The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-15


 private loan should be made by ouI citizens to Germany for, the financial support of this undertaking. The gov ernments interested should make neces sary concessions for the security oi such loan. In my opinion such ac tion, by stabilizing Europe, would re suit in improving our own economic condition. But beyond that it is thu duty of our people who have the re sources to use them for the relief ~ol war stricken nations and the improve ment of world conditions.
 As this is written, reports indicate that the plan of General Dawes will bt adopted, and that the effort of America has made a tremendous contribution tc the welfare, security, and peace of the world. But I await the event.
 When the reparatiOns plan is in
 operation, shall deem it an appro-
 priate time to approach the great
 pClwers with proposal for another
 conference for further limitation
 of armaments and for devising
 plans for qualification of inter-
 national law. personally should
 favor entering into covenants for
 the purpose of 0utlawing aggres-
 sive war by any practical means,
 Our country has always been
 against aggressive war and for
 permanent peace. Those who are
 working out detailed plans to pre-
 sent such policy for consideration
 have my entire sympathy. trust
 that never again will the women of
 this nation be called on to sacrifice
 their loved ones to the terrible
 scourage of war.
 We have constantly striven to come to more complete understandings and improve our relations with Latin Amer ica. At their request we have under taken to compose their difficulties. We helped the government of Mexico pro tect itself against domestic violence. There is little doubt that in extending this assistance and the moral support which it indicated we helped save the people of Mexico from the terrors of another revolution. We also indicated the adoption of a policy of making it worth while for a government so to con- duct itself as to merit our recognition. We have secured a written agreement with Mexico to negotiate a treaty of amity and commerce to replace one which was cancelled as long ago as 1881, and joint commissions will shortly meet to adjust all American claims against that country.
 The federal government ought to be, and is, solicitous. for the welfare of every one of it's inhabitants, every one of it's business activi- ties, whether they be small or great. This is one country; we are one people united by common interest,". There should be no favorites and no Outcasts ;; no race or religious prejudices in government. America opposes special privilege for anybody, and favors equal opportunity for everybody. It has adopted these principles because they are the logical conclusions of our ideals of freedom. Moreover, we believe they contribute to our material welfare. We oppose the artificial supports of priv ilege and monopoly because they are both unjust and uneconomic. They are not right. They do not work. No sound and enduring government or prosperity can rest upon anything but the sure foundations of equal opportunity and justice for all.
 Advocacy Of Protection
 It is in accordance with these prin- ciples that our government seeks by ap- propriate legislation to promote the fi- naneial welfare of all the different groups that form our great economic structure. The republican party sup ports the policy of protection as a broad principle, good alike for producer and consumer, because it knows that no other means to prevent the lowering of the standards of pay and living for the American wage earner toward the mis- cry scale that prevails abroad has ever been devised. Were such protection re- moved, the result would be felt at every fireside in the land. Our industry would languish, factories would close, com merce and transportation would be stag. nant, agriculture would become para lyzed, financial distress and economic depression would reach over the whole country. Before we are carried away with any visionary expectation. of pro- noting the public welfare by a general avalanche of cheap goods from foreign sources, imported under system which, whatever it may be called, is in reality free trade, it will be well first to count the cost and realize just what such really means.
 I am for protection because it
 maintains American standards of
 living and of business, for agricul.
 ture, industry, and labor. I am in
 favor of the elastic provisions of
 our tariff law. propose to admin
 ister them, not politically, but judi
 eiaIly. As the business of the world
 becomes stabilized, without throw.
 ing all our economic system into
 confusion, we can raise or lower
 specific schedules to meet the re.
 quirements of a scientific adjust.
 ment.
 l confess that my inheritance and personal experience have bred in me a keen interest in the welfare of agricul- ture. Perhaps the very hardships that those who have been engaged in it have encountered have caused it to be the chief source of that independence and stalwart citizenship which has con tributed so lavishly to the glory of American life. It constitutes and ele- ment in our nation of such imvortance as to be worthy of the utmost solicitude and concern. One of our first thoughts in 1921 was for it's relief and revival. As. many as 15 laws have been passed to assist and support this fundamental industry. Through the War Finance corporation it has been extended credits of between $300,O0O,0OO and S4OO.- 100000. In addition to this, government activity provided about $5O,OOO OOO from private sources for the relief of the cattle industry, and in the early spring of this year O $1O,00O,OOO cor poration twas formed, which it was esti- mated could furnish $1OO,OOO,OOO for diversification and financial relief in the northwest. The Intermediate Credit banks have loaned over $86,O0O, 900 to individuals and cooperative marketing associations, which assisted directly and