The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1921-12-08


deal with these debts, we are him
dering urgent readjustment among
our debtors and accomplishing moth
ing for ourselves.
The Tariff Law
There is before you the compile
ton Of the enactment of what has
been termed a permanent" tariff
law, the word permanent" being
used to distinguish 1t from the
emergency act which the congress
expedited early in the traordinary
session and which Is the law today.
l cannot too strongly urge an early
completion Of this necessary legisla-
ton. It Is needed to stabilize our
industry at home; it is essential to
make more definite our trade rela-
tions abroad. More, it is vital to
the preservation of many of our
own industries, which contribute so
notably to the very life blood Of
our nation. There Is now, and there
always will be, a storm of conflict
ing opinion about any tariff revi-
sion. We cannot go far wrong
when We base our tariffs on the pol
icy Of preserving the productive ac-
tivities which enhance employment
and add to our national prosperity.
Again comes the reminder that
we must not be unmindful of world
conditions, that peoples are strug-
Cling for industrial rehabilitation
and that we cannot dwell in indus
trial and commercial exclusion and
at the same time do the just thing
in aiding world recognition and re-
adjustment. We do not seek a sell
fish aloofness, and we could not
profit by it, were it possible.
Everything relating to trade
among ourselves and among nations
has been expanded, excessive, in
fiated, abnormal, and there Is
madness in finance which no Ameri-
can policy alone can cure. We are
a creditor nation, not by normal
processes, but made SO by war. II
is not an unworthy selfshness to
seek to save ourselves when the pro-
cesses Of that salvation are not only
not denied to others, but commend
ed to them.
Relief for the Farmers
Something more than tariff pro-
lection Is required by American ag-
riculture. To the farm has come
the earlier and heavier burdens of
readjustment. There is actual de-
preston in our agricultural indus
try, while agricultural prosperity is
absolutely essential to the general
prosperity Of the country. i
In a world where there are tens
of millions who need food and cloth
ing, which they cannot get, such a
condition is sure to indict the social
system which makes it possible.
In the main the remedy lies In
distribution and marketing. Every
proper encouragement should be
given to the cooperative marketing
programs. These have proven very
helpful to the cooperating COM
munities in Europe. In Russia the
cooperative community has become
a recognized bulwark Of law and
order, and saved individualism from
engulfing in social paralysis. Ulti-
mately they will be accredited with
the salvation Of the Russian state.
There is the appeal for this ex-
pertinent. Why not try It? None
challenges the right Of the farmer
to larger share Of the consumers
pay for his product, none can dis
pute that we can not live without
the farmer. He Is justified in re-
belling against the transportation
cost. Given a fair return for his
labor, he will have less occasion to
appeal for financial aid, and given
assurance that his labors shall not
be in vain, we reassure all the peo-
pie of production sufficient to
meet our national requirement and
guard against disaster.
Must Stop Desertion of Farms
The base Of the pyramid Of civ
ilization, which rests upon the soil,
is shrinking through the drift of
population from farm to city. For
generation we have been express
ing more or less concern about this
tendency. Economists have warned
and statesmen have deplored. We
thought for time that modern con-
veniences and the more intimate
contact would halt the movement,
but it has gone steadily on. Per-
haps only grim necessity will cor
rect it, but we ought to find . less
drastic remedy.
The existing scheme Of adjusting
freight rates has been favoring the
basing points until industries are at
tracted to some conferred and re-
PEELED from others. A great volume
Of uneconomic and wasteful trans
portation has attended and the cost
increased accordingly. The grain
milling and meat-packing industries
afford ample illustration and the at
tending concentration Is readily APP