The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-12-24

l
is to organize our peace, is to make
our prosperity not only stable, but free
| to have unimpeded momentum. 1t il
so obvious, that it ought not need t
be stated, that nothing can be good fol
the country which is not good for all tn,
country. Nothing can be for the inter
est of the country which is not in. the
interest of everybody; therefore the day
of accommodation and of concession and
of common understanding is the day
of peace and achievement of necessity
We have come to the beginning OF that
day.
"Men are no longer resisting the con-
clusions at which the nation has arrived
as to the necessity of readiustments OF
its business. Business men of all sorts
are showing their willingness to come
into this arrangement, which | venture
to characterize as the constitution OF
peace. So that by common counsel, and
by the accumulating force of co-opera-
tion we are going to seek more and more
to serve the country.
II have been surprised at the sudden
acceptance of this measure by public
opinion everywhere. | say surprised, be-
cause it seems as if it has suddenly be-
come obvious to men, who had looked
at it with too critical an eye, that it
was really meant in their interest. They
have opened their eyes to see a thing
which they had supposed to be hostile
to be friendly and serviceable, exactly
what we intended it to be and what we
shall intend all our legislation to be.
"The men who have fought for this
measure have fought nobody. They have
simply fought for those accommodations
which are going to secure us in prosper
ity and peace.
Nobody can be the friend of any
class in America in the sense of be-
ing the enemy of any other class. You
can only be the friend Of one class by
showing it the lines by which it can ac-
commodate itself to the other class. The
lines of help are always the lines of ae
commodation.
"It is in this spirit, therefore, that we
rejoice together tonight, and l cannot
say with what deep emotions of graft
tude | feel that / have had part in
completing work which | think
will be of lasting benefit to the busi-
ness of the country"
Inc Scene at the signing.
The scene at the signing of the meas
ure was not unlike that which attended
the completion of the tariff law. The
conference report on the bill, which had
passed the House Monday night by an
overwhelming vote, was likewise adopted
by the Senate during the afternoon by
a vote of 43 to p, Republicans voting
again with the Democrats. The en-
crossed bill with the signatures of the
vice president and the speaker Of the
House was finally brought to the White
House shortly before 5 o'clock.
BY o'clock, the hour set for the cere-
mony, Speaker Clark, Representative
Senator Owen and Repre-
sentative Glass, Secretaries MeAdoo,
Garrison, Daniels, Lane and Wilson and
Postmaster General Burleson were
grouped around the presidents desk,
bers of Congress and many government
officials. The group also included Mrs.
Wilson and her daughters, and Miss Nc
Adoo and Mrs. Owen. There was an
of joyousness, rather than of
solemnity. apparently. The president
inquired if Senator James had come.
The huge form of the Kentucky senator
from behind the crowd and
someone remarked ga majority of the
Senate has now arrived"
-Four gold pens were used by the presi-
dent in writing the bill into law. He
wrote the words "23, December, 1918, ap-
proved" with one, and used three pens
in writing Woodrow Wilson," splitting
the first name into two syllables The
last three pens he presented to Senator
Owen, Representative Glass and Secre-
tary McAdoo, co-authors of the measure
The president answered the curiosity of
the crowd as to the disposition Of the
fourth with the laughing remark:
"This is the 40 per cent. gold re-
serve"
Later it developed that Senator Chill
ton of West Virginia had sent up gold
pen of his own to be used in writing
the date of the law. The president was
in happy humor as he slowly wrote
his name.
"1'm not accustomed" he said, 'to
write my name in series"
"Well, the bill was made in install
ments," suggested Senator Lewis of Illi-
nois.
isn't that a reflection on the SenateH"
inquired Representative Glass with
laugh.
Senator Lewis retort was lost in the
applause that followed the completion of
-he presidents signature as he rose from
MS desk. The president paid tributes |
10 the heads of the two congressional
by writing each a letter. |
To Representative Glass he wrote:
MAY l not express my admiration |
'or the way in which you have carried
he fight for the currency bill to an
successful issue2 | hope |
md believe that the whole country ap-
,reciates the work you have done at |
something like its real value, and / re- |
oice that you have so established your |
elf in its confidence"
He wrote Senator Owen:
''Now that the fight has come to a |
uccessful issue, may / not extend to |
rou my most sincere and heartfelt con-
and also tell you how sim
erely | admire the way in which you
AVE conducted a very difficult and try |
ng piece of business2 The whole coun-
,ry owes you debt of gratitude and |
admiration. 1t has been pleasure to |
De associated with you in so great a |
'iece of constructive legislation"
Wilson Sought "Pat."
When the president concluded ihs
peech there was a general reception |
md round of handshaking. The presi-
lent extended the compliments of the
on son To his visitors Whau avarvhodx /