The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1922-12-14

Washington, Dec. s. President
Harding appeared before congress with
his annual message on the state of the
Union. The following is a partial text
of what he said:
There never again will be precisely
the ola order; indeed, | know of no
one who thinks 1t to be desirable. For
out Of the old order came the war it.
self, and the new order, established
and made secure, never will permit it's
recurrence.
III is no figure of speech to say we
have come to the test of our clvlliza-
ton. The world has been passing-is
today passing-through a great crisis.
The conduct Of war itself is not more
difficult than the solution of the prob
lens which necessarily follow.
Considers Home Problems.
81 am not speaking at this moment
OF the problem in its wider aspects of
world rehabilitation or of international
relationships The reference is to our
own social, financial and economic
problems at home. These things are
not to be considered solely as problems
apart from all international relation
ship, but every nation must be able
to carry on for itself, else its interna-
tional relationship will have scant i'm
portance.
Doubtless our own people have
emerged from the World war tumult
less impaired than most belligerent
powers; probably we have made larger
progress toward reconstruction. ..
Had we escaped the coal and railway
strikes, which had no excuse for their
beginning, and less justification for
their delayed settlement, we should
have done infinitely better. But labor
was insistent on holding to the war
heights, and needless forces OF reac-
tion sought the prewar levels, and both
were wrong
The railway strike accentuated the
difficulty of the American farmer. The
first distress of REIMBURSEMENT came to
the farmer, and it will not be read
justment fit to abide until he is re-
lieyed The distress brought to the
farmer does not affect him alone. Agrl
cultural i'll fortune is national ill
fortune.
Saved From Disaster.
This congress already has taken
cognZance of the misfortune which
precipitate dehation brought to Amer
lean agriculture Your measures of re-
lief and the reduction of the federal
reserve discount rate undoubtedly
saved the country from widespread dis
aster. The very proof of helpfulness
already given is the strongest argu.
ment for the permanent establishment
of widened credits, heretofore tempo
rarily extended through the war finance
corporation.
1.-The farm loan bureau, which al
ready has proved It's usefulness through
the federal land banks, may we'll have
its powers enlarged TO provide ample
farm production credits as well as
enlarged land credits.
"In the last half of the year now
closing the railways, broken in car
rying capacity because of motive
power and rolling stock out of or
der though mistakenly declaring TO the
contrary, enlarged the farmers
shipments, or denied him cars when
fortunate markets were calling
Rail Problem Vital.
81 know of no problem exceeding
in importance this one of Transport
tation. We have built 40 per
cent of the worlds railroad mileage,
and yet find it inadequate to our
present requirements When we CON
template the inadequacy of today, it
is easy to believe that the next few
decades will witness the paralysis of
our nsportationusing social scheme
or a complete reorganization on some
new basis.
"Manifestly, we have need to begin
on plans to coordinate all trans
portation facilities. We should more
effectively connect up our rail lines
with our carriers by sea. We ought
to reap some benefit from the hundreds
of millions expended on inland water
ways, providing our capacity to utilize
as well as eXpend. We ought to turn
the motortruck into a railway feeder
and distributor instead of a destroy
ing competitor.
This transportation problem can
not be waved aside The demand
Tor lowered costs on farm products
and basic materials cannot be ignored