Mohave County miner and our mineral wealth., 1920-08-14

zine into a co-ordinated plan of opa eration, enabled the government to transport troops and supplies, at the same time affording, under great stress, a satisfactory outlet for our industries. It should be remembered in this connection that except for the motor truck which supplemented transportation by rail, and except for 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 discredit the federal operation of railroads during the years of grave emergency Is un- fair. In the case of those who know the facts it Is insincere Too much cannot be 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 phy- 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- gation project, particularly, should claim the interest of the government.
 Federal Reserve System.
 Tt Is almost unnecessary to speak of the Federal Reserve system In con- nection with the winning of the war, as, next to the consecration of our manhood and womanhood itself, the greatest factor was the marshalling 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 a 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 a merchant marine fleet of II 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 a guar antee of continued prosperity. Our facilities for exchange and credit, how ever, in foreign parts, should be en- larged and under the federal reserve system, banks should be established In important trading centers.
 Reduction of Armament
 "I 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 1t 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 If we go in, and I believe the people will insist on 1t, then we can count on economies.
 "The Republican leaders who have taken charge of their party and nomi- mated It's 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 of great organization. If further proof were needed, the action of the present Congress supplies it. Not constructive law can be cited. Money and time were wasted in seeking to make a military triumph an odious chapter in history-and yet is it 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 whisper of dishonesty?
 "The Mexican situation, trying to our patience for years, begins to show signs of improvement. Not the least of the things that have contributed to 1t, is realization by the people of that country, that we have neither the lust for their domain, nor disposition to disturb their sovereign rights l Peace smiles upon the border and in. centive to individual effort seems to be making a national aspiration.
 Disabled Soldiers.
 "I feel deeply that the rehabilitation