Gilpin observer., 1918-12-05

men of our armed forces on land and
sea have consciously fought for the
ideals which they knew to be the
ideals of their country; l have sought
to express those ideals; they have ac-
cepted my statements of them as the
substance of their own thought and
purpose, as the associated govern
ments have accepted them; l owe 1t to
them to see 1t, so far as in me lies,
that no false or mistaken interpreta-
ton is put upon them and no possible
effort omitted to realize them.
1t is now my duty to play my full
part in making good what they offered
in their life's blood to obtain. can
think of no call to service which could
transcend this.
Praises War Agencies.
Never before have there been agen-
cles in existence in this country which
of labor and of industry rs the war
industries board, the war trade board,
the labor department, the food admin
istration and the fuel administration
have known since their labors became
thoroughly systematized: ard they
have not been isolated agencies; they
have been directed by men who rep
resented the permanent departments
of the government and so have been
the centers of unified and cooperative
action. 1t has been the policy of the
executive, therefore, since the armis-
tice was assured (Which is in effect n
complete submission of the enemy to
put the knowledge of these bodies ut
the disposal of the business men of
the country and to offer their intelli-
gent mediation at every point and in
every matter where 1t was desired. 1t
is surprising how fast the process OF
return to II peace footing has moved
in the three weeks since the fighting
stopped. 1t promises to outrun any in
quiry that may be instituted and any
aid that may be offered. 1t will not be
easy to direct it any better than it
will direct itself. The American busi-
ness man is of quick initiative.
The ordinary and normal processes
of private initiative will not, however,
provide immediate employment for all
of the men of our returning armies.
Those who are of trained capacity,
those who are skilled workmen, those
who have acquired familiarity with es-
tablished businesses, those who are
ready and willing to go to the farms.
all those whose aptitudes are known
err will be sought out by employees will
find no difficulty, 1t Is safe to say. in
finding place and employment. But
there will be others who will be at
a loss where to gain n livelihood un-
less pains are taken to guide them
| and put them in the way of work.
There will be large floating re-
siduum of labor which should be left
wholly to shift for itself. 1t seems to
me important, therefore, that the de-
velopment of public works of every
sort should be created. for unskilled
labor in particular, and that plans
should be made for such developments
of our unused lands and our natural re-
sources as we have hitherto lacked
stimulation to undertake.
Cites Practical Plans.
| Iui tlCuluTIy ulTtCt YOUR utteiltloil
to the practical plans which the sec
retary of the interior has developed in
his annual report and before your COM
mittees for the reclamation of arid,
swamp and cut-over lands which might,
If the states were willing and able to
cooperate, redeem some 100000 900
acres of land for cultivation. There
| To hn %
acres of land in the West ut
present arid, for whose reclamation wa
ter is available, If properly conserved.
| There are about 230.0O0.0OO acres from
which the forests have been cut but
which have never yet been cleared for
the plow, and which lie waste and des-
olate. These lie scattered-all over the
| Union. And there are nearly S0,000,-
600 acres of land that lie under swamps
or Subject to periodical overflow or
too wet for anything but grazing
which 1t Is perfectly feasible to drain
and protect and redeem
The congress can at once direct
thousands of the returning soldiers
to the reclamation of the arid lands
which 1t has already undertaken, If
1t will but enlarge the plans and the
appropriations which It has Intrust-
ed to the department of the in
terror. 1t is possible In dealing
with our unused land to effect great
rural and agricultural development
which will afford the best sort of OPP
portunity to men who want to help
themselves. and the secretary of the
interior has thought the possible
methods out In way which is worthy
of your most friendly attention.
Problem Economic One.
SO FAR us our domestic affairs are
concerned the problem OF our return
to peace is problem of economic
and Industrial readjustment. That
problem Is less serious for us than