Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-12-08
PRESIDENT ASKS
CONGRESS TO Aid
NATIONS FARMERS
Washington, Dec. 8.-President Harding in
his annual message delivered today to Congress in
person dealt with nearly score of subjects, chief

among them being pro-
hibition, farm credits,
the transportation prob
lem child labor and immigration.
The executive announced his pur-
pose to invite the governors OF the
states and territories to an early
conference with the federal execu-
tive authority with a view to adopt-
ing definite policies of state and
national cooperation in administer
ing the prohibition laws. He said
the day is unlikely to come when
the prohibition amendment will be
repealed and the nation should adopt
its course accordingly.
The President told congress that Il
this statuatory provision for prohibit
tion enforcement is contrary to delib-
crate public opinion, which he does
not believe, the rigorous and literal en-.
| torcement will concentrate public at
tention on any requisite modification
Such a course" he added. con
forms with the law and saves the hui
| initiation of se government and the
humiliation Of our people before the
world and challenges the destructive
forces engaged in widespread viola
/ tion, official corruption and individual
decentralization.
Would Enlarge Railroad Board
/ With regard to the transportation
problem he proposed that the railroad
labor board be abolished, with the sub
stitntion OF labor division in the in
torstate commerce commission VITA
ample power to REQUIRE it's rulings to
be accepted hy both parties to dis
puted question.
This suggested substitution will in
volve necessary increase in the mem
lhership Of the commission. probably
! four, to constitute the labor division.
If the suggestion appeals to congress
1t Will be well to specify that the labor
fdivision shall be constituted of repre-
septatives of the four rate making ter
rltorics, thereby assuring a tribunal
conyersant with the conditions which
obtain in the different rate making
sections Of the country"
The executive also proposed that
the law require the carriers and their
employees to institute means and meth
DDS to negotiate between themselves
their constantly arising differences,
limiting appeals to the government
body to disputes Of such character as
are likely to effect the public welfare.
Merge Lines Into Systems.
Coordination of all transportation
facilities was urged by the President.
These would include not only inland
waterways but motor truck transpor-
tation as we'll He inyeighed against
the sytem OF paraleling the railroads
with truck roads, thus drawing freight
from the steam lines instead Of max
ing the motor trucks feeder for
them. AS to the carrier themselves,
he suggested as ways Of increased
ecor0my and efficiency there be
merger of lines into systems, inter
change Of freight cars, the consolid9
tion of facilities and economic use OF
terminals He declared that the man
ayers CT the lines are without that IN
tercarrier. cooperative relationship
so highly essential to the most and
best economical operation, adding
that they could not function in har-
ru0ny when the recent strike threat
ened paralysis OF all railway trans
pOrtation.
More extended credit for the farmer
was strongly urged by the executive.
who declared that the very proof Of
helptuluess already given is the
strongest argument for permanent es.
tablishment Of Widened credit,
Proposes TWO Amendments.
Two constitutional amendments
We're proposed One would give con
gress authority over child labor and
the other would restrict the issues Of
tax exempt securities, which We're de-
clared to be drying up the sources
of federal taXtaion and encouraging
unproductiye aud extrayagaGt eXpen
ditures by states and municipalities,
Enactment Of legislation providing
for registration Of aliens and more
thorough examination Of enllgrants at
the ports of embarkation was urged
He said there vas a 'reCrudesence of
hyphenated Amaricanism which we
thought to have been stamped out
when we committed the nations life
aud soul to the world war and added
that advocates Of revolution are ahus-
ing the hospitality of American shores.
World Still Upset.
The president began his address BY
calling the attention of congress TO
general world conditions which he
said still were seriously disturbed as
a result of the war. He asserted that
'the inevitable readiustmeut of the
social and economic order is not more
than barely begun" and continued.
There never again will be precise
" the old order; indeed. | know of
no one who thinks it to be desirable.
For out of the old order came the
war itself and the new order, estah.
rshed and made secure never will
permit its recurrence.