Show PRES DENT DENTIS WILSON GIVES CONGRESS V HS IS VIEWS ON MANY HUT VITAL SUBJECTS Believes it is Hit Hie Paramount Duty to be Present at the Peace Conference M Much ch of Address Devoted to Railroad Railroad Rai Rail Rail- road Problem Maes Makes Appeal for Woman Suffrage Indorses Indorses Plan for Levying Six Billion Dollar Dolar Tax in 19 1919 19 Washington The The The following is i the te complete com corn text tt of oC President Woodrow Wilson's Wilsons Wison's address to t congress in joint session on D December De Dc- cember 2 Gentlemen of the Congress The year that has ha elapsed elapse since I last lat stood t before bore you ou to fulfill fuli m my constitutional a duty to give the t I congress from time Ue to time information on onte the te state of the Union has ha been crowded with great events great processes and great results that I cannot hope to give you an adequate picture picure of its it transactions or of oC the theCa far Ca reaching changes which have been een wrought Vj n in the t life of our nation and of the te world world You have yourselves witnessed these thee things as I have It is La i too t soon son to t tasse assess asse them them and we who stand in the midst of them and ad are arc ae part of them are ae less les qualified than tn men me of another generation will wl be to tolay t say lay what they mean or even what they the have been ben But some om great eat outstanding facts fact are unmistakable and constitute in a sense part of oC the public business with which it is i our our duty to deal deL To state them i is i to t set act th the t stage tage e for the te legislative and executive action acton which winch must grow out of them te and which we have yet to t shape and determine Reviews Troop Trop Shipment A year ear ago we had sent Bent men over over- seas ea Since Sine then we have sent an average of each month the nuber numbers number in m fact fact rising in i May last lat to InJune in inJune inJune June to t in July to and continuing con con- to 10 reach similar figures in August Augut and September September September-in in in August and in September No such auch movement of troops tops ever took tok place before across miles mie of sea sa followed by adequate equipment and supplies supple and ad carried cared safely through extraordinary dangers of attack dangers attack dangers which were alike alke strange stange and infinitely difficult dif di- di- di to t guard gard against against In all al this movement movement move move- move ment only men were lost lot by enemy attacks attacks at at- at tacks of whom were upon a single Orkney English islands Ild transport which was wa sunk sun near nea th the V. V United Unit Naton Nation V VI I need not tell tl you what lay back of this ne great movement ef eC men and material It is not invidious to say that tat back of it lay a supporting organization of the industries industrIes' of oC the country countr and all al its it productive activities more complete more mor thorough in ix method and effective ii in results results more spirited and unanimous unanimous mou in purpose and effort efort than any other great eat belligerent had ha ever been ben able ale to effet ef ef- ef- ef feet fet We profited greatly by the experience of the nations naton which had ha already bee been engage engaged engaged en en- gage for nearly three the years in inthe the exigent and exacting business their every resource and every ever executive proficiency taxed ted to t the utmost We were the pupils But we learned learne quickly and acted at with a promptness and a aes readiness es of operation co-operation that justify our great eat pride that we were able to t. t serve the th world word with unparalleled energy and quick accomplishments V Praise for Heroes lere But it is i not the physical scale ache le and executive eec eec- Live tive efficiency of preparation supply equipment equipment equip equip- ment and dispatch that I would dwell upon V but the mettle mete and quality of the officers and men we sent set over and of the sailors who kept the seas se and the spirit of of the nation naton that stood st behind belind them them No soldiers soldier or U ever proved themselves more quickly ready redy for the test tt of oC battle batte or acquitted themselves with wt more splendid courage and achievement when put to t the test tt Those of of us u who wh played playe some part pat in directing the the great geat processes by which th te war was wa pushed irresistibly irre irresistibly irre- irre ire forward to t the final triumph may now forget all al that and delight our thoughts thought with the story str of what our men did Their officers officer understood the grim and exacting task tk they tey had ha undertaken and performed with wt audacity auda efficiency and unhesitating courage that touch tuch the te story stry of of convoy and battle with wt I imperishable distinction at every ever tun turn whether the enterprise were great geat or small small from from smal-from from their chiefs clefs Pershing and Sims Sim down to t the lieutenant and their men were wee worthy of oC them them uch them such such men as a hardly nee need to t be commanded commande and go to t their terrible trible adventure blithely and with the quick en intelligence e of of those tho who