Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-08
PRESIDENT WILSON PUTS TRADE FIRST in HIS MESSAGE

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last by the German Government and in
! August by the Parliament Of Great
Britain. II marks a most hopeful and de-
cided advance in internal civilization We
should show our earnest good faith In a
great matter by adding our own accept
ance of Il.
There is another matter Of which /
must make special mention, II am to
escape your atten-
ton. It may seem a
Survev and very small thing. IL
charting of itsmof sppropr,stien ann
Coasts But many human
lives and many great
enterprises hang upon
It, It is a matter OF making ade-
quate provision for the survey and chart
ing Of our coasts. 1t Is Immediately
pressing and exigent In connection with
the immense coast line Of Alaska, a coast
line greater than that Of the United
States themselves, though II is also very
important, indeed, with regard to the old
er coasts of the Continent We cannot
use our great Alaskan domain, ships will
not ply thlther. II those coasts and their
many hidden dangers are not thoroughly
surveyed and oharted. The work ls in
complete at almost every point. Ships
and lives have been lost in threading
what were supposed to be well-known
main channels, We have not provided
adequate vessels or adequate machinery
for the survey and charting. We have
used old vessels that were not big enough
or strong enough and which we're so
nearly unseaworthy that our inspectors
would not have allowed private owners
to send them to sea. This is a matter
which, as 1 have said. seems small. but
is in reality very great. Its Importance
has only to be looked into to be appreci-
ated.
Before close may say a few words
upon two topics, much discussed out Of
doors, upon which II is highly important
that our judgments should be clear,
definite and steadfast?
One OF these is economy In Govern
ment expenditures. The duty OF econ
omy Is not debatable. II Is manifest and
imperative. In tho
appropriations we
Defines pass we are spending
Dutiaa ~ the money of the
great people whose
Economy servants we are-not
our own. We are
trustees and respon-
stble stewards In the spending The only
thing debatable and upon which we
should be careful to make our thought
and purpose clear is the kind of econ
omy demanded of us. I assert with the |
greatest confidence that the people OF the |
United States are not jealous OF the |
amount their Government costs II they |
are sure that they get what they need |
and desire for the outlay. that the money |
is being spent for objects of which they |
approve and that It Is being applied with |
good business sense and management.
Governments grow. piecemeal both in |
their tasks and in the means by which |
those tasks are to be performed, and very |
few governments are organized. venture
to say, as wise and experienced business
men would organize them If they had a
clean sheet of paper to write upon Ger
.ainly the Government of the United
states is not think that It is generally
agreed that there should be a systematic
and reassemblng of its
parts so as to secure greater efficiency
md effect considerable savings In ex-
'ense. But the amount of money saved
n that way would. l believe, though no
loubt considerable in itself. running, II
nay be, into the millions, be relatively
mall-small, mean. In proportion to the
otal necessary outlays of the Govern
nent 1t would be thoroughly worth er-
Getting, as every saving would, great or
mall. Our duty Is not altered by the
he people of the United States do not
wish to curtail the activities of this Gov
they wish rather to enlarge
hem; and with every enlargement. with
he mere growth, indeed, of the country
tself, there must come. of course, the in
vltable increase of expense. The sort
i economy we ought to practice may
e effected. and ought to be effected. by
careful study and assessment of the
asks to be performed; and the money
pent ought to be made TO yield the best
ossible returns in efficiency and achieve
lent. And, like good stewards, we
hould so account for every dollar of
ur appropriations as to make II perfect
evident what II was spent for and In
that way 1t was spent,
II is not expenditure but extravagaEce
hat we should fear being criticised for;
ot paying for the legitimate enterprises
nd undertakings OF a great Government
hose people command what II should
o, but adding what will beneht only a
w or pouring money out for what need |
OF have been undertaken at all or might
ave been postponed or better and more |
conceived and carried out.
The nation Is not niggardly; IL is very !
eneIous, IL will chide us only n we
'rget for whom we pay money out and |
hose money II is we pay. These are
lrge and general standards, but they I
re not very dihicult of application to {
articulRr cases.
The other topic I shall take leave TO !
lention goes deeper into the principles
our national life and policy. 1t is the
Ibject OF national defense.
1t can not be discussed without frst
nswering some very searching questions
is said In some quarters that we are
not prepared for
war. What Is meant
National by being prepared?
Military Is It meant that we s
are not ready upon .
oehehses brief notice TO put a :
nation in the field a :
nation OF men
aimed TO arms? OF course we are not
ady 70 do that; and We shall never be 8
time OF peace so long as we retain our !
esent political principles and inatitu- {
ons, And what Is 1t that Il Is suggested c
should be prepared 10 dor To defend 9
rselYes against attack We have al 4
fys found means TO do that, and shall
q them Whenever II Is necessary with Il
I calling our people away from their o.
eessary tasks to render compulsory ts
litary service in times OF peace n
Ahow me TO spea' with great plain .
as ana dtrectness upon this great mat 4
: ana 10 aYoW my convictions with deep d
rnsstness. i have tried 70 know what / p'