The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1918-12-02
WILSON URGES PRIVATE
CONTROL OF RAILWAYS

gent mediation nj every point and In
every matter whore II was desired.
Peace Moves Quickly
Il --s,azif alag -he4s- fast Ihn /
process OF return to a peace footing 1
has moved In tho three weeks since 4
the fighting stopped IL promises 90 1
outrun any inquiry that may be In /
STUFFED and any aid that may be of +
fered
IL Will not be easy 10 direct any I
better than IL will direct itself The /
American business man is OF quick /
initiative.
Work for soldiers
The ordinary and normal processes /
OF private initiative will not. how. |
ever. provide immediate employment |
Tor all OF the men Of our returning /
armies. Those who are of trained ca
pacity. those who are skilled work, /
men. those who have acquired famll /
tartty with established businesses,
those who are ready and willing to
go TO the farms. all those whose apti. |
tude are known or will he sought out
by employers will find no difficulty
ia finding PLACES and employment.
But there viii he others who viii
be az loss where to gain llvell.
hood unless pains are taken 90
guide them in the way OF work
There will be large floating resi-.
due OF labor which should not be
left wholly to shift for Itself.
Urges Public Works
IL seems to mo important that
the development of public works OF
every sort should be promptly re
suned In order that opportunities
! should be created for unskiIled Ia.
Dor. and that plans should be made
for such Developments Of our un.
used lands and our natural re
sources as we have hitherto lacked
stimulation TO undertake.
particularly direct your attcn.
ton to the very practical plans
which the secretary OF the interior
has developed in his annual report
and before your COMMITTEE. for the
reclamation OF arid. swamp and cut.
over lands which might. 10 the
states were willing and able TO CO.
operate. redeem some 800 .0oo. 900
acres OF land for cultivation.
To Reclaim Arid Lands
There are said 20 be rs 200 900 or
20 600 600 acres Of land in the West
nj present arid. for whose reeiarna.
ton water Is available. IL properly
conserved. There are abou, s3o..
900 900 acres from which the forests
AMN
never been cleared for the pillow and
which lie waste and desolate. These
lie scattered all over the Union and
there are nearly 50. ooo. 900 acres Of
land that lie under swampA or sub.
I Jet to periodical overflow or too
wet for anything but grazing which
/ II Ia perfectly feasible TO drain and
protect and redeem.
The congress can at once direct
thousands OF the returning soldiers
to the reclamation OF arid lands.
which s, has already taken. II II
win but enlarge their plans and
appropriations which IL has en-
trusted to tn. department OF 1e
Interior. IL In possible In dealing
with our unused land TO effect
great rural and agricultural de-
veiopmcnt which will afford the
best sort Of opportunity 20 men
who want to help themselves
| have spoken OF the control
which must yet sor while. per
haps for lonx while. be exercised
over shipping because OF the pri-
GRITTY OF service TO which our forces
overseas are entitled and which
should also be accorded the ship
ruents which are TO save recently
| liberated peoples from starvation
and many devastated regions from
permanent ruin.
Belgiam's Problem
May I not say a special word
about the needs OF Belgium and
northern France No sum OF money
paid by way OF indemnity will
serve OF themselves 10 save them
from hopeless disadvantage for
years to come. Something more
must be done than merely find
the money. II they had money and
raw materials in abundance tomor-
row. they could not resume their
3
the very important place they held
before the flame Of war swept
across them.
Many OF their factories are razef
to tho ground. Much OF their ma
chlnery IL destroyed or has been
taken away. Their people are
scattered and many OF their best
workrncn are dead. Their markets
will be taken by others. IL they
are not In some special way as
sisted to rebuild their factories and
replace their lost instruments Of
manufacture. They should not be
left to the vicissitudes Of the sharp
competition for material and for
/ Industrial facilities which is now
set In.
hope. therefore. that the con
gress will not be unwilling, IL IL
should become necessary, To grant
10 some such agency az the war
trade board, the right 10 establish
priorities OF export and supply for
the benefit Of those people whom
we have been 40 happy 10 assist in
saving from the German terror and
whom we must not now thought
lessly leave to shift for themselves
in a pitiless competitive market
Lift Business Taxes
For the steadying and facilitntion
Of our own domestic business read.
justments, nothing Is more import
ant than the immediate determine
ton Of the taxes that are to be
levied for 1918. 1919 and 1920. As
much Of the burden OF the taxation
must be lifted from business as
sound methods Of financing will per
init, and those who conduct the
greatest Industries OF the country