know just jut what it is i they would accomplish I am pru proud to t be the th fellow countryman of men of such stuff sod and ad valor Those Thoe of us who stayed at home did our duty the war could not have been ben won or or the gallant galant men who fought it giver given giver their opportunity to t win it otherwise but for lor many a long day we shall think ourselves we were not there tere and hold our cheap while any speaks speak that tat fought with those thoe at St. St Mihiel or Thierry The Te memory of those days das of triumphant battle batte wi will go wt go-wt with these thee fortunate men to t their graves gaves and each ech will wi have his hi favorite memory Old Od men forget forgets yet all al shall be b forgot but hell he'll hel remember day with advantages what feats feat he he did that V Our Oar Men Turned Tare Tide Tide What Wt we all al thank than God G for with deepest gratitude is i that our ou men went in force into Int the line lne of battle batte just at the critical moment when the whole fate fat of the te world seemed to t hang han in in the balance and threw their fresh freh strength into the ranks of freedom fredom in time timeto to t turn tur the whole tide and sweep of of the fateful fateful fate fate- fat ful st struggle torn struggle turn it once for all all al so that thenceforth it was wa back back back for their the enemies always back never again forward After At that it was wa only a scant four lour months month before the commanders comander of the the central centra empires empire knew themselves beaten and now their ver very empires empie are ae in liquidation Nobility of Purpose And throughout it ii all aU how now line fine the te spirit of the nation naton was wa I What Wat unity of oC purpose pure what untiring zeal what elevation of purpose ran r through though all al its it splendid display of af strength etena its it untiring accomplishment 1 I I have said that those of ofus us who stayed at home to t do the work of organization and supply will wi always wish wih that we had h been ben with the men whom we sustained by our labor la la- her bor br but we can never be ashamed ahme It I has ha been an inspiring thing to t be here in the midst of fine men who had turned turne aside aide from every private privat interest of their heir own ow and ad devoted de dc de devote voted vote the whole of their trained traine capacity to t the the tasks tasks' tak that supplied the sinews sinew of the whole great undertaking I The Te patriotism the unselfishness the thoroughgoing devotion and distinguished capacity that marked their toilsome labors day daY after day month after ft month have made ade them fit it mates and comrade comrades com corn rades rade of the men in the trenches tenche and on the te sea And not the te men here in Washington only Th Thy y have but directed the vast vat achievement t Throughout innumerable factories facto faeto- ries rica upon Innumerable farms fars in the depths of coal mines and nd iron mines mine and copper mines mine wherever ver the stuffs stuff of industry were to t be obtained and prepared prepare in the shipyards shipyards ship ship- ship yards ads on oc the railways at the docks on the th sea in every ever labor that was wa needed to t sustain gus sus su lain tain tin the te b battle tte lines lne men have vied vie with Wt each other to t do their part and end do it i well wel They Tey can look lok any man arms man arm m us 1 the te face fae and say lay We also strove t. t Wil and gave the thc the best bt that was wa in us u to make mae our fleets fet and armies ami sure of their triumph Tribute to Women And what shall we say of oC the women women women-of women women-f of their instant intelligence quickening every ee task that tt they touched tuche their capacity for organization organization or or- and C operation co-operation pation which gave their action discipline and enhanced the te ci effective ness nel- nel acton of everything they te attempted their apt tude at tasks to t which they had never before hands bands their utter self sacrifice set let tei their had alike in what they the did id and in what they gave ai Their contribution to t the great get result is beyond They have added de a new luster to lster the the- annals of oan woman American hood hoo V VV hod V Equality for Reward The least tet tr tribute ut we can pay them fa Is i to tomake tomake t I make Te them the equals eual of men in political rights as they the have proved themselves their te right a equals in every field feld of practical work they the have eul entered ee whether for themselves or for I their country entre Wether These Thee great days day of completed achievement would woud be b sadly Bay marred maed were wee w we im-I im to omit that act of oC justice Besides Beides the te Im Immense im- im memo mense practical services service they have rendered the women of the te country count have been the tho moving spirits in the systematic economies by which our people have voluntarily as assisted as a slated to supply the suffering peoples of the world and Ind the armies armica armie upon every ever front with wih food fo and everything else that tt we had hd that might serve the common comon cause The details of such a story stry can never be b fully written but we carry