The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1918-01-10
TEXT OF WILSON'S
talk TO CONGRESS
ON RAIL CONTROL

his recommendations for carrying out
government operation of railroads.
Bills to carry out the Presidents
ideas already had been prepared un-
der the supervision of the Department
of Justice and were immediately intro
duced with plans for prompt consider
alton in both House and Senate.
The President spoke as follows:
Gentlemen of the congress:
1 have asked the privilege of ad,
dressing you in order to report that
on the 2Sth day OF December last,
during the recess OF congress, lasting
through the secretary of wal and IN
der the authority conferred upon me
by the act of congress approved Aug.
-. 1916, l took possession and as
sumed control of the railway lines
of the country and the systems of
water transportation under their con-
Z This step seemed to be impera-
lively necessary in the interest Of
the public welfare in the presence
of the great tasks of war with which
we are now dealing.
AS our experience develops diff
culties and makes 1t clear what they
r have deemed it my duty 10
remove those difficulties wherever l
nave the legal power to do so. To
assume control OF the vast railway
systems of the country is, i realize,
a very heavy responsibility, but to
fail to do so in the existing circum.
stances would have been q much
greater ] assumed the less response.
bility rather than the weightier.
Must Mobilize Resources.
I am sure that | am speaking the
mind of all thoughtful Americans
when | say that 1t is our duty to do
everything that it is necessary to do
to secure their complete mobilization
of the whole resources of America
by as rapid and effective means as
plies all the arteries of mobilization.
Unless it be under a single and uni
fed direction the wlole process of the
nations action is embarrassed. II
was in the true spirit of America and
it was right, that we should first try
10 effect the necessary unitication
under the voluntary action of those
who were in charge OF the great rail
way properties; and we did try it.
The directors OF the railways respond
ed to the need promptly and gener-
Dusty. The group of railway execu-
tives who were charged with the
task of actual coordination and gen
aral direction performed their diff
cult duties with patriotic zeal and
marked ability. as was to have been
expected. and did, | believe, every.
thing hat it was possible for them
to do in the circumstances.
IL ! lave taken the task out of their
hands it has not been because Of
any dereliction or failure on their
part, but only because there were
some things which the government
can do and the present management
cannot. We shall continue to value
most highly the advice and assist
ance of these gentlemen and l am
sure we shall not find them with
holding it.
Government Control Only Solution.
1t had become Enthusiastically plain
that only under government admins
iration d the entire equipment OF
the several systems of t~ransporta-
tion be fully and unreservedly thrown
into a common service without in
furious discrimination against par
ticular properties. Only under gov
eminent administration can an abso-
iutely unrestricted and unembar-
rasscd common use be made of all
tracks. terminals, terminal facilities
and equipment of every kind. Only
under that authority can new term.
inaIs be constructed and developed
without regard TO the requirements
or limitations OF particular roads.
Bot under the government all these
things will be possible-not instantly,
but as fast az practical difficulties,
which cannot be merely conjured away
give way before the new management.
The common administration will be
carried out with as little disturbance
OF present operating organizations and
pers@ mel of the railways as possible.
NotLiAg will be altered or disturbed
WulCH IL 10 hui USScSSdly W ulsJuID.
We are serving the public interest and
safeguarding the public safety. but we
are also sregardful of the interest OF
those by whom these great properties
arc owned and glad to avail ourselves
of the experience and trained ability
OF these who have been managing
them.
War Traffic Fita Consideration.
II is necessary til at the tr~ansporta.
ton OF troops and of war materials. OF
food and of fuel. and of everything
that Is necessary for the full mobiliza-
tion of the energies and resources OF
the country should be- first considered,
0ut it is clearly in the public interest
also that the ordinary activities and
me normal Industrial and commercial
life of the country should be interfered
with and dislocated as little as pos
To Prove Labor Draft Unnecessary.