Evening star., 1927-12-07

a contribution to the peace of an
enlightened civilization.
I'VE have placed a great deal Of
Importance in this country on the
standards of living. We have sought
for a large production Of wealth in
order that there might be a wide
distribution Of wealth. We have been
willing to pay good prices for COM
modities in order that there might
be high wages for those who produce
them. Under this system we have
come into mass production. because
we have provided the people with
sufficient money to secure mass con-
sumption. This has greatly reduced
tn. unit cost OF almost all kinds of
commodities. so that the ordinary
family can have great variety, not
only Of the necessities, but of the
comforts, conveniences, and even the
luxuries of life. We want these con
ditions to exist for those who dwell
on the farm or in the city. for the
common labOrer as well as the skilled
artisan. This is the ideal for which
advocates of economic reform have
| always been striving. 1t has been the
subject OF endless agitation and legis-
lation. We are lately coming to
| realize that this result can be Sc
cured, not by economic reform, but
by economic development. Encourage
agriculture. industry and business
generally, so that they can be Op.
Grated prOfitably. Give them protec-
ton from foreign competition and
they will afford adequate income out
of which high rates will he paid to
their wage earners and a fair return
to their owners. There is no other
practical way to carry into the Ameri-
can home the economic independence
which ought to be the lot Of our citi-
Zens in general and that happiness
which should come from an indus
triOuS life. Because we have not
sought to secure these ends through
fantastic Government Intervention,
they are none the less the results
of the great American experiment of
insisting that the people have the
power to work out their own destiny,
! which makes them personally re-
sponsible for their own success. No
higher honor, no greater recognition
of their innate sovereignty. their
right to be free, can he conferred
| upon the people. than the assertion
Of their duty to provide themselves
with self.government.
while we are working towards
| this high ideal we know it has not
been fully attained. The world is
full Of unavoidable accidents. We
are oftentimes sufferers from the vio-
lence Of the elements and from bodily
inirmties. The human race con-
stantly needs the ministrations of
charity Out of our abundance our
country has provided a charitable
relief which no nation ever surpassed.
It's healing influence has been felt.
not only in our own land. but it has
gone out to the nations of the earth.
Steady Future Seen.
at would seem that our country
can go on under these fortunate con-
ditions so long as we can maintain a
fairly even balance among different
and conflicting interests. Such bal
ance, however. is easily destroyed by
appeals to sectionalism. 1t can not be
too often declared that this is all one
country. Different parts of it require
different methods of life, of action and
of legislation These should be freely
granted by the other parts, and each
should rejoice in the success of the
other. These neighborhoods which are
still undeveloped, which need capital
to bring out their natural resources,
| should feel greatly pleased to know
| that they can rely on the sources of
wealth in their own country to provide
for their needs. The older and more
| stable localities should look with sat-
| isfaction on having as a part of our
country places still dominated by the
| restless enterprising spirit of the pio-
neer, sometimes indulging in agitation,
but in the end forming sound opin-
ions. Agriculture, industry, transpor-
tatiOn, and finance, should realize that
they are inter-dependent. and that
each may prosper by extending its
service to the others. In the imme-
diate past certain elements of agricul.
ture have apparently been behind in
the benefits of prosperity that others
have enjoyed. That unfortunate con-
dition has been gradually disappear.
ing, until just at present agriculture
as a whole is better circumstanced
than some sections of industry. If we
do not permit Selfishness to prevail.
if we do not all undertake to make
all the money there is in the country
in one year, but are willing to pro.