Republican farmer., 1919-12-05


 growth of American business con- corning tariff legislation, we must now adjust our own economic life to a changed condition growing out of the fact that American business is full grown and that America is the great est ca pitalist in the world
 No policy of isolation will satisfy the growing needs and opportunities of America. The provincial standards and policies of the past, which have held American business as if in strait jacket, must yield and give way to ,6he needs and exigencies of the new day in which we live, a day full of hope and promise for Ameri- can business, if we will but take ad- vantage of the opportunities that are ours for the asking. The recent war has ended our isolation and thrown uuon us a great duty and responsi- bility. The United States must share the expanding world markets.
 The United States desires for itself only equal opportunity with the other nations of the world and that through the process of friendly cooperation and fair competition, the legitimate interests of the nations concerned may be successfully and equitably ad- justed.
  ance upon which I urged action at the last session of Congress which are still pressing solution.
 I am sure it is not necessary for me gain to remind you that there is one immediate and very practical ques- tion resulting from the war, which we should meet in the most liberal spirit It is a matter of recognition and re- lief to our soldiers. can do no better than to quote from my last message urging this very action:
 I've must see to it that our return ing 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 be done by developing and maintaining upon adequate scale the admirable organization created by the depart ment of labor for placing men seek ing work; and It can also be done, in at least one very great field. by ere atirg new opportunities for individual enterprise.
 The secretary of the interior has pointed out the way by which return ing soldiers may be helped to find and take up land in the hitherto un- developed regions of the country which the federal government has al ready prepared or can readily pre- pare for cultivation and also on many of the cut-over or neglected areas which lie within the limits of the old CT states; and I once more take the liberty of recommending very urgent ly that this plan shall receive the immediate and substantial support of the congress"
 In the matter of tariff legislation. beg to call your attention to the statements contained in my last mess age urging legislation with reference to the establishment of the chemical and dyestuffs industry in America: Among the industries tu which special consideration should be given is that of the manufacture of dye stuffs and related chemicals. Our complete dependence upon German supplies before the war made the in terru ption of trade a cause of eXCep- tional economic disturbance. The close relat ton between the manufac- tu1 e of dyestuffs on the one hand, and of explosives and poisonous gases on the other, moreover, has given the industry an exceptional significance and value Although the United States will gladly and unhesitatingly join in the program of international! disarnna- ment it will nevertheless, be policy of obvious prudence to make Ger taiIi 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, a thoroughly knit monopoly capable of exercising a competition of a peculiarly insidious and dangerous kind.'
 During the war the farmer per- n the nation. By materially increasing the production of his land, he sup piled America and the allies with the increased amounts of food necessary to keep their immense armies in the field. He indispensably helped to win the war. But there is now scarcely less need of increasing the production in food and the necessaries of life I ask the congress to con- slider means of encouraging effort along these lines.
 The importance of doing every thing possible to promote production along economical lines. to improve marketing, and to make rural life more attractive and healthful, is ob- Vious. I would urge approval of the plans already proposed to the Con- gress by the Secretary of Agriculture
 
 for the proper study of this question: l through the proposed enlarged pro i grams for farm management studies and crop estimates.
 l I would urge also, the continuance ! of federal participation in the build i ing of good roads, under these terms l of existing law and under the direc- 1 tion of present agencies; the need Of further action on the part of the states and the federal government to i preserve and develop our forest re- | sources, especially through the prac- tice of better forestry methods on
 private holdings and the extension of i 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 provision for sanitation in rural districts and the
 building up of needed hospital and medical facilities in these localities. Perhaps the way might be cleared for i many of these desirable reforms by a i fresh, comprehensive survey made of rural conditions by a conference com posed of representatives of the farm
 CTS and of the agricultural agencies
 responsible for leadership.
 | I would call your attention to the i widoSOread eoo6jtior of no1itioaI