The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-12-02
URGES LEGISLATION TO
COMBAT LIVING COST,
LABOR UNREST, REDS
CONTINUED from first page.

diers are assisted in every practicable way
to lind the places for which they fitted
in the daily work Of the country. This can
be done by developing and maintaining upon
an adequate scale the admirable organization
created by the department of labor for pac-
ing men seeking work and it can also be
done, in at least one very great field, by
creating new opportunities for individual en-
| terprise. The secretary of the interior has
pointed out the way by which returning SOL
diers may be helped to find and take up land
] in the hitherto undeVeloped regions of the
country which the federal government has
already prepared, or can readily prepare for
cultivation, and also on many of the cut
over or neglected areas which lie within the
| limits of the older states; and ! once more
take the liberty of recommending very ur-
gently that this plan shall receive the inn
mediate and substantial support of the Con-
! gress.
| Tariff Legislation.
| In the matter Of tariff legislation, | beg
to call your attention to the statements con-
! tanned in my last message urging legisla-
| ton with reference to the establishment of
| the chemical and dye stuffs industry in
America:
Among the industries TO which special
consideration should be given is that Of the
inanufacture of dyestuffs and related chem
| icais Our complete dependence upon Ger
man supplies before the war made the in
terruption of trade a cause of exceptional
economic disturbance. The close relation be-
tween the manufacture of dyestuiTs, on the
| one hand and of explosives and poisonous
gases, on the other, moreover, has given the
industry an exceptional significance and val
ne. Although the United States will gladly
and unhesitatingly join in the program Of
international disarmament, it will. neverthe-
less, be policy of obvious prudence 10
make certain measures for maintenance Of
many strong and wel-developed chemical
plants. The German chemical industry. with
which we will be brought into competition,
was, and may well be again, thoroughly
knit monopoly capable Of exercising conn
petition Of peculiarly insidious and danger
Gus kind
During the war the farmer performed a
vital and willing service to the nation. BY
materially increasing the production of his
land, he supplied America and the allies
with tho increased amounts Of food neces-
sary to keep their immense armies in the
field. He indispcnsably helped TO win the
war But there is now scarcely less need of
increasing the production in food and the
necesssar ies of life I ask the Congress 20
consider means Of encouraging efforts along
these lines. The importance of doing eyeryS
thing 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 20 &c
cure the essential facts required for the
proper study of this question. through the
proposed enlarged programs for farm man.
agcrncnt studies and crop estimates. ] would
urge. also, the continuance of federal par
tieipation in the building of good reads, un-
der the terms of existing law and under the
direction Of present agencies the need Of
further action on the part OF the states and
the federal government to preserve and de-
velop our forest resources, especially through
the practice Of better forestry methods on
private holdings and the extension of the
publicly owned forests better support for
country schools and the more definite direc-
ton Of their courses Of study along lines re-
lated TO rural problems 1. and fuller pro-
vision for sanitation in rural districts and
the building up of needed hospital and med
ical facilities in these localities. Perhaps
the way might be cleared for many Of these
desirable reforms by a fnsh. comprehen-
sive survey made Of rural conditions by
con Inference composed Of representatives OF
the farmers and of the agricultural agencies
responsible for leadership.
Political RestlessneSs.
! would call your attention to the wide
spread condition OF political rcstlessness in
our body polite. The causes Of this unrest
while various and complicated are superb
ciAl rather than deep seated. Broadly, they
arose from or are connected with the failure
on the part of our government to arrive
speedily at just and permanent peace, per-
hitting return to normal conditions from
the TRANSMISSION of radical theories from
seothing European eenters pending such de-
lay, from hoartlass profteering resulting in
the increase Of the cost Of living, and lastly
from the Vaccinations Of passionate and
malevolcnt agitators. With a return to nor
NAL conditions, this unrest will probably
disappear. In the meantime, it does much
evil.
It seems TO me that in dealing with this
situation Congress should not be impatient
or drastic but should seek rather TO remove
the causes. 1t should endcavor TO bring our
country back speedily TO a peace basis, with
ameliorated living conditions under the min
imum OF restrictions upon personal liberty
that Is consistent with our reconstruction
problems. And it should arm the federal gov
eminent with power 70 deal in its courts
with those persons who by violent methods
would abrugate our time-tcsted institutions.
With the free expression Of opinion and
with the advocacy Of orderly political change,
however fundamental, there must be no
interfernee, but towards passion and malev-
olence tending TO incite crime and insurrcc-
ton under guise OF political evolution there
should be no lenicncy. Legislation to this
end has been recommended by the attorney
general and should be enacted. In this di-
rect connection, | would call your attention
to my recommendations on Aug. s. pointing
out legislative measures which would be
effective in controlling and bringing down
the present cost Of living, which contributes
so largely to this unrest. On only one Of
these recommendations has the Congress acted.
| If the governments campaign Is TO be ef-
| fectivc. il is necessary that the other steps
suggested should be acted on at once
Extend Food Control.
renew and strongly urge the necessity
Of the extension Of the present food control
act as 10 the period Of time in which it
shall remain in operation The attorney
general has submitted a bill providing FOR
an extension Of this act for a period OF
six months. As it now stands it is limited
IN operation to the period of the war and
becomes imperative upon the formal procla-
nation OF peace. II is imperative that IL
should be extended at once. The depart
ment of justice has built up extensive ma
chnery for the purpose Of enforcing its pro-
visions, all Of which must be abandoned
upon the conclusion Of peace unless the
provisions of this act arc extended.
During this period the Congress will have
an opportunity to make similar. permanent
provisions and regulations with regard 10
all goods destined for interstate commerce
and to exclude them from interstate ship
ment, IL the requirements Of the law arc
not complied with. Some such regulation is
imperatively necessary The abuses that
have grown up in the manipulation Of prices
by the withholding Of foodstuffs and other
accessories OF life cannot otherwise be ef-
fectivcly prevented, There can be no doubt