The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1918-12-05
Pr 5IDENT ASSERTS TRIP TO
FRANCE is DUTY HE CAN
NOT ESCAPE FROM.
HAS NO PRIVATE PURPOSE
Declares Government Had Taken Over
Cables On Expert Advice So As
To Make Unified Systems
Available

Washington-Declari that he hoped
to see formal declaration of peace by
treaty "by the time spring has come"
President Wilson, addressing congress
In joint session, formally announced
his intention to go to Paris for the
peace conference, saying that as the
allied governments have accepted prin-.
ciples enunciated by him for peace, he
considered it his paramount duty to
be present. The president said he will
be in close touch by cable and wireless
and that congress will know all that
ne does on the other side.
Declaring he had no private thought
or purpose" in going to France, but
that he regarded it as his highest duty.
the president added:
at is now my duty to play my full
part in making good what they Gamer
icas soldiers) offered their life's blood
to obtain"
Referring to his announcement that
the French and British governments
had removed all cable restrictions on
the transmission of news Of the con-
ference to America, the president said
he had taken over the cable systems
on expert advice so as to make uni
fled system available.
He expressed the hope that he would
have the cooperation of the public and
of congress, saying through the cables
and wireless constant counsel and ad-
vice would be possible.
Much of the address was devoted to-
the railroad problem, for which the
president said he now had no solution
to offer. He recommended careful
study by congress, saying it would be
| a disservice to the country and to the
railroads to permit a return to old
conditions under private management
without modification.
The president declared he stood
ready to release the railroads from
government control whenever a salts
! facory plan of readjustment could be
| worked out.
! No definite program of reconstruc-
| ton can be outlined now, Mr.. Wilson
! said but as soon as the armistice was
! signed government control of business
| and industry was released as far as
possible. He expressed the hope that
congress would not object to confer
B ring upon the war trade board or some,
other agency the right of fixing export
/ priorities to assure shipment of food to
/ starving people abroad.
As to taxation, the president indors-
/ ed the plan for leyying $4,000, 600
in 1919, and for notifying the public in.
advance that The 1929 levy will be S4,-
900, 900, 000
The new three-year asyai 5utlding
program was indor9ed because, the
president said, IL would s unwise t.
attempt to adjust tho Ame~'caa pro
gram to a future world poicy yet
undetermined.
Paying tribute to the peoples ecns
duct in war, he spoke particularly OF
the work of women and again appealed
for women suffrage by federal amend
ment
Democratic representatives arose and
applauded vociferously when the presi-
dent announced his intention of going
in person to the peace conference. The
republican side was silent and so were
many senators on both sides of the
| chamber.
The president concluded, after speak
! ing AZ minutes, and left the chamber
| amidst applause limited to the demo-
! cratic side Interruptions of the ad-
! drass foy 1uaotiOoS which had hanu
! threatened by some republican men,
| bers OF the house, did not materialize.