The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-05-28
Text Of Presidents Speech

I, for one, am always confident that the people of this country will give a just verdict upon the serv- ice of the men who act for them when the facts are such that no man can disguise or conceal them. There is no danger of deceit now. An intense and pNiless light beats upon every man sNd every action in this tragic plot os war that is now upon the stage. af lobbyists hurry to Washington to Attempt to turn what you do in thv matter of taxation to their protection or advantage. the light will bC~t also upon them. There is abundant fuel for the lights in the records of the treasury with regard to prof its of every sort. The profiteers that can not be got at by appeals to conscience and love of country, can be got at by taxation. There is such profiteering now and the information with regard to it is available and indisputable
 am advising you to act upon this matter of taxation now, gem tlemen. not because I do not know that you can see and interpret the facts and the duty they impose just as well and with as clear a per ception of the obligations involved as I can, but because there is a cer- tain solemn satisfaction in sharing with you the responsibilities of such time. The world never stood in such ease before. Men never had before as clear or so moving a vision of duty. I know that you will begrudge the work to be done here by us no more than the men begrude us theirs who lie in the trenches, and sally forth to their death. There is a stimulating com radeship knitting us all togteher. And this task to which I invite your immediate consideration will be per formed under favorable influences if we will look to what the country is thinking and expecting and care nothing at all for what is being belied in the lobbys of Washington hotels, where the atmospere seems to make it possible to believe what is believed nowhere else.
 Have you not felt the spirit of the nation rise, and its thought be- come single and common thought since these eventful days came in which we have been sending our boys to the other sidey I think we must know that thought and I do, to mean this, that the people of this country are not only united in the resolute purpose to win this war, but are ready and willing to bear any burden and under go any sacrifice that 1t might be necessary for them to bear in order to win it. We need not be afraid to tax them, if we lay taxes justly. They know that the war must be paid for and that it is they who must pay for it, and if the burden Is justly distributed and the sacrifice made common sacri- flee from which none escapes who can bear it at all, they will carry it cheerfully and with sort of sol emn pride. I have always been proud to be an American, and was never more proud than now, when all that we have said and all that we have foreseen about our peo- pie is coming true. The great days have come when the only thing that they ask for or admire is duty greatly and absolutely done; when their only wish for America is that she may share the freedom she en- joys; when a great, compelling sympathy wells up in their hearts for men everywhere who suffer and are oppressed: and whe nthey see at last the high uses for which their wealth has been piled up and their mighty power accumulated and, counting neither blood nor treasure now that their final day of opportunity has come rejoice to spend and to be spent through a long night of suffering and terror in order that they and men every where may see the dawn of a day of righteousness and justice and peace. Shall we grow weary when they bid us act?