The Detroit times., 1915-12-07
I'LL Text of President Wilson's Preparedness Message

among the manufacturers Of the
.Suntry. should II be necessary. ana s
technical skill OF the country to the
aid or the government In the soiu-
tion OF particular problems OF oe.
iind il feasible o'e TO Constitute such an
advisory body the congress would be
willing TO vote the small sum OF
oney tina, xn1 would & Se nssasd as1a TO orSS.
ably be necessary to give II the cieri-
cal and administrative machinery
with which to do serviceable work.
industries and resources Of the coun-
try should be available and ready
for mobilization. ~ IL the more I'M.
We should promptly devise means for
doing what We have not yet done;
that we should give Intelligent fed
eral and vocatio onal education. a. we
have long done In the large deld or
our agricultural industry, that at the
same time that we safeguard and con-
serve the natural resources OF the
disposal of those who will use them
promptly and inteliigently. as was
sought 10 be done In the admirable
hills submitted to the last congress
from Its committees on the public
lands. bills which earnestly rec
| ommended IN principle To your CON
sideration: that we should put into
y Sra sqsSss HpsnU% Which, sG"s VIII sas To tSs s
extensive borrowing facilities already
Afforded the farmer by the Reserve
Bank Act adequate instrumentaittiss
by which long credits may be OBJ
tained on land mortgages; and that
we should study more carefully than
they have hitherto been studied the
range ments 20 changing conditions.
Many conditions about which We
have repeatedly legislated are being
ilte e1ed from decade TO decade " -
evident, under our very eyes. and are
| hkely to change even more rapidly
and more radically in the days i'm
m"diately ahead OF us, when peace
nations OF Europe once more take
up their tasks OF commerce and In
dnstry with the energy OF those who
must 9sssir 1, ,hepssIves .n.I. A. TO o~nd Mi
be no one can certainly foresee or
confidently predict. There are no
"alculable. because no stable. .ele-
ments In the problem. The most we
ran do Is 20 make certain that We
have the necessary instrumentaiities
~ Information constantly mt our ser
KNOW Ess so tns, sns we SS sure srs tha a.Sm:
with when we come to act. IL II
should be necessary TO act at all. We
must first certainly know what u 10
seIves to- may ask the privilege
Of addressing you more at length on
this important matter little later
In your session.
The Trsnsportst:os Prosiem
In the meantime may I max. this
problem is an exceedingly serious
and pressing one In this country.
There has from time TO time OF late
roads would not much longer be able
rrcsent equipped and eo-ordinated.
suggest that IL would be wise 10 pro-
vide for a commission OF inquiry to
ascertain by thorough canvass OF
the whole question whether our laws
as at present framed and adminis-
might be In tho solution of the prob
lem II Is obviously a problem that
lies at the very foundation OF our ef-
nGiiency youss, al 20 peGss draw ou, us Every cir
cum mstance and opinion worth consid-
ering and we need to know all sides
OF the matter IL We mean 20 90 any
thing in the neld OF federal legisia-
No one. I am sure. would wish to
take any backward step. The regu-
by federal commission has had ad-
mlrabIe resvIts and has fully tusti.
fed the hopes and expectations or
those by whom the policy OF res9is-
question is not what should we undof
IL IL. whether there Is anything else
we can do that would supply us Win
effective means. In the very process
Of regulation, for bettering the con-
ditions under which the raiiroaos
are operated and for making them
more useful servants Of the country
as whole. II seems TO me tnat ~
might be the part OF wisdom. there-
fore. before further legislation IN
this feld - attempted. TO look AZ tne
whole problem Of coordination ana
Efficiency in the full sight OF fresh
assessment OF circumstance and opin-
ion. as a guido 10 dealing with the
several parts OF ~.
For what we arc seentsg eew.
what in my mind In the sinrIs
thouuhf Of this message. 70 natsesei
efficiency and security. We serve Q
great nation. We shosId serve u u
the spirit Of its peculiar genius. N
In the genius of common nen Ier
.r,f-Coyrru ument. Industry. lusesee.
liberty and peace. We shesle eeS
60 II that 10 lacks NO sastremecS n
Facility or vigor Of law. 10 oaks "
.ufNcisnt 20 play Its part WI e.
~rsy, safety and assured success. II
this we are NO parttsans ous ser
and prophets OF q new age.