, 1t seems to me that in
dealing with this situation Congress
should not be impatient or drastic
but should seek rather to remove the
causes. 1t should eudeavor to bring
our country back speedily to peace
basis, with ameliorated living con-
ditions under the minimum of restric-
tions upon personal liberty that is
consistent with our reconstruction
problems.
And it should arm the federal
government with power to deal in
its criminal courts with those per-
sons who by violent methods would
abrogate our time tested Institutions
With the free expression of opinion
and with the advocacy of orderly po-
litical change, however fundamental,
there must be no interference, but
toward passion and malevolence
tending to incite crime and insur-
rectior under the guise of political
evolution there should be no leniency.
Legislation to this end has been
recommended by the attorney general
and should be enacted.
Would Hit High Prices
In this direct connection, l would
call your attention to my recon-
mendations on August S, pointing
out legislative measures which would
be effective in controlling and bring
ing down Nthe present cost of living,
which contributes SO largely to this
unrest. On only one of these recon-
mendations has the Congress acted.
If the government campaign is to
be effective, it is necessary that the
other steps suggested should be acted
on at orce.
Would Extend Food Control
l renew and strongly urge the
necessity of the extension of the pres
ent food control act as to the period
of time in which it shall remain in
operation. The attorney general has
submitted bill providing for an ex-
tension of this act for a period Of
six months. AS it now stands it is
limited in operation to the period of
the war and becomes imperative upon
the formal proclamation of peace. 1t
is imperative that it should be ex-
tended at once. The Department of
Justice has built up extensive ma
chinery for the purpose of enforcing
it's provisions all of which must be
abandoned upon the conclusion of
peace unless the provisions of this act
are extended.
During this period the Congress will
have an opportunity to make similar
provisions and regulations with re-
gard to all goods destined for inter
state commerce and to exclude them
from interstate shipment, if the re-
quirements of the law are not COM
plied with.
Some such regulation is ippera-
lively necessary The abuses that
have grown up in the manipulation of
prices by the withholding of food
stuffs and other necessaries of life
cannot otherwise be effectively pre-
vented. There can be no doubt of
either the necessity or the legitimacy
of such measures.
Ask Funds for Publicity
AS I pointed in my last message,
publicity can accomplish a great deal
in this campaign. The aims of the
government must be clearly brought
to the attention of the consuming
public, civic organizations and state
officials, who are in position to lend
their assistance to our efforts. You
have made available funds with which
to carry on this campaign, but there
is no provision in the law authoriz.
ing their expenditure for the purpose
of making the public fully informed
about the efforts of the government.
Specific recommendation has been
made by the attorney general in this
regard / would strongly urge upon
you it's immediate adoption, as it
one of the preliminary
steps to this campaign.
Cites N. j. Cold Storage Laws
I also renew my recommendation
that the Congress pass a law reg
ulating cold storage as il is regu-