Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1914-12-11
We MUST Open UP
GATES OF TRADE
An important Problem Which
Now COnfrOnts Congress,
Says President.
SHIPS OUR GREATEST NEED
America Fears No Nation end Is Am
ply Able TO Defend Itsef-Great
Task Ahead in Helping 20
Restore Peace-Eeonomy
Is Strongly Urged.

Washington, Dec. S.-President Will
son today delivered his annual address
to congress. Problems brought. out by |
the great conflict In Europe engaged |
the greater part OF his attention. The |
message follows:
Gentlemen of the Congress:
The session upon which you are now
entering will be the closing session OF
the Sixty third congress, a congress, ]
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. should like in 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 it 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 war
What we have done for our 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 we're acting
which sustained us at every step of
the difficult undertaking; but 1t Is
done. It has passed from our hands.
1t is now an established part Of the
legislation of the country Its useful
ness, its effects, will disclose them
selves in experience. What chiefly
strikes as now, as we look about us
during these closing days OF year
which will be forever memorable in
the history of the world, is that we
face new tasks, have been facing them
these six months, must face them in
the months to come-face them with
out partisan feeling, like men who
have forgotten everything but com
mon duty and the fact that we are
representatives of a great people
whose thought is not Of us but of what
America owes to herself and to all
InAuhluu III buCn CAlGuuAbINhSCo @k
these upon which we look amazed and
anxious.
Europe VIII Need Our Help.
War has interrupted the means o.
trade not only but also the processes
of production. In Europe 1t is destroy
ing men and resources wholesale ant
upon a scale unprecedented and ap
palling. There is reason to fear tina
the time is near, II 1t be not alread!
at hand, when several of the coun
tries of Europe will find it difficult I
do for their people what they hav
hitherto been always easily able to dc
many essential and Fundamental
things. At any rate they will need GU
help and our manifold services as the
have never needed them before; an
we should be ready. more fit an
ready than we have ever been.
It ia of equal consequence that tn
nations whom Europe has usually sui
piled with innumerable articles {
manufacture and commerce of whie
they are In constant need and withot
which their economic developmeI
halts and stands still can now get onl
a small part of what they formerly In
ported and eagerly look to US to suppl
their all but empty markets. This
particularly true of our own neighbor
he states, great and small. of Centr
and South America. Their lines
trade have hitherto run chiefly athwa
the seas, not to our ports. but to Il
ports Of Great Britain and of the old
continent of Europe. ! do not stop
inquire why, or to make any comme
on probable causes. What interests
just now is not the explanation. b
the fact. and our duty and opportuni
in the presence Of ~ Here are ms
kets which we r.1st supply, and '
must find the mans of action. II
United States, this great people
whom we speak and act, should
ready, as never before, to serve it's
and to serve mankind: ready with
resources, its energies, its forces
production, and its means of distrit
ton.
We Need Ships.
IT is a very practical matter. m
IN .heter OF ways and means. We have
resources. but are we fully ready
I. Y use them? And il we can make rea
what we have, have we the means
IA hand to distribute it? We are not fu
ready; neither have we the means
distribution. We are willing. but
are not fully able. We have the W
to serve and to serve greatly, gen
ously; but we are not prepared as
should be. We are not ready to /
biIize onr resources at once. We
not prepared to use them immediai
and at their best. without delay :
without waste.
To speak plainly we have gros
erred IN the way in which we b
stunted and hindered the deVelOpm
of our merchant marine. And n
when We need ships. we have not
them. We have year after year
bated. without end OF conclusion.
best policy to pursue with regard