Askov American., 1920-08-19

CINE into a co-ordinated plan of OPP
GRAFTON, enabled the government TO
| transport troops and supplies, at the
same time affording, under great
stress, satisfactory outlet for our
| industries II should be remembered
| in this connection that except for the
motor truck which supplemented
| transportation by rail, and except Tor
| the great pipe lines which conveyed
| oil for commercial purposes, we
should not. in all probability have
been able TO throw our deciding
strength into the balance and win the
war Any attempt TO dScredit the
| federal operation OF railroads during
| the years of grave emergency Is un-
| fair. In the case of those who know
the facts IL is insincere. Too much
cannot he said in praise of those who
directed this work, nor of the men
who physically operated the lines un-
/ der the discouraging conditions OF
| poor equipment. But all Of this is
| water over the wheel The problem
OF the railroads is still with us The
| government and the public should
render every cooperation in the ut
most good faith, to give thorough test
to private ownership. The railroads
| have had their lesson. Government
regulation is accepted now as not only
a safeguard to the public, but as
a conserving process to the utility.
| Financial credit Is necessary to ply
sical rehabilitation and 1t should be
sufficient for the periods Of maximum
demand. We should not lose sight
however, Of the vast possibilities OF
supplementary service by water. The
Great Lakes and ST. Lawrence navi
CATION project. particularly, should
claim the interest Of the government.
Federal Reserve System.
ut Is almost unnecessary 10 speak
OF the Federal Reserve system In con-
nection with the winning OF the war,
as, next TO the conservation OF our
manhood and womanhOOd itself, the
| greatest factor was the mar~halling
into one unit through the Federal Re
serve banks OF the stupendous wealth
| OF America. To those OF vision who
look out beyond our shores into that
commercial domain where we are so
Justly entitled TO enter In time Of
peace, latent power of the Federal Re
serve system can be seen promoting in
every quarter OF the globe an ever
widening flow OF American commerce.
We will soon have merchant marine
fleet of 100000 tons aggregate, every
ship flying the American flag and
carrying in American bottoms the pro-
ducts of mill and mine and factory and
farm This would seem to be guar
antee Of continued prosperity Our
facilities for exchange and credit, how
ever, in foreign parts, should be en-
iarged and under the federal reserve
system. banks should be established in
important trading centers.
Reduction Of Armament.
II am convinced after considerable
study of the subject that the expense
Of the government can, without loss
of efficiency. be reduced TO a maximum
of four billion dollars. including sink
ing fund and interest on the national
debt. When we enter the League OF
Nations. we should at the same time
diminish our cost for armament To
continue expenditures in either the
war or the navy departments on a vast
scale, once our membership in the
League is assured, would seem to be a
very definite refutation of the advan-
tages Of the world plan which we be-
lieve II possesses. An appealing funda-
mental in the League method. is the
reduction of armamentS We can
not afford TO do 1t, until other nations
do likewise If we do not enter the
League hundreds of millions of dol
lars must be spent for armaments.
II we go in, and l believe the people
VIII insist on II, then we can count
on economies
The Republican leaders who have
taken charge Of their party and nomi-
mated its candidate. are no more pos
sessed Of the spirit OF the hour than
they were In 1912 when they precipi-
tated revolution within the rank and
file ~ a great organization. II further
proof were needed, the action of The
present Congress supplies it, Not a
constructive law can be cited Money
and time We're wasted In seeking 10
make military triumph an odious
chapter In history-and yet is IL not
significant that after two years of
sleuthful inquiry, there WAS nothing
revealed In that vast enterprise carry
ing billions of dollars In expense upon
which they could base even a whisper
Of dishonesty?
THE Mexican situation. trying ia
our patience for years, begins 10 show
signs OF Improvement NOT the least
of the things that have contributed to
il. is realization by the people of
that country, that we have neither the
lust for their domain. nor disposition
10 disturb their sovereign rights
Peace smiles upon the border and in
centiye TO individual effort seems 10
be making q national aspiration.
Disabled Soldiers.
II feel deeply that the rehabilitation
OF the disabled soldiers Of the recent
war Is one of tho most yital i.Sv,,