The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-09

Clearly within the constitutional power of
the congress to make similar permanent
all goods destined for interstate COM
merce and TO exclude them from interstate
shipment Inc o, sD 1c 're
ton is imperatively necessary. The abuses
that have grown up In 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.
NAV 1 not call attention TO the fact, also
that, altho the present act prohibits prof
iteering. the prohibition is accompanied by
| 1t is clearly in the public interest that
| a penalty should be provided which will
| be persuasive to the same end. earnestly
recommend. in the second place, that the
congress pass a law regulating cold stor-
age as it Is reguiated for example by the
limit the time during which goods may
be Kept in storage. prescribe the methods
| permitted period, and require that goods
| released from storage shall in all cases
bear the date Of their receipt. It would
| materially add to the serviceability of the
law, for the purpose We now have in view,
II it were also prescribed that all goods
ment should have plainly marked upon
I each package the selling or market price
tbe old ssvs by sbls
to learn what profits stood between him
and the producer or the wholesale dealer.
Mark Prices on Food Shipments.
1
the other communities of this country, as
well as greatly relieve local distress If the
congress were to resnlste an sps9 matters
where its Legislative authority is without
| limit.
] i would also recommend that IL be re-
quired that all goods destined for inter-
| state commerce should In every case where
sse,T form or pSeEH ,, ma makes possible
they left the hands Of the producer. Such
q Requirements would bear a close analogy
by which 1t is required that certain de-
| tailed information be given on the labels of
packages of food and drugs.
| And 1t does not seem to me that we
can confine ourselves to detailed meas
ures Of this kind, II it is indeed our pur-
| processes of distribution. / take 1t for
! granted that that is our purpose and our
| duty. Nothing less will suffice. We need
not hesitate to handle a national question
/ in a national way. We should go beyond
the measures have suggested. We should
| cense Of all corporations engaged in in
| terstate commerce and embodying iR the
| license, or in the conditions under which
i 1t is to be issued, specific regulations de-
| signed to secure competitive selling and
prevent unconsslonable profits to the
method Of marketing.
Urges Securities Control Bill.
Such law would afford welcome op-
| portunity TO effect other much needed re-
ment and in the methods of corporations
| which are engaged in it; but for the mo-
ment confine my recommendations to the
| object Immediately in hand, which is to
lower the cost of living.
May l not add that there is bill now
| pending before the congress which, If
! passed would do much to stop speculation
| and to prevent the fraudulent methods of
| promotion by which our people are an
earned money. / refer to the measure pro
posed by the capital issues committee for
the control Of security issues. 1t Is a
measure formulated by men who know
the actual conditions of business and Its
adoption would serve a great and benefit
We are dealing. gentlemen of the con-
! gress, need hardly say, with very criti-
"a fnrSro neTy ul6icuis atters, we should
J we see, but we should also seek to COM
prehend the whole Of the scene amidst
\ which we act
/ .. S. Situation Very Fortunate.
There Is ground for some of the fear
full forecasts 1 hear uttered about me. but
the condition Of the world Is unquestion-
prehendingly. The situation of our own
country is exceptionally fortunate. We. of
| all peoples, can afford to keep heads
and to determine upon moderate and sensi-
bic courses of action which insure us
against the passions of distempers which
are working such deep unhappiness for
some Of the distressed nations on the other
side Of the sea.
But We may be involved in their dis
tresses unless We help, and help with en-
ergy and intelligence.
The world must pay for the appalling
we are part of the world. We must pay
our share. For five years now the industry
OF all Europe has been slack and disorder
ed. The normal crops have not been pro-
duced; the normal quantity of manufac-
tured goods has not been turned out Not
usual production of manufactured goods
on the other side of the Atlantic can Europe
return to the former conditions; and it was
upon the former conditions, not the present,
| that our economical relations with Europe
were built up. We must face the fact that
normal life and production chaos viii en-
sue there which will Inevitably be COM
Im n N 70 this country For the present.
our own production. We. and we almost
alone. now hold the world steady. Upon
our steadfastness and self possession de-
pend the affairs Of nations everywhere.
America Must Prove Her MettIe
1t Is in this supreme crisis-this crisis
for all mankind-that America must prove
confused. distracted. she must show herse;
self possessed. self contained, capable of
Europe by her action in peace. In saving sSi9s
Europe she VIII save herself, as she did
upon the battle fields of the war, The
deals with and masters the problems of
peace will be the final test and proof of
And Il only in oar oWn u iute ee We
must help the people overseas, Europe is
C Soin DIGEST ,S S0ssomer we must , keep her
scores of our mines must close. There
is no such thing letting her go to
ruin without ourselves sharing in the
disaster.
No Place for Passion.
In such circumstances. face to face with
such tests, passion must be disca rdcd.
Passion and a disregard for the right
of others have no place in the eounsels
OF a free people. We need light, not heat
in these solemn times Of self examina-
ton 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 destroyed the arbitrary force of a
! military junta. 1t Will live under no other.
All that Is arbitEaryt and coerctve is in the
discard. Those who seek to employ 1t
only prepare their own destruction.
! We eannos hastily and overnight revo-
lutionize all the processes of our economic
life. We shall not attempt to do so. Thes sc
are days of deep excitement and of ex-
travageht speech, but with us these are
| things OF the surface. Everyone who Is
in real touch with the silent masses OF our