The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-12-07

~ snip btlNttI Allt HdllbIo VI lHN
Western Hemisphere in world affairs
was proclaimed by President Wilson
today in his third annual address to
congress, the theme OF which was pre-
paredness by the United states to de
tend not only its own independence,
but che ghts CT thr,c with whom il
has made common cause. Ia message
was read by the President to the senate
and house assembled in joint session
ia the chamber of the house.
Every recommendation embodied i'll
the document had to 10 with compre-
hensive plans for strengthening the
national defenses. The program in
cludes the army and navy plans al
ready made public by Secretaries Gar
rison and Daniels; legislation for gov
eminent owned merchant ships; rural
credit law; the Philippine ard Porto
Rico bills which failed of final passage
ut the last session; conservation legis
lation; a law giving federal aid to in
dustrial and vocational education; and
the creation of a commission to inquire
into the transportation problems.
Naturalized and native born Ameri-
cans who, sympathizing with belliger-
outs abroad, have plotted and conspired
70 violate their own country's neutrali
~, were scathingly denounced by the
President, and congress was urged to
provide adequate federal laws to deal
with such offenders.
Internal taxation was proposed as
the means of providing the money nee
essary to add to the naval and mill
tary establishments. Sources of taxa
ti0n suggested were incomes, gasoline,
naptha, automobiles and internal eX-
plosion engines, fabricated iron and
steel, and a stamp tax on bank checks.
Extension of the war revenue bin and
continuance of the present tariff on
sugar were recommended, and the sale
of bonds opposed.
This message was the longest Mr..
Wilson has ever delivered to congress.
He began with n statement that since
he last addressed congress:
''Thc European war has extended its
threatening and sinister scope until it
has swept into its flame some portion
of every quarter of the globe not ex-
ccpting our own hemisphere, has al
tered the whole face of international
affairs, and now presents a prospect
Of reorganization and reconstruction
such as statesmen and people have nev-
CT been called upon to attempt be
FORE
The United States has remained neu
trail, he said, because it had no interest
i'm the causes and because it was the
duty of the nations of the western
hemisphere to prevent collective econo
milo ruin.
The President pointed to the at
titude of the United States TOWARD
Mexico as proving that this country
has no selfish motives in its interest IL
countries in Central and South Ameri
ca. There was a time, he said, wheI
the United States looked upon itsel
as a sort of guardian of the republic
TO the south as against the encroach
ment or efforts of political contro
from Europe.
But, ~ he added, cit was Away
difficult to maintain such role with
out offense to the pride of the people
whose freedom of action we sough
to protect, and every thoughtful ma
OF affairs must welcome the altere
circumstances of the new day in who's
light we now stand, when there is II
claim of guardianship or thought o
wards, but, instead, a full and honors
BILE association of partners betwee
ourselves and our neighbors, in the II
tcrests of all America North an
South.
''Our concern for the independence
and the prosperity of the states of Cel
trail and South America is not altered
We retain undated the spirit that hs
inspired us throughout the whole lii
of our government and which was s
frankly put into words by PresideT
Monroe. We still mean always to max
a common cause of national indepent
enee and of political liberty III Amer
But that purpose is now better VI
derstood so far as il concerns ourselve
1t is known to have in it no though
of taking advantage of any govern
ment in this hemisphere or playing i
political fortunes for our own ben
fit All the governments of AmeriC
stand, so far as we are concerned, upC
footing of genuine equality and II
questioned independence.
owe have been put to the test
the case of Mexico, and we have stoC
the test, declared the President. I
added that it remained to be SEE
whether Mexico had been benefited
the course taken by the administrator
but that 1--WE have at least proved tn
we will not take advantage of her
her distress and undertake TO impo
upon her an order and government
our own choosing
'The moral is, continued t
President, "that the states of Ameri
are not hostile rivals but cooperate
IflenuS, ana that thelr growing sen
of community interest, alike in matte
POLITICAL and in matters economic
likely to give them a new significar
as factors in international affairs a
in the political history of the wor
1t presents them as i'll very deep a
true sense a unit in world affai
spiritual partners, standing together
cause thinking together, quick W
common sympathies and common ide;
Separated they are subject to all
cross currents of the confused polit
of a world of hostile rivalries; unit
in spirit and purpose they cannot
disappointed of their peaceful desti
- am interested to fix your att
ton on this prospect now, because
less YOU take it within your view {
----..-..A 10 Go. 1,f Il