Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1916-02-12
WILSON TO KEEP
j. 5. OUT OF WAR
President Determined to Avoid Con
fliet, II Possible, But Trouble
Merely Held at Arm'o
Length.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 11.-pelegates
to the annual convention of the Cham
Der of Commerce of the United States
left for their home today. carrying
with them u-essage from President
Wilson, the outstanding feature Of
which was his determination to keep
conflict, although declaring that the
nation merely held that trouble at
arms length.
The president was speaking on neu-
trality at the annual banquet of the
chamber which was concluding fea-
ture of q three days convention. The
president also spoke of the need of a
real scientific tariff board and a mer-
chant marine.
Patience Justified.
1T is a cruel thing" said the presi-
dent, ito have it supposed, as it is in
many quarters, that we have kept out
OF this war simply because we wanted
to keep out of trouble and simply be.
cause we wanted to profit by the
trouble of others, and yet misunder-
standings for the time being are not
to be reckoned as against the con-
sciousness that We must, ourselves,
that we have pursued the right and
only serviceable course. ] am not
afraid of the slow verdict of history
with regard to the neutrality of the
United States and / believe that we
are justified in exercising every de,
gree of patience in making it clear
what our position is and how sincerely
we are determined not to allow this
quarrel to become part of ours.
II have only this to say, though we
hold this trouble at arms length anC
keep up our attempt to keep our Owl
judgment, the rest of the world i!
hot and 1t may be that any time, with
out our cooperation and without ou
tend to us. An dtherefore am glaC
that the United States has been put II
a position to mobilize It's financial re
sources and to get into the position
which it must at least get into. wheth
er ii wants to or not.
Peace Means Prosperity.
'If only we can keep this great ma
tion at peace-there Is an infinit
prospect of happy prosperity befor
the United States"
The president spoke of the fedora
reserve law saying:
when you reflect what might hav
happened If our banking system hat
at the outset of this war, been tn
clumsy and antiquated thing that
was three years ago, you will realiz
that not only might we not have e!
capped disaster, but that disaster Nigh
have been so prolonged that It woul
have been impossible for the Unite
States to occupy the position she no'
occupies"
Scientific Tariff Board.
The president told Of the necessit
Of a scientific tariff board and said
thought the nation would get It.
II want to say" he continued, "ths
before the whole fact Of affairs wa
changed in the economies of the worl
by the war, was not in favor of
tariff board because the purpose of
then was apparently to keep alive a
Improbable controversy. am not Il
terested in the doctrines of protection
am not interested in the doctrine
free trade. have been a college pr
fessor and know why am not,
cause there is nothing in either do
trine. The only thing that &c interes
ing is the facts OF commerce and 4
dustry and the only thing that It
right to deduce from the facts is som
thing that has nothing properly to
with party politics at ALL"
The president said that lie hope
legislation creating a merchant marii
4 would be passed by congress as SOC
: as possible.