Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1919-05-22
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

President Wilson s message, as cab
led from Paris, and read before both
houses at the extra session of the Six
tv.sixth congress, Tuesday, cannot be
roceiyed otherwise than with a voice
Of approval from the conservative peo-
ME of the American nation, for it is full
of common sense.
Departing, except i'll a few instances,
from his idealistic trend, the president
has adapted his message to the prac-
teal. He sees that business must be en-
couraged, that paralyzing restraint on
industry is not calculated to be to the
hest interests of the American nation,
and consequently it's government, and
that measures must be taken to restore
hnsiness to a normal and substantial
basis.
The matter of federal taxation,
has been weak, both as to means
of raising the money required to meet
the enormous war cost, and methods
employed in its collection, and the pres
ideht points out to congress necessity of
revising the statutes in such manner
"a to relieve business from the tremen-
dous burden it has borne during the
war, and to enact legislation which
will make the collection of such federal
taxes as are imposed more effectual.
1t is significant that the administra
ton will return to their rightful owners
the telegraph and telephone systems,
siezed during the war, and will restore
the railroads to their owners by the
end of the present calendar year.
While government operation of the wire
and rail systems of the country was
advantageous during the period of the
var, not from an economic point of
view, but from necessity in the handl- |
ing of war business, nevertheless, with |
the coming of peace it stands to reason |
that government operation of these
systems was, neither justifable nor of
benefit to the public. Government OPP
GRAFTON of the railroads, telegraphs and
telephones, except as a war necessity,
therefore must be pronounced a fail
ure and it is wise that the government
shall no longer continue in this bust
ness.
Extension of American business to
foreign fields, and legislation to assist
American manufacturers in developing
markets. in other countries is urged
by the president on congress. The
president also has in a measure askedf
protection for American business
against cut-throat foreign competition
in the United States
The president, in his message touch
ed upon the labor problem, but he did
not go into this question in detail.
The President has asked fair wages for !
employees, based, of course, on the as
surance to employers of reasonable
profit as result of such labor. He
appeals for reasonable hours of labor !
and decent ling conditions for work L
ers which will permit of them receiv |
ing a full measure of enjoyment out
OF life for themselves, and well as I;
ability to adequately provide for their G
families. No employer, who disregards e
his own selfish interests, can fail to
70 appreciate the fairness of such y
policy. The president, however, in his
message, failed to touch upon the i'm o
portant subject of discomfort and APP l
pealS made throughout the country on =
Inc part of certain organizations, tend I
ing to incite class hatred. e