The sun., 1919-05-21

mistaken policies OF the present
management OF industry, and by
setting up and developing new
Federal agencies of advice and
information which may server an
a clearing house for the best ex-
periments and the best thought on
this great matter, upon which
every thinking man must be
aware that the future develop
ment Of society directly depends.
Agencies OF international coun-
sci and suggestion are pres
emily to be created in connection
with the League of Nations in
this very field; but It is national
action and the enlightened pol
Icy OF individuals, corporations
and societies within each nation
that must bring about the ac-
tual reforms. The members OF
the committees on labour in the
two houses will hardly need sug-
gestions from me as to what
means they shall seek to make the
Federal Government the agent
Of the whole nation in pointing
out, and, II need be, guiding the
process Of reorganization and re-
form.
Aid for Soldiers.
/ am sure that II is not neces-
sary for me to remind you that
there is one immediate and very
practical question of labour that
xx-a should t. ~
eral spirit. We must see to Il
that our returning soldiers are
assisted in every practical way
to find the places for which they
are fitted in the daily work of the
country This can he done by de-
veloping and maintaining upon an
adequate scale the admirable or
ganization created by the Depart
ment OF Labour for placing men
seeking work; and It can also be
done. in ut least one very great
field. by creating new opportuni-
ties for individual enterprise. The
Secretary Of the Interior has
pointed out the way by which re-
turning soldiers may be helped to
find and take up land in the hith-
erto undeveloped regions of the
country which the Federal Gov
eminent has already prepared or
can readily prepare for cultiva-
ton and also on many Of the cut
. over or neglected areas which lie
within the limits of the older
States; and ] once more take the
liberty of recommending very
urgently that his plans shall re-
ccive the immediate and substan-
tial support of the Congress.
Peculiar and very stimulating
conditions await our commerce
and industrial enterprise in the
immediate future. Unusual op-
portunities will presently presen.
themselves to our merchants and
producers in foreign markets, and
large fields for profitable invest
ment will be opened to our free
capital. But 1t is not only OF that
that Z am thinking; It is not
chiefly of that that am think
ing. Many great Industries pros
tratcd by the war wait 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 machinery and raw ma
terials and capital. believe that
our business men, our merchants,
our manufacturers. and our capt.
talists, will have the vision to see
that prosperity in one part of the
world ministers to prosperity
everywhere: that there is in a
very true sense a solidarity Of in
terest throughout the world of en-
terprise and that 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 necessi-
ties we seek in the right way to
serve.
ships as Friends.
Our new merchant ships, which
have in some quarters been feared
as destructive rivals, may prove
helpful rivals. rather, and common
servants. very much needed and
very welcome. Our great shipyards.
new and old. will be so opened to
the use of the world that they will
prove immensely serviceable to
every maritime people in restor-
ing. much more rapidly than
would otherwise have been pos
sible, the tonnage wantonly de-
stroyed in the war. I have only
to suggest that there are many
points at which we can facilitate
American enterprise in foreign
trade by opportune legislation and
make it easy for American mer-
chants to go where they will be
welcomed as friends rather than as
dreaded antagonists.
America has a great and honor
able service to perform m bringing
the commercial and Industrial I'M
dertakings OF the world back to
their old scope and swing again
and putting a solid structure Of
credit under them. All our legisla-
ton should be friendly to such
plans and purposes.
Taxation RECOMMENDATION.
And credit and enterprise alike
will be quickened by timely and
helpful legislation with regard to
taxation. 1 hope that the Con-
gress will find 1t possible to under
take an early reconsideration of
Federal taxes, in order to make our
system OF taxation more simple
and efsy OF administration and
the taxes themselves as little bur
densome as they can be made and