The Washington herald., 1914-12-09
The Presidents Address.


At the very beginning of his address to Con-
gress yesterday President Wilson delivered well
come message to industrial America Departing
for moment from his prepared text, he announced
that the legislative program of the administration
is complete SO far as it affects the nations busi
ness.
Let ambitious members of Congress bear the
Presidents words we'll in mind; let there be no more
corporation batting, while the chieftans of COM
merce and industry, knowing at last where they
stand, for time at least take up the task, beset
with many obstacles, of restoring the country's
prosperity.
The Presidents interpolated remarks explain the
small number of topics discussed in his address to
the final session of the Sixty-third Congress. He
had but few new laws to ask for, the most import
ant being one to provide for the purchase of mer
chant ships by the government Aside from this
the outstanding features of his address were his
admirably presented appeal for wise economy in
the expenditure of the peoples money and his un-
compromising opposition to any investigation or
agitation for the purpose of putting the army and
navy anything like war footing.
The Presidents appeal for government-owned
merchant marine was disappointing and noncon-
vincing. There was an expectation that he would
have some enlightening facts to submit upon the
demands of our foreign trade with relation to the
carrying capacity of the ships at our command In
stead his argument fairly we'll illustrated in his
own dogmatic assertion that 1T may seem re-
versa of the natural order of things but it is true
that the routes of trade must be actually opened
by many ships and regular sailings and moderate
charges-before streams of merchandise will flow
freely and profitable through them"
There was no escaping the impression that de-
cidedly it was reversal of the natural order of
things" The specter of government ownership ap-
peared little less alarming, though the taxpayer
could hardly feel comforted when the President
added
at is not question of the government monopo-
lizing the field. 1t should take action to make it
certain that transportation reasonable rates will
be promptly provided, even where the carriage is
not at first profitable; and then when the carriage
has become sufficiently profitable to attract and
gage private capital, and engage it in abundance,
the government ought to withdraw"
Upon the subject of economy the address faith
fully voiced the peoples views, doubt 81 as
sert with the greatest confidence" said the Presi
dent that the people of the United States are not
jealous of the amount their government costs if
they arefsure that they get what they need and de-
sire for the outlay, that the money is being spent
for objects of which they approve, and that it is
being applied with good business and man
agement." Yet with war" tax in force in time OF
peace the taxpayers will not be blamed if they look
askance at several items in the blliondoar budget
now before Congress.
Seldom has President Wilson been so bitterly
outspoken as he yesterday in his antagonism
to those who would the country better prepared
for war. He spoke with forceful earnestness, and
as one empowered to enunciate on behalf of the
people permanent policy opposed to a standing
army, while admitting, though with apparent re-
the wisdom of maintaining navy. But
the solemn faces of the Republicans, as the men,
bers of the Presidents party greeted with cheers
and derisive laughter his cutting reference to
Some among US who are nervous and excited,
showed plainly that the question OF national
defenses was not disposed of by the Presidents
broadside What is meant by being prepared?" he
demanded. as it meant that not ready upon
brief notice to put nation in the field nation of
men trained to arms? OF course, not ready
to do that; and we shall never be in time of peace
so long retain present political principles
and institutions" From Woodrow Wilson in the
year 1914 back to George Washington in 1898 is
a long, long way; but there still patriots who
will ponder as they read the words OF the twenty
eighth President of the United States and then
turn to those of the first:
'If we desire to secure peace, one of the most
powerful instruments of our rising prosperity, it
must be known that we at all times prepared
for