Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-12-04


promise for American business if we will,
but take advantage of the opportunities
that are ours for the asking. Tho re-
cent war has ended our isolation and
thrown upon us great duty and ro-
sponsibilitN Tho United States must
share the expanding world markets The
United States desires for its equal op-
portunity with the other nations of the
world and that through the process of
cooperation aud fair competi-
tion the legitimate interests of the ma =
tons concerned may be successfully and
equitably adjusted.
There are other matters of Importance
upon which I urged action at the last
session of Congress which are still press
ing for solution. ] am sure it is not NO
cessary for me again to remind you that
there Is one immediate and very prac-
ticabe question resulting from the war
which we should meet in the most liberal
spirit. II is matter of recognition and
relief to our soldiers. I can do no hotter
than to quote '"om my last message urg-
ing this vcr ion
OUR .--.T lining SOLDIERS.
We must 4. to it that our returning
soldiers are assisted in every practicable
way to find the places for which they
are fitted IN the daily work of the coun-
try. This can be done by developing and
maintaining upon an adequate scale the
admirable organization created by the
department Of labor for placing mon
seeking work; and n can also be done
in at least one very great field, by Gre
ating new opportunities for individual
enterprise. The secretary of the interi-
or has pointed out the way by which re-
turning soldiers may be helped to find
and take up land IN the hitherto unde-
veloped regions of the country which the
federal government has already prepar-
ed. or can readily prepare for cultivation,
and also on many of the cut-over or
neglected areas which lie within the linn
its of the older States and ] once more
take the liberty OF recommending very
urgently that his plans shall receive the
immediate and substantial support of the
Congress
TARIFF LEGISLATURE
In the matter of tariff legislation,
beg to call your attention to the state
ments contained in my last message urg-
ing legislation with reference to estab-
lishment of the chemical and dyestuffs
industry in America
Among the Industries to which special
consideration should be given is that o.,
the manufacture of dyestuffs and related
chemicals. Our complete dependence up
on German supplies before the war made
the interruption of trade a cause of ex-
ceptional economic disturbance. The
Close relation between the manufacture
of dyestuffs, on the one hand and of ex-
plosives and poisonous gases on the 9TH
er. moreover, has given the industry an
exceptional significance and value. AL
though the United States will gladly and
unhestatingiy join in the program of in
ternational disarmament, it will. never
the-less, be a policy of obvious prudence
to make certain suggestions for mainten-
ance OF many strong and well-equipped
chemical plants. The German chemical
industry, with which we will be brought
into competition was. and may well be
again. thoroughly knit monopoly capa-
bic of exercising competition Of a pc
culiarly insidious and dangerous kind.
MUST INCREASE FOOD SUPPLY.
During the war the farmer performed
a vital and willing service Of the nation.
BY materially increasing the production
of his land, he supplied America and the
allies with the increased amounts of food
necessary to keep their immense armies
in the field. He indispensfbly helped to
win the war But there is now scarcely
less need Of increasing the production in
food and the necessaries of life. ] ask
the Congress to consider means OF en-
couraginS effort along these lines. The
Importance of doing everything possible
to promote production along economical
lines, to improve marketing, and to make
rural life more attractive and healthful
is obvious. ! would urge approval of
the plans already proposed to the CON
gress by the secretary of agriculture to
secure the essential facts required for
the proper study of this question, through
the proposed enlarged programs for farm
management studies and crop estimates.
would urge also, the continuance of
fedora. participation i'll the building of
good roads under tho .orms of existing
law and under the direction of present
agencies; the need of further action on
the part of the states and then federal
government to preserve and develop our
forest resources. especially through the
practice Of better forestry methods on
private holdings and other important needs
the extension of tle 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 full provision for
sanitation in rural districts and the build
ing up of needed sanitary and educational
facilities in the localities. Perhaps the
way might he cleared for many of these
desirable reforms By fresh. comprehcn-
sive survey made of rural conditions by
"A conference composed Of representatives
of the farmers and Of rho agricultural
a ynr 10
POLITICAL RESTLEsSNEss
| would call your attention to the wide
spread condition OF political rostlessness
in our body politics. The causes of this
unrest, while various and complicated,
are superficial rather than decpseated.
Broadly they arise from or are connected
with the failure on the part of our gov
eminent to arrive speedily at a just and
permanent peace permitting return 10
normal conditions, from the TRANSMISSION
of radical theories from seething lIu-
ropesn oenters pending such delay, from
heartleSs proftcering resulting in the in
crease of cost of living and lastly from
the Vaccinations of passionate and
ma leyolent agitators. with the return to
normal conditions this unrest will rapid
ly disappear. In the meantime. 1t does
much evil 1t seems to me that in dealing
with this situation Congress should not
be impatient or drastic hut should seek
rather to remove the cause, II should
endeaVor 10 bring our country back
speedily to peace basis. with ametoriated
living conditions under The minimum of
upon personal liberty that is
consistent with our reconstruction prob
lens And 1; should endow the federal
~,