Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1920-08-10

given. Excessive regulation causes
that compel restraint
Law Enforcement
..The legislative branch of govern
ment is subjected to the rule OF the
majority. The public official who Iaiis
to enforce the law. is an enemy DOM
to the Constitution and to the Amerl-
can principle of majority rule IL
would seem quite unnecessary Tor any
candidate for the Presidency to say
that he does not intend to vioiate ms
oath of Office. Anyone who Is raise 70
that oath is more unworthy than the
law violator himself.
s.Morals cannot easily be produced
by statute. The writ Of injunction
should not be abused. Intended as 4
safeguard TO person and properly, II
could easily by abuse cease TO De the
protective device it was intended to
be.
1--WE should not, by law, abridge
mans right either to labor or TO quit
his employment. However, neither
labor nor capital should at any tiIne,
or in any circumstances, take action
that would put in jeopardy the public
welfare.
1--WE need a definite and precise
statement of policy as to what Dust
ness men and workingmen may do ana
may not do by way of combination
and collective action. The law Is now
so nebulous that 1t almost turns upon
the economic predictions or the
Judge or jury. This does not make
for confidence in the courts nor re-
spect for the laws, nor for healthy.
activity in production and distripu-
ton. 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
stable basis men may move with con-
fidence
Government, however, should pro-
vide the means in the treatment OF
its employees. to keep in touch with
conditions and to rectify wrong. 1t is
needless to say that In order to be con-
sistent, facts should at all times JUS
tify the pre-supposition that the gov.
eminent employees are properly COM
pensated.
1.-THE child life of the nation should
be conserved; If labor in immature
years is permitted by one generation,
1t Is practicing unfairness to the next.
Adequate Farm Profits.
Farming will not inspire Individual
effort unless profits, all things con-
sidered, are equal to those in other ac-
tivities. 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 be lack
ing in the element which makes civil
ization enduring If they did not desire
for their children educational oppor-
tunities comparable to those In the
cities. The price the consumer pays
for foodstuffs is no indication of what
the producer receives. There are too
many turnovers between the two.
The farmer raises his crop and the
price which he receives is determined
by supply and demand. His products
in beef and pork and produce, pass
into cold storage and ordinarily when
they reach the consumer the law of
supply and demand does not obtain.
The preservation of foodstuffs by cold
storage is a boon to humanity, and 1t
should be encouraged. However, the
time has come for its vigilant regula-i
ton and inasmuch as 1t becomes
part of interstate commerce, the re-
sponsibility is with the federal govern
ment. 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
time limit beyond which perishable
foodstuffs should not be stored.
"Our objective should be decreas-
ed tenantry. With the period of oc-
cupancy uncertain, the renter strips
land of its fertile elements, and each
year diminishes our 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
telligence are a golden security to the
peoples banker, the government of
the United States. Multiply our home
owners, and you will make the way Of
the seditious agitator more difficult.
Railroads and Waterways.
ANY 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 insufficiency 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
quate. The public had not given in
pay for service sufficient revenues on
which credit could be allowed by the
banks. Moral assistance was withheld
because of railroad policies that did
not bring approval. Many Of these
corporations had made themselves a
part of political activities. local, state
and national. Then there were more
or less sporadic Instances of stock wa
tering operations, and the exploitation
OF utility properties for personal gain.
Abuses were not general, but they
were sufficient to bring the entire rail-
road systems Of the country In dis
repute. The good suffered with the
evil When the transportation lines
were taken over by the government.
they were barely able to limp through
the task Of the day. Unity In opera