The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-05-23
WILSON FAVORS
BEER AND WINE
War Time Bill Repeal Asked By
Observation-Disclosures to Assure
Industrial Democracy" Urged in
Message.

Message.
Washington, May 22.-Calling fol
repeal or amendment of the wal
time prohibition act as affecting
beers and wines, a new organization
OF industry to benefit labor and
promising early return to their own
ers Of the railroads and wire lines,
President Wilson has sent his mes
sage to the new congress.
The presidents message was de-
hVered to the senate at 1907 by a
White House messenger and imme-
dlately thereafter to the house. 1t
was bound in black leather, en-
graved with gold letters.
The presidents announcement of
his intention to return the railroads
created stir in both houses. The
senate adjourned at 1:4O o'clock.
Liquor Stand Surprise
The president points out that the
change must come largely through
voluntary and cooperative means
between labor and capital; that "Ieg-
islation can get only a very little
way in commanding what shall be
DONE"
For the most part the message was
general in its terms, necessitated, the
president said, by the fact that he
has been so long "out of daily touch
with Intimate sources of information
and counsel"
His specific recommendation for
repeal or amendment of the war
time prohibition act came as some
thing of surprise. The president
says he feels the emergency has
passed beyond the point where con-
tlnued ban on wines and beers at
least is unnecessary, but that he
has not the power to lift it without
congressional action. A bill to re-
peal the act has been prepared by
Representative Sabbath, Illinois, and
probably will be rushed to a decision.
Labor Bills Ready
simultaneously with the reading to
congress of President Wilson's re-
commendation for labor legislation.
Senate progressives, through Senator
Nenyon, announced a program of la
bor laws to be introduced at once.
They enunciated the same prin-
ciple the president declared must
dominate in labor legislation-a
partnership" of capital and labor,
in which each shall share in the pro-
fits of industry.
The first resolution to be reported
on favorably by house committee
was the one introduced yesterday by
Republican Leader Mann providing
for woman suffrage.
1t was the first time the president
has been compelled to address an all
republican congress, and his mess
age, for the first time since he took
Office, was read in both branches in
stead of being delivered in person
before joint session. .
1t was essentially labor mess
age, the president stating at the out
set that this question Islands at the
front of all others in every country
amidst tn epresent great Awakening. ~
By calling for "new organiza-
tion of industry by which workers
may have the opportunity "for a
genuine partnership" and "partici-
patton in control" with capital, the
president, it is held, directly spon-
sers the slogan today of so-calle9
liberal, labor and progressive ele-
ments in all countries. Politicians
here see the deepest significance in
the present stand in connection with
the next campaign. Senators Borah
and Kenyon of the progressive"
group in the senate have recently
spoken in support of new and great
er consideration of labor.
Return of Lines
The president promises return of
the railroads as we'll as the wire
lines, advocating legislation which
will make these instrumentalities a
more uniform and coordinate system.
The railroads he says, he will return
at the end of the calendar year,
while the wire lines will be turned
back as soon as it can be done with
out administrative confusion. It is
not enough, in the presidents opin-
ion, merely to return the railroad
lines to their owners. He has sug-
gested before this a consolidation of
the roads under a regional system.
Director General Hines strongly
advocates this course and is now
sounding out the country on a plan
for compulsory consolidation of the
railroads into from twelve to twenty
large competitive systems.
The house interstate commerce
commission will begin gathering data
on the railroad problem this week,
Chairman Esch reported today.
The president counsels against any
general revision" of the present
system of import duties, but advo-
Gates protection Of the new American
dye industry and measures for pro-
lection against any possible trade
determinations attempted by foreign
powers.