Lower coast gazette., 1914-12-12
WAR BRINGS new
TASKS and DUTIES
President Points Out Big Prob
lens Which Confront
Congress.
MUST Open Gates OF TRADE
Ships to Garry Goods to Empty Mar
kets Is imperative Necessity
Our National Defense Lies IN
Our Citizenry-Need
of Economy.

OF ECSIt0'hy'
Washington, Dec. S.-The new tasks
and duties imposed upon the unlteo
States as a result of the European war
occupied the greater portion OF fresi
dent Wilson's message to congress
read today before a joint session OF
the two houses. The message folio"s'
Gentlemen of the Congress:
The session upon which you are now
entering will be the closing session OF
the Sixty-third congress, a congress- l
venture to say, which will long be re-
membered for, the great body OF
thoughtful and constructive WORK
which it has done, in loyal response
to the thought and needs of the coun'
try. I should like III this address to re-
view the notable record and try to
make adequate assessment OF it; but
no doubt we stand too near the work
that has been done and are ourselves
too much part Of 1t to play the part OF
historians toward 1t. Moreover, our
thoughts are now more of the future
than Of the past.
While we have worked at our tasks
of peace the circumstances OF the
whole age have been altered by wal.
What we have done for u own land
and our own people we did with the
best that was in us. whether OF CHAR
acter or Of intelligence, with sober
enthusiasm and a confidence In the
principles upon which we were acting
which sustained US at every step OF
the difficult undertaking: but 1t Is
done. It has passed from our hands
It is now an established part OF the
LEGISLATION of the country. It's useful
ness, its effects, will disclose them
selves In experience. What9ac'tiedyy
strikes I'd nov, rs we look about u
during these closing days Of a veal
which will be forever memorable II
the history of the world, is that W.
face new tasks, have been facing then
these six months, must face them II
the months to come-face them with
out partisan feeling, like men VIII
have forgotten everything but q com
mon duty and the fact that we ar
representatives Of a great peopl
whose thought is not Of US but OF wha
America owes to herself and to al
mankind in such circumstances a
these upon which we look amazed an
anxious.
Europe Will Need Our Help.
Wal has interrupted the means I
trade not only but also the processe
OF production. In Europe it Is destro'
ing men and resources Wholesale an
upon q scale unprecedented and a
palling. There Is reason to fear tn
the time is near. II it be not alreat
1t hand, when several Of the cou
tries Of Europe wilt find it difficult
90 for their people what they ha'
hitherto BEEN always easily able to d
many essential and fundament
things. At any rate they will need o
help and our manifold services as tn
have never needed them before; Al
we should be ready, more fit a
ready than we have ever been.
It is of equal consequence that t
nations whom Europe has usually 81
piled with innumerable articles
manufacture and commerce can NJ
get only a small part of what they +
merly imported and eagerly look to
to supply thsir all but empty m
kets. This is particularly true Of {
W neighboss. the states. great a
small, of Certral and South Ameri
Here are markets which we must 8
ply, and we must find the means Of
ton. The United States, this gr
people for whom we speak and
should be ready, as never before,
serve itself and to serve mankil
ready with It's resources. Its energ'
its forces Of production, and Its me-
sRN of distribution.
W. Need Ships.
It IS a very practical matter, . n
ter OF ways and means. We have
resources. but are we fully ready
use them? And II we can make re
what We have, have we the means
hand to distribute it? We are not {
S ready; neither have we the means
distribution. We are willing, but
are not fully able. We have the Y
to serve and to serve greatly. &c
ously; but we r not prepared az
should be. We are not ready to
bilize u resources at once. We
not prepared to use them immedia
and at their best. without delay
without waste.
TO speak plainly we have gro