them at our hearts heart and thank God Go that we we can say that we are arc the kinsmen kinsmen kinsmen kins kins- men of such I Great Gret Triumph Comes Come Come I And now we are sure ure of the great tri triumph mph for which every sacrifice was made made It I has ha com come come- come come-come come ome In n zt its it completeness and nd with the the pride and inspiration of these thee days of achievement quick within us we turn to t the tasks of peace again again again-a a peace sure against the violence pace of irresponsible monarchs monarch and ambitious military mitar coteries coteries and and make ready redy for a new order for new foundations of Justice justice Jus jus- fie tice aa and fair dealing We are shout about abut to give order and organization organize organize- tion ton to t this thi peace not only ony for ourselves but for the other peoples of the world as a well wel j so far as a they will wl suffer us to t serve them It Id Is i international justice that we seek sek not domestic safety merely Our thoughts thought have dwelt of late at upon Europe upon Aia Asia upon the near and the far far ai East Eat V very ry little upon the acts act of peace and accommodation that wait walt to t be b performed at our own doors dors Relations Wi With Neighbors While Thile we are adjusting our relations relations relations- with the rest ret of the world is i it not nt of capitol capital importance that we should clear awa sway away all al grounds ground of misunderstanding with wit our Immediate li- li Im mediate neighbors and give proof prof of the friendship we really realy feel I hope hoe that the members of the senate senat will wi permit pert me to t speak onoe ono more of the treaty of friendship and adjustment with wih the republic of Colombia I very earnestly ur urge upon them an early and favorable action acton upon that vital matter I believe belee that they will wl feel fee with me that the stage of affairs is i now set for such action acton as will wi be not only just just V but generous and In the spirit of the new ag age upon which we have so s happily entered V Readjustment Problem So far as a our domestic affairs f ir are are concerned con con- cerne the problem of oC our ou return to t peace Jace is a problem of economic and industrial re re adjustment That Tat problem is less les serious for foru forus forus us u than it may turn out to be for the nations nations nations na na- na- na which have suffered the disarrangements disarrange ments ment and the losses lose of oC war longer than we Our people moreover do not wait walt to t be coached coache and led le They The know their own own business business bui- bui busi busi- ness nes are quick and resourceful at every readjustment re readjustment re- re re adjustment definite in purpose and self sel re reliant reliant re- re re lant in action Any leading strings string we might seek to t put them in would speedily become hopelessly tangled tangle because they would pay payS no attention to them and go go- their way All Al that we can do dp as their legislative and executive servants servant is to mediate the process of change here there and elsewhere as we i may rosy I have heard head much counsel counsel as a to t the plans plan that should be formed and personally conducted to t a happy consummation but from no quarter have I seen sen any any gener general scheme schee of reconstruction emerge which I thought it likely we could force our spirited spirit business businessmen men and self reliant laborers to accept with wt due pliancy plancy and obedience Take Harness larnes Off Of While Wie the war lasted we set up many agencies by which to direct the industries of the country county in the services service it was wa necessary for them the to t render by which to t make sure of an abundant supply of the materials needed by which to t check undertakings that could for the time time be e dispensed with wih and stimulate those thos that were were most serviceable in war by which to t gain for the purchasing departments of oC the te governments nm a certin certain control over the prices price of essential articles artcle and materials by which to restrain retain trade with alien alen enemies make the most mot of the available shipping and systematize financial transactions both public and private so that there would be b no unnecessary conflict or confusion confusion confusion-by by by which in short short to t put every evey material energy of the country county in harness herness her har ha- ha haness ness to draw the common load and make of ofu ofus ofus us u one team tm in the accomplishment of a great task But the moment we knew the armistice to have been signed we took tok the harness hanes off of Raw materials upon which the government had kept its it hand for fear there should not be enough for the industries that supplied the armies armie have been ben released and put into int the general market again alain Great Gret industrial plants plant whose whole output and machinery ma ma chinery chiner had been ben taken ove over for the uses uses' ue of the government have been set free to t return to t the uses to t which they were put before the te war It I has not been ben possible to t remove so 6 readily or so quickly the control of foodstuffs foodstuffs |