Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-12-13

Washington, Dec. An an address
to congress in joint session president
Wilson formally announced his lhleh-
ton TO 90 TO Paris for the peace con-
ference, saying the allied governments
have accepted principles enumerated
by him for peace and 1t Is his para
mount duty to be present.
The president said he VIII be III CLOSE
touch by cable and wireless and thnl
congress will know all that he does on
the other side.
Referring to his announcement that
the French and British governments
had removed all cable restrictions up
on the transmission of news OF the
conference to America, the president
said, he had taken over the American
cable system, on expert advice, so Us
to make Il unified system available.
The president said he hoped to see
q formal declaration Of peace by
treaty 'by the time spring has come
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.
Takes Up Railroad Problems.
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 1t would be a dis
service to the country and to the rail-
'roads to permit a return to old condl'
tions under private management with
out notifications.
The president declared he stooc
ready to release the railroads from
government control whenever II salts
factory plan of REIMBURSEMENT could d.
worked out.
Nc Reconstruction Plans Yet.
NJ definite program of r~econstruC
ton can be outlined now, Mr., Wilso
said. but as soon rs the armiStice wa
signed government control of bushes
and industry was released as fur
uoSslhlc. He expressed the hope TN
congress would not object to conte
ring upon the wal trade board or son
other agency the right of fixing e
mort prinrities to assure shipment
food 10 starving people abroad.
As to taxation, the president !
dorsed the plan for levying S6,oOo,oV
600 in 1919 and for notifying the pu
lie In advance that the 1870 levy W
be $4,000, 100000.
The new three-year naval buildl
program was Endorsed because,
president said, It would he unwisc
attempt to adjust the American p
gram 10 n future world policy ms
undetermined.
AGAIN Urges Votes for Women.
Paving tribute to the peoples c
duet in war. he spoke particularly
the work of women and again appea
for woman suffrage by federal m
ment.
Declaring he had no private thou
or purpose In going to France, hut t
he regarded It as his highest duty
president added: at Is now my d
TO play my full part in milking z
what they (American soldiers) oitt
their life's blood to obtain
Text of Presidents Address.
The president said:
Gentlemen of the congress:
wear that has elapsed since !
stood before you to fulfill my co
t%utional duty to give to the cong
from time to time information on
state of the Union has been SO or,
ed with great events, great procC
and great results that | cannot
10 give YOU an adequate picture o
transactions or of the tar-reaC
changes which have been wrougl
the life of our nation and the W
You have yourselves witnessed
things. as l have. 1t is too soon t
sess them and we who stand II
midst of them and are part OF
are less qualified than men of an
generation will be to say WHAT
mean or even what they haV
But some great outstanding fact
u~nmistakable and constitute IN a
part of the public business Nilth '
II is our duty to deal.
To state them Is to set the STAG
the legislative and executive