The Monticellonian., 1918-12-06

represent the permanent department of the government and so have been the centers of unified and cooperative action. Ii mas been the policy of the executive, therefore, since the armis- tiee was assured (which is in effect complete submission of the enemyD to put the knowledge of these bodies at the disposal of the business men of the country and to offer their intelH- gent mediation at every point and in every matter where it was desired. It is surprising how fast the process of return to peace footing has moved in the three weeks since the fighting stopped. It promises to eHtrun any inquiry that may be instituted and any aid that may be offered II will not be easy to direct il any better thIn 1t will direct itself. The American business man is of quick initiative.
 "The ordinary and normal pre- eesses of private initiative will not, however provide immediate employ ment for all of -..e men of our return ing armies. Those who are of train ed capacity, those who are skilled workmen, those who have acquired familiarity with established busi- nesses, those who are ready and will ing to go to the farms. all those whose apttudes are known or will be sought out by employers will find no diff eulty, it is safe to say, in finding place and employment. But there will be others who will he at loss where 10 gain a livelihood unless pains are talk en to guide them and put them in the way of work. There will be a large floating residium of labor which should not be left wholly to shift for itself. It seems to me important, therefore, that the development of public works of every sort should be promptly resumed, in order that ep- portunities should be created for un- skilled labor in particular and that plans should be made for such de velopments of our unused lands and our natural resources as we have hitherto lacked stimulation to under take
 Reclamation of Land.
 T particularly direct your attention to the very practical plans which the secretary of the interior has discuss ed in his annual report and before your committees for the reclamation of arid, swamp and cut.over lands which might. if the States were willing and able to cooperate, redeem some three hundred million acres of land for eul- tiyation. There are said to be fifteen or twenty million acres of land in the West, at present arid, for whose reclamation water is available. if properly conserved. There are about 23O,000.000 acres from which the for ests have been cut, but which have never yet been cleared for the blow, and which lie waste and desolate. These lie scattered all over the Union. And there are nearly S0000,000 acres 1 of land that lie under swamps or sub lect 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 return ing soldiers to the reclamation of the arid lands which it has already under taken if it will but enlarge the plans and the appropriations which it has entrusted to the department of the in terior. It is possible in dealing with our unused land to effect great ru- ral and agricultural development which will afford the best sort of op- portunity to men who want to help themselves; and the secretary of the interior has thought the possible methods out in a way which is worthy of your most friendly attention.
 'I have spoken of the control which must yet, for while, perhaps for a long while, De exercised over shipping because of the priority service to which our forces overseas are entitled and which should also be accorded the shipments which are 70 save the re- gently liberated peoples from starya- tion and many devastated regions from permanent ruin May l not say special word abou: the needs of Bel gium and Northern France? No sums of money paid by way of indemnity will serve of themselves to save them from hopeless disadvantages for years to come Something more must be done than merely 6rd the money. IT they had money and raw materials in abundance tomorrow they could not resume their place in the industrial world tomorrow-tha very important place they had before the flame of wal swept across them.
 Devastation of France.
 Many of their factories are razed to the ground. Much of their machin- cry is destroyed or has been taken away. Their people are scattered and many of their best workmen are dead Their markets will be taken by others if they are not in some special way assisted to rebuild their factories and Irerlace their lost instruments Of man dfacturo. They should not be left to the vieissitaea5 Of the sharp compe- tition for materials. and for industrial facilities which is now to set in.