Republican farmer., 1919-08-15


 all corporations engaged in interstate commerce and embodying in the li- cense, or in the conditions under which 1t is to be issued, specific regu- lations designed to secure competiti- tive selling and prevent unoonsciona- ble profits in the method of market ing Such a law would afford a well come opportunity to effect other much needed reforms in the business of interstate shipment and in the meth ods If corporations which are on gagged in 1t: but for the moment I cenf1ne my dations to the object imme diately In hand, which is to lower the cost of living
 May I not add that there is @ bill bending before the Congress which, if passed would do much to stop spec uIation and to prevent the fraudulent methods of promotion by which our people are anually feeced of many millions of hard earned money. I re- fer to the measure proposed by the Capital Issues Committee for the con- troI of security issues It is a meas ure formulated by men who know the acauaI conditions of business, and its adoption would serve 8 great and beneftcent purpose.
 We are dealing, gentlemen of the Congress, I need hardly say with very critical and very difficult matters
 We should so forward with confi- dence along the road we see, but we should also seek to comprehend the whole of the scene amidst which act There .E no ground for some of the fearful forecasts I hear uttered about me- but the condition of the world is unquestionahly very Ograve and we should face itcompr ehend- insly.
 The situation of our own country is xcepttonally fortunate. We of all peoples can afford to keep our heads and to determine upon moderate and sensible courses of action which will insure us against the passions and 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 d4stresses unless we help, and help with energy and intelligence.
 The world must pay for the appa.ll- ing destruction wrought by the great war, and we are part of the world. We must pay our share. For five years now the industry of all Europe has been slack and disordered; the normal crops have not been produced; the normal quantity of manufactured goods has not been turned out. Not until there are the usual crops and the usual production of manufactured goods the other side of the At lantic can Europe return to the former conditions, and it was upon the former conditions, not the present. that our economic rela tions with Flu rope were built up.
 We must face the fact that unless we help Europe to get back to her life and nr0dnctiOn a chaos will ensue there which will inevitably be communicated to this country. For the present, it is manifest, we must quicken, not slacken, our own production. We, and we almost alone now hold the world steady. Upon our steadfastness and self-pos- session depend the affairs Of nations everywhere.
 It is in this supreme crisis-this crisis for all mankind-that America must prove her mettle. In the pres ence of a world confused, distracted, she must show herself self-possessed d. self-contained, capable of sober and effective action. She saved Europe by her action in arms; she must now save it by her action in peace. In saving Europe she will save herself as she did upon the battlefields of the war. The calmness and capacity with which she deals with and mast CTS the problems of peace will be the final test and proof of her place among the peoples of the world. And if only in our own interest we must help the people overseas. Europe Is our biggest customer. We must keep her going or thousands of our shopsszand scores of our mines must close. There is no such thing as | letting her ruin without selves sharing in the disater. In such circumstances, face to face with such tests, passion must be dis carded. Passion and a disregard for the rights of others have no place in the counsels of a free people. We need light, not heat, in these solemn times of self-eXamination and savin g 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 1 just destroyed the arbitrary force of a military junta It will live under no | other. All that is arbitrary and coer- cive is in the discard. Those who seek 10 employ it only prepare their l own destruction.
 l We cannot hastily and over night | revolutionize all the processes of our economic life. We shall not attem pt | to do so. These are days of deep eX- i citement and of extrava gant speech; | but with us these are things of the surface. Every one who is in real ! touch with the silent masses of our | great people knows that the old strong | fibre and steady self-control still there, firm against violence or any | distempered action that would throw i their affairs into confusion.
 | l am serenely confident that they
 will readily find themselves, no mat | ter what the circumstances, and that | they will address themselves to the | tasks of peace with the same devo- | ton and the same stalwart preference | for what is right that they displayed | to the admiration of the whole world | in the midst of war.
 And I entertain another confident | hope. I have spoken today chiefly of 1 measures of imperative regulation
 and legal compulston, of prosecutions
 and the sharp correction of selfish processes; and these no doubt are I D,,t .$h