The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1920-08-13

vidual freedom consistent with the
safety Of u Institutions should be
given. Excessive regulation causes
manifestations that compel restraint
Law Enforcement.
The legislative branch Of govern
ment is subjected to the rule Of the
majority. The public official who fails
to enforce the law, is an enemy beth
to the Constitution and to the Aneri-
can principle Of majority rule. It
would seem quite unnecessary for any
candidate for the Presidency to say
that he does not intend to violate his
oath Of office. Anyone who is false 20
tfat oath is more unworthy than the
law vlOlator himself.
Morals cannot easily be produced
by statute. The writ Of injunction
should not be abused. Intended as a
safeguard to person and property, 1t
could easily by abuse cease to be the
protective device It was intended to
be.
we should not by law, abridge a
mans right either to labor or to quit
his employment. However, neither
labor nor capital should at any time
or in any circumstances, take action
tina would put In Jeopardy the public
welfare.
we need a definite and precise
statement Of policy as TO what busi-
ness men and worklngmen may do and
may not do by way of combination
and collective action. The law Is now
so nebulous that It almost turns upon
the economic predictions OF the
Judge or jury. This does not make
for confidence in the courts nor re-
spect for the laws, nor for a healthy
activity in production and dlstrlbu-
tion. There surely will be found ways
by which cooperation may be encour.
aged without the destruction Of enter.
prise. the rules Of business should
be made more certain so that on a
stable basis men may move with con-
hdence.
Government, however, should pro-
Vide the means In the treatment Of
Its employees, to keep In touch with
conditions and to rectify wrong. II is
needless 10 say that 10 order to be con.
%Slstent, facts should at all times JUS.
tlfy the pre-supposltion that the gov
eminent employees are properly com
pensated.
"The child life of the nation should
be conserved II labor in immature
years is permitted by one generation,
It is practicing unfalrness to the next.
Adequate Farm Profits.
Farming will not inspire Individual
effort unless profits. all things con-
sidered, are equal to those In other &C.
tlvltics. An additional check to de-
pleted ranks In the fields would be the
establishment OF modern state rural
school codes. The federal government
should maintain active sponsorship OF
this. Rural parents would he lack.
ing in the element which makes civil
lzatiOn enduring II they did not desire
for their children educational oppor.
tunIties comparable to those In the
cities. The price the consumer pays
for fO0dstuffs Is no indication OF what
the producer receives. There are toe
many turnOvers between the two
The farmer raises his crop and the
price which he receives is determine
by supply and demand. His products
In beef and pork and produce, pass
into cold storage apd ordinarily when
they re@h the consumer the law OF
supply and demand does not obtain
The preservation Of foodstuffs by cold
storage Is a boon to humanity, and II
should be encouraged. However, the
time has come for its vigilant regula-
ton and lnasmuch as II becomes a
part OF Interstate commerce, the re-
sponslblllty is with the federal govern.
meat. Supplies are gathered In from
the farm in times Of plenty. They can
easily be fed out to the consumer In
such manner as to keep the demand in
excess Of that part Of the supply
which is released from storage. This
Is an unfair practice and should be
stopped. Besides, there should be q
time limit beyond which perishable
foodstuffs should not be stored.
"Our objective should be Il decreas-
ed %tenantry. With the period Of oc-
cupancy uncertain, the renter strip,
land OF its fertile elements. and each
year dimlnlshes Il national assets,
Under the operation Of the federal re-
serve and the farm loan acts, encour.
agement has come to thousands who
find that industry, character and In
telllgence IRE a golden security to the
peoples banker, the government OF
the United States, Multiply our home
owners and you will make the way VI
the sedIdous agitator more difficult.
Railroads and Waterways.
Amy discussion Of the question OF
food supply leads very quickly to the
closely related matter OF transporta,
ton There is no one thing which
brings us so Internationally to critical
conditions than the insuficlency of our
transportation facilities. Both the
railroads and the public are to blame.
There has been no material addition
to the total mileage In the last ten
years. and the Increase In terminals
has been much less than required. At
the beginning OF the war the rolling
stock was sadly reduced and made.