Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1917-12-07
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
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der Inc terms OF the acts placing 10
ftraints upon alien enemies II II
likely that as Time goes on many
alien enemies vii be willing TO be fed
and housed at the expense OF the
government In the detention camps,
and II would be the purpose OF the
legislation have suggested 10 con
fine offenders among them In penl'
tentlaries aud other similar instltu'
lions where they could he made 10
work 40 other criminals do
Recent experience has convinced me
that the Congreas must 20 further In
authorizing the government 10 set lin
~ TO prices The law OF supply and
demand ! am sorry 10 say has been
Replaced by the law OF unrestralned
helhshness. While we have eliminated
pToAteerlng In several branches OF In.
dustry, II still runs impudently ram.
phnt In others, The farmers, for ex'
ample, complain, with great deal OF
Justice, that while the regulation OF
food prices restricts their incomes, no
restraints are placed upon tho prices
OF most Of things they must them
selves purchase, and similar inedulties
obtain on all sides
Utilize Natural Resources.
II Is lmperatlyely necessary that tho
consideration OF the full use OF the wa.
terpower OF the country and also OF
the consideration OF the systematic
and yet economical development Of
such OF the natural resources OF the
country az are still under the control
Of the federal government should be
Immediately resumed and Affirmative
~ and constructyely dealt with at tho
earliest possible moment. Tho press
Ing need OF such legislation Ia daily
becoming more obvious,
The legislation proposed at the
last session with regard TO regulated
combinations among our exporters
In order 10 provide for our foreign
trade more effective organization
and method Of cooperation ought by
al means to be completed at this 500
non.
And beg that the members OF the
house OF representatives, will permit
me to express the opinion that 1t will
be impossible to deal in any but a
very wasteful and eXtravagant fash
ion with the enormous appropriations
az the public moneys which must
continue to be made If the war is to
BE- properly sustained unless the
house Will consent to return to Its
former practice Of initiating and pre-
pairing all appropriation bills through
q single committee In order that re-
EponsibilIty may be centercd, eXpend-
itNres standardized and made uni
form and waste and duplication as
much as possible avoided.
Additional legislation may also be
come necessary before the present
Congress again adjoums in order to
effect the most efficient coordination
and operation OF the railway and other
transportation systems OF the country |
but to that shall If circumstances
should demand, call the attention OF
enc Congress upon another occasion.
II ! have overlooked anything that |
ought to be done for the more ef-
fective conduct OF the war your own |
counsels VIII supply the omission
What | am perfectly clear about Is
that In the present session OF the Con
Rress our whole attention and energy |
should be concentrated on the vigor.
Gus, rapid and successful prosecution
al the great task OF winning the war
Striking at Our Very Existence.
We can do this with all the greater
zeal and enthusiasm because we know
that for use this Is war Of high prin,
ciple, debased by no selfish ambition
Of conquest or spoliation; because we
know, and all the world knows, that
we have been forced into it to save
the very institutions we live under
from corruption and destruction. The
purposes OF the Central Powers strike
straight at the very heart Of every
thing we believe In; their methods OF
warfare outrage every principle Of hui
manity and OF knightly honor; their
intrigue has corrupted the very
thought and spirit OF many OF our poo
pie their sinister and secret diploma
oy has sought TO take our very terri
tory away from us and disrupt the
union OF the states Our safety would
be at an end our honor forever suNied
and brought into contempt were we to
permit their triumph. They are strik-
ing at the very existence OF democra.
sy and liberty.
1t is because It is for us a war OF
high, disinterested purpose, in which
all the Tree peoples Of the world are
banded together for the vindication OF
right, war for the preservation OF
our nation, OF all that II has held dear
OF principle and of purpose, that we
feel ourselves doubly constrained TO
propose for Its outcome only that
which Is righteous and OF irreproach-
able intention for our foes as we'll as
for our frisnda The cause being Just
and holy, the settlement must be of