New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-18

alone, but for posterity, and it
seems hardly just that the burden
of the war should be borne exclu-
slvely by the present generation.
We want to get the strangle hold
of the excess profit tax and GER
tain other taxes off the throat
of business, becadse those taxes
are paralyzing initiative at time
when. we need it. We do not
want to do anything that ham,
pers business building. We want
to make the burden upon it as easy
to bear as possible. We must
stimulate enterprise and invest
ment. We have never had such an
opportunity for business building
as we now have. America has
been developed almost wholly by
private initiative, through private
enterprise, and we must continue
this policy, under wise govern
mental regulation, for our future
development. The naturalization
Of industry would mean the paral-
ysis of private initiative and lead
to national decadence. We must
develop our industries under such
protection as may be needed ac-
tually to protect those which need
protection-not protection for the
purpose of developing monopoly.
League of Nations
I think we should approve the
league of nations with reserva-
tions which will thoroughly Amer
icanize it reservations which
will leave America absolutely free
to follow her traditional policies
in other. words, free to follow the
dictates of American public opin-
ion as expressed through the in
strumentalities provided by the
Constitution; which should pre-
serve as far as possible the ma
chinery provided by the league to
bring the representatives of the
people of the nations together to
+. talk things over before they resort
to force.
We desire to be ready to help
a world in trouble whenever we
think it is right. But we are the
ones and must always be the ones
to decide when it is right; when
our military establishment is to
be employed and our blood and
treasure are to be spent.
We want to have a sound, sane
American military policy. We need
highly efficient but small regular
army, 100000 or 25O,OO0 men, suf-
ficient for peace needs of the ma
ton, and first class navy, always
ready.
The army, of the Republic should
be built up with the idea of main
tanning the smallest number of
men leading the lives of profess
sional soldiers, but behind it some
system which will give our youth
enough training to make them
quickly available in case of attack.
What that force is to be and how
it is to be built up is to be deter
mined by the American people
through their representative in
Congress.
Merchant Marine
The 100000 dead weight tons
of shipping built by US during the
war should be kept under the
American flag: 1t is most impor-
tant that we build up a vigorous
merchant marine. 1t is most cs-
sential for the expansion of our
domestic and foreign trade. We
also need it as reserve navy.
Agriculture
The farmers constitute a full
third of our population and the
welfare of the nation is practical
ly bound up with theirs. Yet the
benefits of modern civilization
have not been extended to our
rural communities in any such
measure as they have a right to
demand.
In order to keep up increasing
interest in agriculture we must
give heed to existing conditions
of discomfort and take intelligent
steps to remedy them. The in
crease in urban population at the
expense of rural and agricultural
means increased unrest, increased
cost Of living and diminished sta
bility. Let US give the agricul-
tural class the attention it de-
serves.
The farmers have a right to cx-
pect from every national admins
tration a Department of Agricul-
ture in full and intelligent CO.
operation with them and the great
farm organizations of America.
They deserve to be given the re-
suits Of thorough and intelligent
study as to the cost of farm prod
ucts at home and abroad and
should be furnished the uncen-
sored facts.
immigration
We should not hold one door
open for the deportation Of the