The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-02
In Annual Message to Congress
This Afternoon.
Formally Announces He Will
Go to Peace Conference.
TALKS OF The RAILROADS
Says Plan Not in Sight for
Giving Them Back.
Took Cables To Keep Congress
Apprised of Actions.

Washington. Dec. 2.-In an address
toy congress in joint session today,
President Wilson formally announced
his intention to go to Paris for the
peace conference. saying the allied
governments have accepted principles
enunciated by him for peace and 1t
10 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 he
does on the other side.
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
disservice to the country and to the
railroads to permit a return to old
conditions under private management
without notifications.
The president declared he stood
ready to release the railroads from
government control whenever a salts
factory plan for readjustment could
be worked out.
Hopes for Peace.
The president said he hoped to see
n formal declaration of peace by treaty
"by the. time spring has come"
Referring to his announcement that
the French and British governments
IdQ TeDlONeu All CdDlc ItStIiCllOfls
upon the transmission OF news of the
conference to America, the president
said. he had taken over the American
cable systems on expert advice so as
to make a unified system available.
He expressed the hope that he
would have the cooperation of the
public and of congress, saying thru the
cables and wireless constant counsel
and advice would be possible.
No Program Definite.
No definite program of reconstruc-
tion can be outlined now, Mr.. Wilson
said. but as soon as the armistice was
signed, government control of busi-
ness and industry was released as far
as possible. He expressed the hope
that congress would not object to con-
ferfing upon the war trade board or
some other agency the right of fixing
export prior.ties to assure shipment of
food to starving people abroad.
As to taxation, the president en-
dorsed the plan for levying six billion
dollars in 1919 and for notifying the
public in advance that the 1920 levy
VIII be four billion dollars. --
The new three-year naval building
program was endorsed, because, the
president said, it would be unwise to
attempt to adjust the American pro-
gram to a future world policy as yet
undetermined. Paying tribute to the
peoples conduct in war he spoke par
ticularly of the work OF women and
again appealed for woman suffrage by
federal amendment.
No Private Thought.
Declaring he had no private
thought or purpose" in going to
France. but that he regarded it as his
highest duty, the president added:
1t Is now my duty to ply my full
part in making good what they
tAmerica's soldIers) offered their
life's blood to obtain"
Democratic representatives arose
and applauded vociferously when the
president announced his intention OF
going in person 20 the peace confer
ence. The Republican side was silent
and so weie many senators on both
sides of the chamber. The president
concluded after speaking fortytwo
minutes, and left the chamber amid
applause limited to the Democrat
side. Interruptio is of the address for
questions, which had been threatened
by some Republican members of the
house. did not materialize.
The president sad:
Wilson's Address.
Gentlemen of the Congress-
The year TINT has elapsed since last
stood befoFe you to fulfill my constitutional
duty to the congress from time to time In.
formation on the state of the union has
been so crowded with great events, great
processes and great results that cannot
its transactions or of the far-reachinr
changes which have been wrought in tn,
life OF our nation and of the world Yor
hnve yourselves witnessed these things. NJ
i have. 1t Is too soon to assess them; ant
we who stand in the midst of them ant
are part Of them. are less qualified thai
men of another generation will be to sa!
what they mean or even what they hav
been. But some great outstanding fact
are unmistaknble, and constitute in q sens
part Of the public business with which it i
our duty TO deal. To state them Is to Sc
the stage Cor the legislative and executiv
action which must grow out of them an,
which We have yet to shape and determine
Hnd 145.9Is Men.
A year ago we had sent 145.91S men over
seas. Since then we have sent 19JO.513, a
average of 16a. .5i2 each month. the numbe
in fact rising in May last to 2i59J1. in Jun
to 2IS. .7G0 in July to :;01 .1S2 and CONTINUING
to reach similar figures In August an
tembeT 25I4SS. No such movement q
troops ever took place before. across tn
three Thousand miles of sea followed b
adequate equipment and supplies, and car
ried safely thru extraordinary dangers G
attack--dangers which We're alike strang
and infinitely difficult to guard agains
In al! this movement only I5S men wer
upon single English transport which wa
sunk near the Orkney islands.
Back of Movement.
7 need not tell you what lay back of thi
great movement of men and material.
shnrs t-irg organization of the industrie
If the country and all its productive acti,
tiles more. cenpiete.- more thorough /
ed snd unanimous in purpose and effcl
than any enther great belligerent had eve
been able to effect. We profited great
by the experience of the nations whit
. years IN the axigent and exacting bushes
their every resource and every executi'