Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1919-05-28

Oh AhE ptHtfs moreover mas SiNth Inc
industry an exceptional significance
and value. Although the United States
viii gladly and unhesitatingly join In
the progress of international disarma-
ment. IL win, nevertheless. be a policy
of obvious prudence to make certain
of the successful maintenance of many
strong and well-equipped chemical
plants. The German chemical indus
try, with which we Will be brought
/ into competition, was and may well be
again, thoroughly knit monopoly
capable Of exercising competition Of a
peculiarly insidious and dangerous
| kind.
"The United States should. more
/ over, have the means of properly pro-
tecting itself whenever our trade is
Disseminated against by foreign ma
4 tons. In order that we may be assured
OF that equality of treatment which
we hope to accord and to promote the
! world over. Our tariff laws as they
now stand provide no weapon of re-
taliation in case other governments
should enact legislation unequal in its
bearing on our products as compared
with the products of other countries.
Though we are as far as possible from
desiring to enter upon any course of
retaliation, we must frankly face the
fact that hostile legislation by other
nations is not beyond the range of
possibility, and that it may have to be
met by counter-legislation. This sub
ject has, fortunately, been exhaustive
| ly investigated by the United States
tariff commission. recent report of
that commission makes very clear that
| we lack and that we ought to have the
instruments necessary for the assur-
ance OF equal ant Iuitable treatment
The attention of the congress has been
called to this matter on past occasions,
and the past measures which are now
recommended by the tariff commission
are substantially the same that have
been suggested by previous admins
trations. | recommend that his phase
of the tariff question receive the early
attention of the congress.
"Will you not permit me. turning
from these matters, to speak once
more, and very earnestly, of the pro-
posed amendment TO the constitution
which would extend the suffrage to
women and which passed the house of
representatives at the last session Of
congress? 1t seems to me that every
consideration of justice and of public
advantage calls for the immediate
adoption of that amendment and its
submission forthwith to the legisla-
lures of the several states. Through
out all the world this long delayed ex-
tension Of the suffrage is looked for !:
in the United States longer, believe
than anywhere else, the necessity for
1t. and the immense advantage of 1t to
the national life, has been urged and
debated, by women and men who saw
the need for 1t and urged the policy of
1t when it required steadfast courage
to- be so much beforehand with the
common conviction and /, for one.
cOvet for our country the distinction
of being among the first to oct in a
great reform.
THE telegraph and telephone lines
will of course be returned to their
owners so soon as the retransfer can
be effected without administrative
confusion, so soon that is, as the
change can be made with least posi-
Bile inconvenience to the public and to
the owners themselves. The railroads
will be handed over to their owners at
the end of the calendar year; if | were
/ in immediate contact with the admins
trative questions which must govern
: the retransfer of the telegraph and
telephone lines could name the eX-
, act date for their return also. Until
+ | am I'm direct contact with the practi-
cal questions involved | can only sug-
, gest in the case of the telegraphs and
telephones, as in the case of the rail
ways, it is clearly desirable in the pub
I lie interest that some legislation
| should be considered which may tend
I 10 make of these Indispensable instru-
/ mentalitieS of our modern life a uni.
form and co-ordinated system which
p will afford those who use them as com
4 plete and certain means of commune
{ cation with all parts of the country as
, has so long been afforded by the postal
q system or the government, and al
p rates as uniform and Ineligible. FIX
pert advice is, of course, available in
n this very practical matter, and the
T. public interest is manifest. Neither
!. the telegraph nor the telephone serv
+ ice of the country can be said TO be In
: any sense a national system. There
Y are many confuSions and inconsistent
|. cies of rates. The scientific means by
+ which communication by such instru
r mentalities could be rendered more
r thorough and satisfactory has not beer
a made fun use of.
+ THE rehabilitation of the military
Q forces of the country has progressed
Q to such point that it seems to me en-
= tirely safe now To remove the ban up
@ ~ the manufacture and sale of wine
@ and beers. hut am advised that with
Q out further legislation | have not tbs
f legal authority to remove the present
\ restrictions. | therefore recommend
Il that the act approved November y
1918. entitled An act to enable tins
n secretary of agriculture to carry on
+. during the fiscal year ending June 81
r 1919. the purpose of the act entitled
< IAN act to provide further for the ma
IS tional security and defense by Stimu
q lating agriculture and facilitating th'
/ Il OH