The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1919-05-23
rails. needed to supplement ana en-
rich our own abundant supplies.
To Retain Chemical Plants.

% Retain CnemiCdt td"es'
Nevertheless, there are parts of our
tariff system which need prompt atten.
ton. The experiences of the war have
made it plain that in some cases too
great reliance on foreign supply is dan
gerous, and that in determining certain
parts of our tariff policy domestic con-
siderations must be borne in mind
which are political as well as economic.
Among the industries to which special
consideration should be given is that
of the manufacture of dyestuffs and re-
lated chemicals. Our complete depen-
dence upon German supplies before the
war made the interruption of trade
cause of exceptional economic distur-
bance. This close relation between
the manufacturer of dyestuffs on the
one hand, and of explosives and pois-
onous gases on the other, moreover,
has given the industry, an exceptional
significance and value. Although the
United States will gladly and unhesi-
tatingly join in the program of inter
national disarmament it will neverthe-
less be policy of obvious prudence to
make certain of the successful mainte-
nance of many strong and well
equipped chemical plants. The Ger
man chemical industry with which we
will be brought into competition was
and may well be again, a thoroughly
knit monopoly capable of exercising
competition of peculiarly insidious
and dangerous kind.
Votes for Women Urged.
Will you not permit me, turning from
these matters, to speak once more and
very earnestly of the proposed amend
ment to the constitution which would
extend the suffrage to women and
which passed the house of representa-
tives at the last session of congress?
1t seems to me that every considera-
ton of justice and of public advantage
calls for the immediate adoption of
that amendment and its submission
forthwith to the legislatures of the sew
eral states. Throughout all the world
this long delayed extension of the suf
frage is looked for; in the United
States longer, believe, than anywhere
else, the necessity for it, and the i'm
mense advantage of it to the national
life, has been urged and debated by
women and men who saw the need for
it and urged the policy of it when it re-
quired steadfast courage to be so much
beforehand with the common convic-
ton; and 1, for one, covet for our coun-
try the distinction of being among the
first to act in great reform.
Wires, Rails to Be Returned.
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
administrative questions which must
govern the retransfer of telegraph and
telephone lines, I could name the ex-
act date for their return, also. Until
am in direct contact with the prac-
tical questions involved, I only can
suggest that in the case of the tele-
graphs and telephones as in the case
OF the railways, it is clearly desirable
in the public interest that some legis-
lation should be considered which may
tend to make of these Indispensable
fnstrumentalities of our modern life
uniform and co-ordinated system
which will afford those who use them
as complete and certain means of COM
munication with all parts of the coun-
try as has so long been afforded by
the postal system of the government
and at rates as uniform and intelligi-
Bile. Expert advice is, of course, avail
able in this very practical matter
and the public interest is manifest.
Neither the telegraph nor the tele-
phone service of the country can be
said to be in any sense a national sys-
tenn. There are many confusions and
Inconsistencies of rates. The scien-
tific means by which communication
by such instrumentalities can be rem
dered more thorough and satisfactory
has not been made full use of. An
exhaustive study of the whole question
of electrical communication and of
the means by which the central au-
thority of the nation can be used to
unity and improve it, if undertaken
by the appropriate committees of the
congress would certainly result, indi-
rectly even if not directly, in a great
public benefit.
Wine, Beer Ban Repeal Asked.
The rehabilitation of the military
forces of the country has progressed
to such a point that it seems to me en-.
tirely safe now to remove the ban upon
the manufacture and sale of wines and
beers but am advised that without
further legislation have not the legal
authority to remove the present re-
strfctions. l therefore recommend that
the act approved Nov. 81, 1918, en-
titled, IAN act to enable the secretary
OF agriculture to carry out, during the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1919, the
purposes of the act entitled AN act to
provide further for the national secur-
fty and defense by stimulating agricul-
ture and facilitating the distribution
of agricultural products and for other
purposes, be amended or repealed in
solar as it applies to wines and beer.
sincerely trust that 1 shall very
soon be at my post in Washington
again to report upon the matters which
made my presence at the peace table
apparently imperative and to put my
self at the service of the congress in
every matter of administration or