Evening star., 1923-12-06

that II should always be pur-
sued with the largest freedom Of
nevertheless. the. federal govern
mer1t might well give the benefit
Of its counsel and encouragement
more freely In this direction. II
any one doubts the need OF con-
certed action by the states Of the
nation for this purpose. 1t is
only necessary to consider the
appalling figures OF iliiteracy rep
resenting q condition which does
not vary much in all parts of the
Union. ] dp not favor the max
ing Of appropriations from the
national Treasury to be expended
directly on local education, but
l DO consider 1t Fundamental re-
quirement of nationai activity
subjects Of welfare. Is worthy
Of a separate department and a
place in the cabinet. The hu-
manitarian side Of government
should not be repressed, but
should be cultivated.
Mere intelligence, however. is not
enough. Enlightenment must be
which Is the product of the home
and Of religion. Real education
and true welfare for the people
rest inevitably on this foundation,
which the government can ap-
prove and commend, but which
the people themselves must
create.
Immigration Restriction.
American institutions rest
solely on good citizenship. They
were created by people who had
a background Of self-govern-
rnent. New arrivals should be
limited to our capacity to alb
sorb them into the ranks OF good
citizenship. America must be
kept American. For this pur-
g. policy of restricted immigra-
tion. 1t would be well to make
such immigration of a selective
nature with some inspection at
the source, and based either on a
prior census or upon the record
Of naturalization. Either method
would insure the admission of
those with the largest capacity
and best intention OF becoming
our present economic and social
conditions warrant a Limitation
OF those to be admitted. We
should find additional safety in
q law requiring the immediate
registration Of all aliens. Those
who do not want to be partakers
Of the American spirit ought not
to settle in America"
No more important duty falls
on the government of the United
States than the adequate care Of
Its veterans. Those suffering dis
abilities incurred in the service
must have sufficient hospital re-
lief and compensation. Their de-
pendents must be supported. Re-
habIlitation and vocational train
ing must be completed All Of
be prompt and effective, and II
must be administered in a spirit
OF the broadest and deepest hu-
man sympathy. II investigation
reveals any present defects of ad-
ministration or need of legisia-
tion. orders will be given for the
- immediate correction of adminis-
legislation should be given the
highest preference.
At present there are $500 va
cant beds In government hospi-
tails, ] recommend that all hos
pitals be authorized at once to
receive and care for. without hos
pital pay. the veterans Of all wars
needing such care. whenever there
are vacant beds. and that imme-
diate steps be taken to enlarge
and build new hospitals to serve
all such cases"
(; The American Legion will pre-
sent to the Congress legislative
program too extensive for de-
tailed discussion here. 1t is a
some Of 1t I do not favor. with
much Of 1t am In hearty ac-
cord, and ! recommend that a
most painstaking effort be made
to provide remedies for any de-
fects in the administration Of the
present laws which their expert
ence has revealed. The attitude
Of the government toward these
proposals should be one of gene
rosity. But I do not favor the
granting OF a bonus.
Opposes U. 8. Mine Control.
The cost Of coal has become un-
bearably high It places great
burden on our industrial and do
mestic life. The public welfare
requires a reduction in the price
OF fuel. With the enormous de-
posits in existence. failure to sup
o ply ought not to be tolerated.
Those responsible for the condi-
tlons in this industry should un-
dertake its reform. and free 1t
from any charge Of profteering.
The report of the Coal Commits
sion Will be before the Congress.
It comprises all the facts. 1t rep
resents the mature deliberations
and conclusions OF the best talent
and experience that ever made a
national survey of the production
not favor government ownership
or operation Of coal mines. The
need Is for action under private
ownership that will secure
greater continuity of production
and greater public protection.
The federal government. probably
4 has no peace-time authority to
. in coal at the mines or among
dealers, but by ascertaining and
publishing facts 1t can exercise
The source Of the dif1culty in
the bituminous coal fields is tho
intermittence OF operation which
causes great waste Of both capital
port dealing with this problem
has much significance, and is
suggestive Of necessary RENE
dies. BY amending the car rules:
by encouraging greater unity or
ownership, and possibly by per-
mitting common selling agents
for limited districts on condition
tions and guarantee that competi-
tion between districts be unlimit-
ed. distribution, storage and conf
tinuity ought to be improved.
Discusses Strike Relief.
The supply of coal must be
constant. In case of its prospec-
tive interruption, the President
should have authority to appoint
commission empowered to deal
with whatever emergency situa-
, tion might arise, to aid concilia-
ton and voluntary arbitration, to
adjust any existing or threatened
controversy between the employer
and the employe when collective
BARGAINING fails, and by control
ling distribution to prevent profit
. eering in this vital necessity. This
Hesitation is exceedingly urgent.
and essential to the exercise OF
national authority for the protec-
tion Of the people. Those who
undertake the responsibility of
management or employment in
this industry do so with the full
knowledge that the public inter-
est is paramount, and that to
Fail through any motive of self