The Washington times., 1914-12-08
GALLERIES CROWDED
TO HEAR PRESIDENT
Diplomats. Members of Families
of Congressman. and Cabi-
net Officers Present.
CONTINUED from First Pagcn


Europe will find il difficult To do for
their people what they have hitherto
boon always easily able to dO.-maRv
"sScnt al ard fundamental things. At
any rate. they VIII nceu our help and
oar manifold services as they have
never needed them before; and We
should be ready more fit and ready
than we have ever been.
Nations In Need.
II is OF equal consequence that the
nations whom Europe has usually sup
Dl;ed with innumerable articles of manu-
facture and commerce of which they
are in constant need and without which
their economic development halts and
stands still can now get only a small
part OF what they formerly imported
and eagerly look to US To supply their
al t1t empty markets. This is particu-
.ally true of our own neighDors. the
states great and small. of Central and
south America Their lines OF trade
have hitherto run chiefly athwart the
seas. not to our ports but TO the ports
of Great Br.ta n and OF the older con-
iinCnt Of Europe. | do not stop to in
du!re why. or 10 make any comment
OF probable causes. What interests US
just now is not the explanation but
the fact. and our duty and opportunity
in the presence of il. Here are markets
which we must supply, and we must
States. this great people for whom we
speak and act. should be ready. as
never before. to serve itself and to serve
= n'ank nd; ready with its resources. its
energies, its forces of production. and
its means OF distribution.
1t il a very practical matter. a mat
ter OF ways and means. We have the
resources. but are We fully ready to use
them. And. if we can make ready what
We have, have we the means at hand
TO distribute it2 We are not fully ready:
neither have We the means of distribu-
ton. We are willing. but we are not
fully able. We have the wish to serve
and to serve greatly. generously: but |
We are not prepared as We should be- |
We are not ready to mobilize our re-
sources at once. We are not prepared !
to use them Immediately and at their ]
best, without delay and without waste. I
To speak plainly, we have grossly !
erred IN the way in which We have
stunted and hindered the development |
OF our merchant marine. And now, I
when We need ships. We have not got I
them. We have year after year de- \
bsted without end or conclusion. the :
best policy to pursue with regard TO 4
the use Of the ores and forests and 1
water powers Of our national domain !
I'm the rich States of the West, when /
We should have acted; and they are
still locked up. The key Is still turned 4
upon them. the door shut fast at which !
thousands % vigorous men. full OF in !
lance. The water power Of our navig- 1
able streams outside the national do 1
main also. even in the Eastern States. 4
where We have worked and planned for /,
generations. is still not used as il I
might be. because We will and We
won't: because the laws We have made /
10 not intelligently balance encourage /
rnent against restraint We withhold Z
ny regulation
Seeks q Remedy.
I have come to ask you to remedy and !
correct these mistakes and omissions, /
even at this short session Of a Con !
-rass which would certainly seem TO /
have done all the work that could rea-
sonably b. expected Of it. The time
ID the circumstances are eNtraOrdin-
ary and so must our efforts De also.
Fortunately. two great measures, /
finely conce we'd. the one to unlock. 7
18th proper safeguards. the resources .
u the national domain. the other 20
encourage the use OF the naElgaDle
waters outside that domain for the
generation OF power. have already pass
d the House Of REPRESENTATIVES. ana 3
are ready for immediate consideration
and action by the Senate. With the 3
deepest earnestness | urge their prompt
passage. In them both we turn our }
backs upon hesitation and makeshift F..
ard formulate a genuine policy Of use f.
nd conservation. in the best sense or .
hose words. We Owe the one measure ,
.Ot ONLY to the people of that great .
Western country for whose free and .
SYSTEMATIC development. il seems .
10 me our legislation has done so ut 0
lie. but also TO the people Of the nation
81 a whole: and We as clearly owe The !.
ather in fulfillment Of our repeated I
promises that the water power Of the 4
-ofntry should in fact as well as in ,
name be put AT the disposal Of great in Z
iustries which can make economical +
and profitable use o. il. the rights Of .
he public being adequately guarded the 4
~ bile. and monopoly in the Use prevent I
ID. To have begun such measures and (
NOT completed them would indeed mar
fhc record Of this great Congress very (
-eIiously. ] hope and confidently be
lieve that the viii ne completed.
And there il another great p. Gee II
.a-.slatiDn which awaits and should !
"eccive the sanction % The Senate: ] /
mean the bill! which gives larger
assure Of self-goverument 10 the peo-
,,e Of the Philippines. How better. IN
bis time Of anxious questioning ana
H'gDleXed policy. could We show or.
.sufidencc in the principles of liberty. I
the source as well - rE" expression
.f life. how better could we demonstrate
"HT own self-possoss."u ana steadfast-
ross IA the courses oil Justice and dis z
.fcTestcdness thar d. thus going calm
~ forward to fulfill oar promises to -
dependent people. who viii now look
.1Dre anNiolsly than ever To see Ehelh-
-" We have indeed Vie lile.ality $40
uselfishness. The courage. the faith Hc
ave boosted and rruies--6. Z cannot /
believe that the ScI-.e HilT let this /
-Eeat measure Of constructive Justice
wait the action Of "nctle. Congress.
It's passage would noDlv crown the PEE
ord Of these two wears Of meuOTaJI- I.
= Dor
Must Have the Ships
But I think that you -t,E agree viii.
me that this does not complete the toll
OF cur duty. How are We to carry
our goods to the empty markets Of
s., aicli have spoken if We have not
lie ships? How are We 10 build Up 4:
-roat trade if We have not the certain
md constant means of transportatiUI
non which all profitable and ussfu.
,m!nercc depends? And how are ",
Eco -ct the ships II We wait for tn
rIade to develop without them? To cor
oct the many mistakes by which v' ]
ave discouraged and all but destroyc, |
80 merchant marine of the country
Ietrace the steps by which Ne h5v"
seems almost deliberately, withdraw
~ flag from the seas, except wher i
re and there. ship OF war is blddf
FRY IL or some wandering yacht di
avs IL, would take = long time an
nvol"e many detailed items OF leg sla |
O on and the trade which we Ough !
immediately to handle would disappear