Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-23
WE HAVE GOOD ADvIcE-UsE IT..


The American people like to think.
although experience does not always
Justify that conclusion. that we can
do things better than any other peo-
pie on earth. There are those who
assume to believe that our indus
tries need no protection because our
industrialists and laborers are so
much smarter than others. and this,
toe. experience does not warrant.
But when Mr.. Hoover rises to re-
mark that if we wish to keep up
wages we must reduce waste he says
that which is credible. He should,
from his experience. be capable of
more accurate vision Of possibilities
for doing this than one less &C
uuainted with organization and eff
cient methods could be.
The elder ]. P. Morgan once said
that If he could run the government
as a business proposition he could
save a million dollars per day and
we do not learn that anyone has
succeeded in discrediting that de-
claratisn. From all that we learn
Of another great leader in business
affairs, Henry Ford has shown what
may be done by elimination Of much
OF the waste in processes of manu-
featuring.
Mr.. Hoover sees possibility Of adj
vancing our living standards by
stopping waste: that the amount Of
savings would be in billions. A COM
,nittee he set to work upon this mat
ter already have presented plans for
1000 opportunities Of simplification.
He believes the Government as a
clearing agency may secure Coop
Grafton as may not otherwise be
done. There is need of collective
action in the trades. He remarks
that it will not be found in "any leg
islative extension Of the ten com
mandments."
The farmers themselve are coming
to.see that amendments to the Deca-
logue are not essential to their well
fare: likewise they are coming to
discredit much of the advice given
Thorn, and which they have reason to
believe is not altogether disinterest-
ed. They have no cause. however.
for so regarding that offered by Sec
rotary Hoover. In recent address
to the agricultural committee chosen
by the President. he told the COM
mittee that from his experience for
seven years in studying and dealing
with the broad economic currents
OF production and distribution. 1
have the conviction that, the first
thing needed in aid of the American
farmer Is a positive, long-view ma
tional policy for better setting Of
agriculture in our whole national
economy. Generally the
fundamental need is a balancing Of
agricultural production to our home
demand" He sees that the tariff
should aid agriculture as it aids in
dustry. that as with the Federal Re-
serve in preventing crises so in agri-
culture set up a policy to avoid re-
curing crises. We should not be
dependent for food supplies upon
other countries. The number Of
American consumers is increasing.
The wage Garner averages 100 per
cent more than before the war. with
living ~ per cent higher. Bring the
farmer up to that better level. Then
he enumerated the wastes which are
going on in agriculture. from specu-
lation. from excessive seasonal char
acter of production and distribution.
through lack of information. of
standards. through multiplication of
varieties, through deterioration. I'M
necessary haulage. disorderly mar
keting. too many links in chain of
distribution. bad credits. money
spent for advertising not based on
information. to unfair practices by a
small minority. Voluntary co-opera-
ton is essential to a national pro-
gram.
We can think Of no better adviser
with regard to such activities than
he. man who could command
from business ventures much more
for his advice than Uncle Sam is
paying him. We hope a way may be
found for making use of his advice.
which the country is fortunate in
having.