The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-12-07
Full Text of President Wilson's Preparedness Message

among the manufacturers ~ tn1
country, should IL be ntcessa.s, ,hs
those who could assist TO orlns -
technical skill OF the country 10 wv
aid OF the government In the SOU
ton OF particular problems OF uS
Tense. I only hope that II shou,n
ind II feasible to CONSTITUTE suJ bs
willing TO vote the small sum ~
money that would be needed To Or
fray the expenses that would prou-
ably be necessary To- give II the cleil
cal and administrative machinery
with which TO do servieeablo work
What IL more important -; thal tne
industries and resources OF une reedy
for mobilization. At IL the more IN.
per atively necessary therefore. thas
We should promptly devise means Tor
doing what We have not yet done
that we should give Intelligent frI-
eral and VOCATION educati ON. as W.
have long done In the large held oI
our agricultural Industry tnat ~ Inc
same time that We safeguard ana CON
serve the natural resources OF the
country we should put them at the
disposal OF those who VIII use them
promptly and intelligently. as was
sought 10 be- done In the admirable
bills submitted 60 the last congress
from It's committees on the puonc
lands. bus which 1 earnestly rec
commended I'm principle 20 your con
sideration. that we should put INTO
early operation some provision Tor
rural credits which Will add 10 the
extensive borrowing facilities ALREADY
afforded the farmer by the Reserve
Bank Act adequate observation-disclosures
by which long credits may be Oh
tained on land mortgages; and that
We should study more carefully thnn
they have hitherto been studied the
right adaptation OF our economic ar
rang.ments 10 changing conditions.
Many couiit lions abput which we
ted L.
Uttered from dead" ~ DECADE - -
evident. under our very eyes, ana are
and more rad cally in the days I'M
nHdiatcly ahead OF us. when peace
las retu-r-t - the wnr'L- e-a he
nations OF Europe once more take
dnstry with the energy Of those who
must hosttr thew - 80 "a hu ~
anew. Just what those changes viii
ne no one can certainly fureSee or
,a n"Isfis Sc SS'Hs no stable. eie.
mNnts In the problem. The most We
an do is 20 make certain that We
have the necessary ins.rumentalities
II Information corst7utly NJ our ser
vice so that we may be sur" that We
know exactly what We are deaiNE
with when we come TO act. II ~
should be necessary 10 act At all. We
must nrst certainly know what II is
that we are seeking To adapt our
selves 10. 7 may ask the privilege
this important matter little later
II your session
The Transportation Problem
In the meantime may ! max" this
7uggestion2 The transportation
problem Is an exceedingly serious
and pressing one in this country.
There has from time 10 time OF late
been reason 10 fear that our rail-
roads would not much longer be aole
to cope with IL successfully as AZ
present equipped and co-ordinated. I
suggest that ~ would be wise 10 pro-
vide for "a commission OF inquiry 10
ascertain BY thorouSh canvass OF
the whole question whether our laws
as at present framed and Hdmtpts-
tered are as serNtCeahle as thev
mt ght he In the solution OF the prob
lem II IL obviously a problem that
lies at the very foundation OF our ef-
iciency as a people. such an In
quIry ought TO draw out every CIR
cumstarce and opinion worth cnnsid-
ering and We need To know all sides
Of the matter II We mean 20 DO any
thing in the field OF federal legisia-
tion.
No one. ! am sure. would wish 10
take any backward step. The regu-
iltion 81 the railways OF the country
by federal commission hos had ad-
ned the hopes and expectations OF
those by whom the policy OF reEula-
tion was originally PROPOSED me
question II not what should we undo|
we can do that would supply us with
effective means In tho very process
OF regulation. for lettering the con
ditIons under which the railroads
are operated and for making them
more useful servants Of the country
as A whole II seems TO me that IL
might be the part OF wisdom. there
fore. before further legislation IN
this heId is attempted, 10 look az the
whole problem OF coordination ana
efficiency In the full sight OF fresh
assessment OF circumstance ana opin-
ion. "a a guide TO dealing with the
several parts OF ".
For what We arc seeking now.
what In my mind D. the single
Thought OF this message, is national
efficiency and security. We serve
great nation. We should serve u In
the spirit Of Its peculiar genius. "
4. the genius Of romwos men Tor
.eIf-wo,ernment Industry. Justice.
liberty snd peace. We should see
90 IL that 10 lacks no insfrum~nt. NO
facility or ,Igor Of law. "a make "
sufficient 20 play Its part WITH en-
erxy. safety aud assured success. IN
tbI. We urr no partisans hut sevaios
and prophets OF q new nke'