Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-13
NATION NEAR GLORIOUS
PERIOD OF ADVANCEMENT
Business and Industry Expected to Aid
Nation to Still Higher Plane
of Prosperity.

adequate public buildings, are OF such
a nature that they can be handled
only by the Government. And l can
see no logical reason why this work
cannot be directed in way that Will
contribute to the economic progress and
stability of all the people.
Protective Tariff.
Another paramount problem con-
fronting Congress which has most
intimate relationship to our whole
economic fabric is that of the pro-
tective tariff. A revision of the sched-
ules doubtless will be che of the main
tasks undertaken by the House and
Senate when they meet next Decem.
Der for the long session. / am hopeful
over our ability to Go a good job: it
seems to me that We need to bring
maximum of constructive economic
reasoning to bear on this problem and
minimum of political manipulation.
1t seems to me that changes should be
made with the greatest attention 10
the industries that are out OF line with
the march of economic progress. In
other words, believe in making GEM
eral application of the benefits OF the
protective tariff. Any discussion now
of the fundamental soundness OF the
protective principle can only be OF an
academic nature; We have developed
our amazing prosperity behind the
Great Wall, and there, in my judg-
ment, it is going to remain. Its posi-
ton has been strengthened by the
legislation of recent years that las
been designed to keep out competing
labor. And an adequate foundation has
been provided by the. vast mineral and
agricultural resources of the country.
But, despite all these helps. the Great
Wall has proved it's worth; now let's
use it in the most efficient way. which
will give a square deal for all the peg
pie, just as nearly as this can be hE-
manly determined.
General Service Agencies.
think that the Government should
give increased support to general sery-
Ice agencies, such as the Department
of Agriculture and the Department III
Commerce. which have taken such a
constructive place in the development
of national thought and in studying
research problems of type that only
the Government can undertake. And
that is true in other places; when We
are against such troubles as the flu
epidemic. for example, We see the value
of providing for agencies which will
aid in keeping such serious matters
under control. A long catalogue could
easily be made of the outstanding
achievements of the Department of
Agriculture. which would show many
places where it has been decidedly
helpful in the material and pllysicai
well-being of the people.
From time to time the Government
should change its policies in reference
to business to make them conform to
0t1r n hiOhlU
complex era. I feel, for example, that
it should extend its control over the
futures trading in some lines of food
products, as wheat, as this has degen-
Grated on some markets into an evil
and a decided nuisance to both the
producers and the consumers. On the
other hand, 1t is not impossible that at
some time in the future change will be
made in the consent decree" as it re-
lates to the packers, although this is of
course, move that the courts must
undertake. This decree dates back
about Is years to a time when there
was great objection to the packers en-
gaging in the retailing of meats, and
some court action. AS a compromise,
the consent decree" eliminated the
packers from the retailing of their
products. But with the rise of the
chain stores in recent years, we have
lost much OF our fear OF the chain idea.
Now there are many folks in this coun-
try encounter them in increasing
numbers-wflo believe that the packers
should be in the retailing business.
Sees Progress Ahead.
Whether they should be allowed to
do this is not, after all, the point-the
big idea" is that we should try to
conduct the Government in a way so
1t will be of the greatest service to all
the people. I think that under the
leadership of Herbert Hoover this Ma
ton will make real progress along that
line, and I forecast. too. that he will
get more cooperation of constructive
nature from Congress than some OF the
critics of that body will now admit is
possible. Congress may be fearful
and wonderful organization and it may
contain some "fatheads," as the pes
simlstic brethren declare, and 1t may
be lacking in an economic background.
but have found that most of the folks
In both houses-at least, a huge ma
Jor1ty OF them-are trying to do the
right thing; and If they have leader
ship in which they have confidence.
they will line up all right. I feel that
Herbert Hoover will supply that leader
Ship