Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-12-03
Presidents Message to Congress

the new age upon which We have "
happily entered.
No Reimbursement Plan.
So far as our domestic affairs are
concerned the problem or our return /
to peace is problem of economic
and industrial readjustment That
problem is less serious for us than il
may turn out TO be for the nations
which have suffered the disarrange-
ments and the losses of war longer .
than we. Our people, moreover do /
not wait to be coached aud led. They |
know their own business are quick ,
and resourceful at every readjust- :
ment, definite in purpose and self re /
liant in action Any leading strings |
we might seek to put them in would |
speedily become hepelessly tangled !
because they would pay no attentioh /
TO them and go their own way All
that we can do as their legislative
and executive servants is to mediate
the process of change here. there and
elsewhere as we may. | have heard
much counsel as to the plans that
should be formed and personally con
Quoted to happy contamination,
but from no quarter have | seen any
general scheme of reconstruction"
emerge which l thought it likely We
could force our spirited business men
and self-reliant laborers to accept
with due pliancy and obedience.
While the war lasted We set up
many agencies by which to direct the
industries of the country in the serv-
ices it was necessary for them to rem
der, by which to make sure of an
| abundant supply of the materials
needed, by which to check undertake
ling that could for the time he dis
pensed with and stimulate those that
/ were most serviceable in war, by
which to gain for the purchasing de-
partments of the government a GER
tain control over the prices of essen
! tial articles and materials, by which
to restrain trade with alien enemies,
make the most of the available ship
ping and systematic financial tran
I, sactions, both public and private, so
that there would be no unnecessary
4 conflict or confusion--by which, in
short. to put every material energy
of the country in harness to draw the
common load and make of us one
team in the accomplishment of
great task. But the moment We
knew the armistice to have been
signed we took the harness off. Raw
! materials upon which the govern
ment had kept its hand for fear there
should not be enough for the indus
tries that SUPPLE the armies have
been released and put into the gem
eral market again, Great industrial
plants whose whole output and ma
chinery had been taken over for the
uses of the government have been set
free 10 return to the uses to which
they were put before the war. 1t has
not been possible to remove so read
lily or so quickly the control of food
stuffs and Of shipping, because the
world has still to be fed from our
granaries and the ships are still need
ed to send supplies to our men over
seas and TO bring the men back as fast
as the disturbed conditions on the
other side of the water permit; but
even there restraints are being re-
, Taxed as much as possible and more
and more rs the weeks go by.
. Never before have there been
: agencies in existence in this country
} which knew so much of the field Of
! supply, of labor and of industry as
the war industries board the war
J trade board, the labor department,
the food administration and the fuel
administration have known since
their labors became thoroughly sys-
temati2ed; and thew have not beer
isolated agencies: they have been di-
rected by men WHO represented the
permanent departments of the gov
eminent and SO have been the eenters
of unified and cooperative action. IL
has been the theory of the executive
: therefore, since the armistice was as
2 sured, (Which is in effect a complete
2 /, submission Of the enemy, to nut the
knowledge of these bodies at the dis
posal of the business men of tbs
country and to offer their intelligen
mediation at every point and in every
matter where ii was desired. u i
:, surprising how fast the process of re
=. | turn to a peace footing has moved IL
!, the three weeks since the fightini
stopped. 1t promises to outrun an
4 inquiry that may be instituted an
= any aid that may he offered. It will
!, not be easy to direct 1t any bette
! than 1t will direct itself The Ameri
4 can business man is of quick militia
) tive.
q The ordinary and normal nrocesse
. of private initiative will not, however
i provide immediate, employment 70
v all the men of our returning armie:
h Those who are of trained capacity
q those who are skilled workmen. thos
? who have ACQUIRED Familiarity wit
J. tahlished businesses. those who ar
e ready and willing to go to the farm:
If all those whose aptitudes are know
lie or will be sought out ty employer
t. will find nj difficulty, it is safe to sa,
l. in findine place and employment BIZ
r there will be others who will be at
e, loss where to gain a livelihood unles
ct pains are taken to guide them and p,
" them in the wav of work. There wi
Of be large floating residuum Of labo