Evening journal., 1918-12-02
lContinued From First paee.)
improve Pan american relations

Il ntfur Will DttNutb
Priority of distribution OF American
raw materials 10 war-strlcken nations.
Complete consummation of the three
year naval program.
Leaves determination of railroads fu-
turc 10 Congress, but recommends
against return 10 pre-war conditions OF
railroad control until modified.
Urges railroad control question be
studied by Congress immediately 10
quickly relieve doubt of their future
Reclamation OF arid, swamp and cut
over land.
Angry but cxpectant, Congress met at
noon today. one hour later President
Wilson read his message on the open
| ing OF the flnal session OF the 65th Con-
gress.
Congress Is angry because the Presl-
dent has ignored Il In making peace
and reconstruction plans.
DemOcratics We're counselling their
colleagues today against displaying too
much heat in discussing the Presidents
course on the ground that t"crltlcism
in this country OF the President S
course, already is proving ombsrrass-
ing abroad"
The largest crowd on record was al
the Capitol 60 hear the President.
Three hours before the time he was
scheduled TO speak, the corridors OF the
great building were filled with people
striving 20 gain one OF the coveted tick-
cts OF admission 10 the galleries. Most
OF the visitors were disappointed.
Today the President Is dlsposlng OF
- l. - a.
leave for his port OF departure until
tomorrow night and hence probably
VIII meet with his cabinet for the last
time tomorrow afternoon. This pro-
gram may. OF course, be changed later.
Tonight he expects TO confer with
Henry p. DAWSON, chairman OF the
American Red Cross relative 20 plans
OF that organization for the future.
Before the President arrived Senator
Cummins introduced a resolution Great
ing a bipartisan Senate committee OF
eisht 10 go TO Paris and report 20 the
Senate on the work OF the peace con-
ference.
Representative Rodenburg. Illinois, in
troduced a resolution 10 declare the
Nice-president the legal holder Of the
Presidential chair while President VIII
son IS in Europe.
The President said:
Gentlemen OF the Congress:
"The year that has elapsed since
last stood before you 10 fulfll my con-
stitutlonal duty 10 give TO Congress
from time 90 time information on the
state OF union has been so crowded
with great events, great processes and
great results that ! cannot hope % give
you an adequate picture OF its trans
actions or Of the far reaching changes
which have been wrought In the life
OF our nation and Of the world. You
have yourselves witnessed these things,
as ! have.
1T Ia too soon 20 review them; and
We who stand in the midst OF them and
are part OF them are less qualified than
men OF another generation will be 70
say what this means or even what they
have been. But some great outstanding
facts are unmlstakable and constitute,
in a sense, a part OF the public business
with which Il Is our duty 10 deal.
ITO state them is 20 set the stage
for the legislative and executive action
which must grow out Of them and
which We have yet 10 shape and deter
mine.
~ year ago we had sent il5,9is
men overseas. Since then we have sent
i,g5O.5i3. an average Of i62,542 each
month, the number In fact rising, in
May last, TO 2i5,95i, in June 10 2lsT60,
In July 20 307, ,is2. and continuing to
reach similar figures In August and
September-in August 2S9.510, and In
September 257,i3S No such movement
OF troops ever took place before, across
three thousand miles Of sea, followed
by adequate equipment and supplies
and carried safely through extraordin-
airy dangers OF attack-dangers which
were alike strange and infinitely din
cult to guard against. In all this move
ment only seven hundred and fifty
eight men were lost by enemy attack
six hundred and thirty Of whom were
upon a single English transport, which
was sunk near the Orkney Islands.
II need not tell you what lay back
OF this great movement OF men and
material. 10 Is not invidOus 20 say that
back Of it lay a supporting organlza-
ton Of the industries OF the country
and OF all its productive activities more
complete, more thorough In method and
effective In result, more spirited and
unanimous In purpose and effort than
any other great belllgerent had been
able 90 effect. We proflted greatly by
the experience OF the nations which
had already been engaged for nearly
three years In the exigent and aXact-
ing business, their every resource and
every executive proficiency taxed 10 the
utmost. We wero their pupils but we
learned quickly and acted with a
promptness and a readiness that justify
our great pride that we were able TO
serve tho world with unparalleled
energy and quick accomplishment.
"But it Is not tho physical scale and
executive efficiency OF preparation,
supply, equipment and despatch that !
would dwell upon, but the mettle and
quality Of the officers and men we
sent over and Of the sailors who kept
the seas and the spirit OF the nation
that stood behind them. No soldiers
OF sailors ever proved themselves more
quickly, ready for the test Of battle
or acquitted themselves with more
splendid courage and achievement
when put 10 the test.
'Those OF us who played some par
in directing the great processes by
which the war was pushed irresitably
forward to the final triumph may nov
forget all that and delight our thoughts
with the story OF what our men did.
Their officers understood the grim and
cxacting task they had undertaken and
performed II with an audacity, effl-
cheney and unhesItating courage that
touch the story OF convoy and battle
with imperishable distinction at every