Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-09-14

FASNSAJ VI OuA bphhtiJR w
upon all people Of the nation with
in certain ages to fight our battles
IL necessary. We realized that we
had work to do not only across the
seas but here at home. and so un-
der this legislation, within the ages
specified, twenty-four millions of
our people were registered. They
were registered as subject to the
call of our country. We didn't
need them all to wear the uniform
of the United States. We selected
of that great number about four
and one-half millions. Those four
and one-half millions went abroad
to do the service of their country
and also to face the great danger of
making the supreme sacrifice. The
other twenty million were left in
their ordinary vocation or in
peaceful pursuits, They were not
called upon to make the great sac
rifiee as were those called into the
ranks of the army and navy. These
others We're engaged in useful oc-
cupations--essential occupations to
the conduct of the war, but they
received wages which were paid
for the toll of men in civil life.
their wages were even higher, in
many instances much higher, than
they were prior to the war. There
was no financial sacrifice there.
They were able to sleep at night
peacefully under a roof and in a
bed. The others went into the
service of their country, the great
mass of them for wage of dollar
a day. They slept often in the
open air, facing the hostile ele-
ments. They had a wage of a doll
lar a day, They were called, they
were chosen to serve this county
Of ours; and / want to say to you
my good friends, that / honestly
believe this great country as a
first consideration should see to it.,
now that the war is successfully
over, that this compensation shall
in some way be reasonably adj
justed. l shall never forget the
ooca sion in the senate of the Unit
ell States when that body ny on.y
four votes in opposition decided
to take up for consideration the
soldiers adjusted compensation
bill. There wasl't the sligh-t-t
d rtbt but what II that bill had
beer brought to a vote hat /,
would have been carried by very
large majority, But upon the eve
of its passage, the president OF the
United states took it as his task
to come before the senate and do
the unprecedented thing of asking
the senate not to pass the bill. At
that time it was impossible for me
to remain silent and ! will say to
you that it was one of the most
solemn occasions in which l have
ever participated, and | am really
glad and proud, my friends, that
as a member of the financial COM
mittee which considered the legls-
lation, that l had the privilege and
the opportunity on that occasion to
arise and voice my protest in as
emphatic terms as l could COM
mand. Do you want to endorse that
act of this administration?
New Railroad Bill.
There has railroad bill
been passed. It's true that that
bill was not strictly partisan bill
but it is something of which the
leadership In the republican party
is still Boosting. Under that bill!
there is an absolute requirement.
that the transportation charges
shall be fixed so high as to secure
to these railroads net earning OF
not less than 51s per cent upon
their invested capital, and / want
to ask you good people who buy
transportation for your cattle ana
sheep, for your goods, who buy
your own transportation at this
time, in this great readjustment
period when we are struggling 10
even make the cost of our produc.
ton, whether we want this great
government of ours to guarantee to
any industry in this country a
profit at this time. There are many
other things in that bill to which
| might refer, but l observe l have
no time to discuss it. I,would Ike
to tell you other facts about TINS
bill would like to tell you how.
In my judgment. the future build"
ing of railroads in this western
country will be absolutely prevented
by the terms of the bill. 1t Will
prevent the development and the
extension of railroads in our coun-
try except in very exceptional cir
cumstances, and I don't believe
that there is 5 per cent of the peo-
ple of the United states today who
believe that that bill is what IT
should be but that are opposed pS
the other 95 per cent.
Adjustment Possible.
But, nv friends, these matters
can be adjusted. They can be
changed so as to meet the exigen
cies of the occasion. 1t is true we
are suffering now under that pur-
den. but as soon as the people SUI
fer a little while they are going TO
bring about a change. But there
ere other great fundamental cues
tions which have arisen, when L
put into effect at this time Will De
vital to the people of this countr!
for years to come. You canhpl
change the legislation upon these
great questions in one short space
OF time, l wish to call your az
tention to the situation of TINS
country as 1t exists and then ASK
YOU to decide whether or not the
proposed legislation will solve the
problems to the benefit OF the
great masses of the people OF the
United States. You will recall that
prior to the war the United States
was a debtor nation. We owed
the rest of the world about i've
billions of dollars. Through INC
operation of war time, that dert
has been paid and the rest OF the
world now is debtor to the United
states and her people OF no less
than fifteen billions of dollars
Again during that period or tilne
we have been building up a great
export trade. 1t Is true thar the
balance of trade is diminishing,
but it Is also true that the nmouht
of foreign trade Is diminishing. ~
fact. nv friends, our foreign tra1e
TODAY is diminishing SO raWals
III at it has almost reached the van,
ishing point IN a relative sense;
read Ills afternoon a vary iogieal
aud appp.tnt.y well-wr''ten t'ticle
published ty a we'll known ecshe-
mis-. Of this c,rntry. He calied ~
tention to tho fact that tEa I.i
eirn trade of cur country IS cor.
Jared with d. nestle trade on !
$3.50 = anrcant Qe Varying