Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-12-02
FULL TEXT OF
WILSON TALK
TO CONGRESS

Continued from Page One)
return to peace is q problem of eco
nomic and industrial REIMBURSEMENT.
That problem is less serious for US
than it may turn out 10 be for the
nations which have suffered the
arrangements and the losses OF
W~r longer than We Our people.
moreover, do not wait 10 be coach
ed and led. They know their own
business. are quick and resource
suI at every reimbursement, definite
IN purpose. and self-reiiant in &C
siCu. ANY leading strings We
might seek to put them in would
speedily become bopeLessly tangled
because they would pay no attcu-
tiou 10 them and go their own way
All that We can do as their legls-
lattve and executive servants Is TO
mediate the process OF change here.
LhCre and elsewhere as We may
have heard much counsel as 10
the plans that should be formed
and personally conducted to a hap
DIV contamination, but from no
quarter have / seen any general
scheme Of reconstruction emerge
which | thought it likely we could
force our spirited bus. ness men and
self-reliant labOrers to accept with
due pIiancy and obedience.
While the war lasted We set up
many agencies by which 10 direct
the Industries OF the country IN the
service which was necessary for
them to render, by which to make
sure Of an abundant supply Of the
materials needed, by which TO
check undertakings that could for
The time be despatched with and
stimulate those most available in
war. by which to gain for the pur-
chasing departments Of the govern
ment q certain control over the
prices of essential articles and ma
1erials, by which TO restrain trade
with alien enemies, make the most
of the available shipping, and sys-
tematiZe financial transactions,
beth public and private. so that
there would be no unnecessary
conflict or confusiOn--by which, in
short, 10 put every material energy
Of the country in harness to draw
the common load and make Of US
one team in the accomplishment OF
4 great task. But the moment we
knew the armistice to have been
signed we took the harness off.
Raw materials upon which the gov
eminent had kept its hand for fear
there should not be enough for the
industries that supplied the armies.
have been released and put into the
general market again. Great indus
trial plants whose whole output
h end machinery had been taken over
n for the uses OF the government have
been set free 70 return to the uses
Of which they were put before the
war. 1t has not been possible TO
remove so readily or so quickly the
control Of food stufTs and of ship
ring because these worlds have
still TO be fed from our granaries
and the ships are still needed to
send supplies to our men overseas
and to bring the men back as fast
MS the disturbed conditions on the
other side of the water permits it
hut to even these restraints. being
1ela1ed as much as possible, and
more and more as the weeks 90 by.
All Agencies United.
Never before have there been
agencies in existence in this COun-
try which knew so much of the field
OF supply Of labor and OF industry
as the war industries board, the
war trade board. the labor depart
ment, the food administration ard
The fuel administration have known
since their Iabors became thor
Oughly systematized, and they have
not been isolated agencies; they
have been directed by men who rep
resented the permanent depart
ments Of the government, and so
have been the centers Of unified and
cooperative action II has been the
policy Of the executive, therefore, !
since the armistice was assured. .
providing which is in effect a com
plete submission OF the enemy. to
put the knowledge Of these bodies (
At the disposal Of the business Of .
the country and to offer their intel T.
ligent mediation at every point and /
IN every matter where il was de- /
sired.
Rapid Petu1n to Peace Ways. /
1t was surprising how fast the /
actual return to a peace footing |
has moved in the three weeks since /
the fighting stopped It promises /
10 cutrun any inquiry that may be I
Instituted and any aid that may be !
offered IT viii not be easy to di- /
rect IL any better than # viii direct |
itself The American business man
s. o. quic4 Initiative
FaYOrs Public Work for Idle.
The ordinary and normal pro- /
Cssses Of private initiative viii not /
ta3 70 provide men employment .
Tor all Of the men OF our return
ing armies Those who are Of !