The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1921-04-22

S'ot VI transportation from farm to
market and through the influx Of for
eign farm products, because we offer,
essentially unprotected, the best mar.
ket In the world.
1t would be better to err In protect
ing our basic food Industry than para
I'VE our farm activities in the world
struggle for restored exchanges. The
matnrer revision of our tariff laws
should he based OH the policy Of pro-
tectl0n, resisting that selfishness
Whlch turns to greed, but ever CON
cefned with that productivity at home
WNlch Is the source Of all abiding good
fortune.
To Sell and Buy.
IL Is agreed that we cannot sell un-
less we buy, but ability to sell Is based
on home development and the fostering
OF home markets. There Is little sem
tlment in the trade of the world. Trade
can and ought to be honorable, but it
knows no sympathy. While the dele
gates of the nations at war were de-
batting peace terms at Paris, and
while we later debated our part in
completing the peace, commercial
agents OF other nations were opening
their lines and establishing their out
posts with forward look to the NOR
rows trade. 1t was wholly proper and
has been advantageous to them. Tardy
as we are, it will be safer to hold our
own markets secure and build thereon
for our trade with the world.
A very important matter is the es-
Establishment of the governments bust
ness on business basis. There was
federation and the easy going, unsys-
tematic method of handling our fiscal
affairs when indirect taxation held the
public unmindful of the federal burden.
But there is knowledge of the high
cost Of government today, and the high
cost of living is inseparably linked
with high cost of government. There
can he no complete correction of the
high living cost until governments cost
is notably reduced.
Budget System.
Let me most heartily commend the
enactment of legislation providing for
the national budget system. Congress
has already recorded it's belief in the
budget. 1t will be a very great salts
faction to know of it's early enactment,
so that it may be employed in estab-
fishing the economies and business
methods so essential to the minimum
of expenditure.
I have said to the people we meant
to have less of government in business
as well as more business in govern
ment. 1t is we'll to have it understood
that business has right to pursue its
normal, legitimate and righteous way
unimpeded and it ought have no call to
meet government competition where all
risk is borne by the public treasury.
Reducing Costs.
There is no challenge to honest and
lawful business success. But govern
ment approval of fortunate, untram-
meled business does not mean tOlera-
ton of restraint of trade or of main
tanned prices by unnatural methods. 1t
it we'll to have legitimate business I'M
derstand that just government, mind
full of the interests of all the people,
has a right to expect the cooperation
of that legitimate business in stamping
out the practices which add to unrest
and inspire restrictive legislation. Anx-
iouS as we are to restore the onward
flow of business, it is fair to combine
assurance and warning in one utter
ance.
One condition in the business world
may well receive your inquiry. Della
ton has been in progress, but has
failed to reach the mark where it can
be proclaimed to the great mass of
consumers. Reduced cost of basic pro-
duction has been recorded, but high
cost of living has not yielded in like
proportion. For example, the prices
on grain and livestock have been de-
flated, but the cost of butter and meats
is not actually reflected therein. 1t is
TO be expected that nonperishable sta
pies will be slow in yielding to low
cred prices, but the maintained retail
costs in perishable foods cannot be
justified.
Cause of Trouble.
l have asked the federal trade COM
mission for report on its observations
and it attributes in the main the fail
ure to adjust consumers cost to basic
production costs to the exchange of
information by "open price assOcia-
| tions," which operate, evidently within
the law, to the very great advantage
of their members and equal disadvan-
tage to the consuming public.
Without the spirit of hostility or
haste in accusation of profiteering,
some suitable inquiry by congress
might speed the price readjustment to
normal relationship, with helpfulness
of both producer and consumer. A
measuring rod of fair prices will salts
fy the country and give us business
revival to end all depression and I'M
employment
Rail Problem.
The great interest of both the pro-
Queer and consumer-indeed, all our
industrial and commercial life from
agriculture to finance-in the problems
of transportation will find its reflex
! in your concern to aid re-establish-
ment, to restore efficiency and bring
transportation cost into a helpful re-
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