The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-08-09

THE BIRMINGHAM A( all goods released from storage for in- terstate shipment should have plainly marked upon each package the selling or market price at which they went into storage. By this means the pur- chaser would always be able to learn what profits stood between him and the producer or the wholesale dealer.
 '1t would serve as a useful example to the other communities of the eouE try, as well as greatly relieve local distress, if the Congress were to regu- late all such matters very fully for the District of Columbia where it's legislative authority is without limit.
 I would also recommend that it be required that all goods destined for interstate commerce should in every it possible, be plainly marked with the price at which they left the hands of the producer. Such requirement would bear a close analogy to certain provisions of the pure food act, by which it is required that certain de- tailed information be given on the labels of packages of foods and drugs.
 And it. does not seem to me that we can confine ourselves to detailed measures of this kind. if it is indeed cur purpose to assume national control of the processes of distribution. I take it for granted that that is our purpose and our duty. Nothing less will suf- flee. We need not hesitate to handle a national question in a national way.
 "We should go beyond the meas
 ures l have suggested. We should
 formulate n law requiring u federal
 license of all corporations engaged
 in inter-state commerce and em-
 bOdying in the license in the
 conditions under which it is to be
 issued, specific regulations des-
 tined to secure competitive selling
 and prevent uncomfortable profits
 in the methods of marketing. Such
 law would nfford welcome Op-
 pOrtunity to other much needed re-
 forms in the business of inter
 state shipment and in the methods
 of corporations which are engaged
 in it; but for the moment | con
 fine my recommendations to the
 object immediately in hand, which
 is to lower the cost of living.
 URGES BILLS ADOPTION
 May I not add that there Is a bill now pending before the Congress which if passed, would do much to stop specu- lation and to prevent the fraudulent methods of promotion by which our
  millions of hard earned money. I refer to the measure proposed by the Capital Issues Committee for the control of security issues. It is a measure form ulated by men who know the actual conditions of business and it's adop- tion would serve a great and benefi- cent purpose.
 We are dealing. gentlemen of the Congress, I need hardly say, with very rrif .aI d "a should go forward with confidence along the road we see. but we should also seek to comprehend the whole of the scene amidst which we act. There is no ground for some of the fearful forecasts I hear uttered about me. but the condition of the world is unques- tionably very grave and we should face i. comprehendingly The situation of our own country is exceptionally for tunate. We of all peoples can afford to keep our heads and to determine upon moderate and sensible courses of action which will ensure us against the pas sions and distempers which are work ing such deep unhappiness for some of the distressed nations on the other side of the sea But we may be involved in their distresses unless we help, and help with energy and intelligence.
 The world must pay for the appalling 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 Atlantic can Europe return to for mer conditions, and it was upon the for mer conditions. not the present, that our economic relations with Europe were built up. We must face the fact that unless we help Europe to get back to her normal life and production, a chaos will ensue there which will inevitably be communicated to this country.
 MUST QUICKEN PRODUCTION
 For the present it is manifest, we must quicken, not slacl1en up our own production. We, and we almost alone now hold the world steady. Upon our steadfastness and self-possession, depend the affairs of nations everywhere. It is in this supreme crisis, this crisis of all fmanlxind-that America must prove her mettle. In the presence of world con fused, distracted, she must show herself self possessed, self-L 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 masters 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 interest we must help the people overseas Europe is our biggest customer. We must keep her going or thousands of our shops and scores of our mines must close. There is no such thing as letting her go to ruin without ourselves sharing in the disaster
 In such circumstances, face to face with such tests. passion must be dis carded. Passion and a disergard for the rights of others have no place in the counsels of a free people. We need light, not heat, in these solemn times oe self-examination and saving action.