Omaha daily bee., 1918-12-03

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The patriotism, the unselhshness. the
thorough-going devotion and dis
tinguished capacity that marked
their toilsome labors, day after day,
month after month, have made them
fit mates and comrades of the men
in the trenches and on the sea.
And not the men here in Wash
ington only. They have but directed
the vast achievement. Throughout
innumerable factories, upon innum-
cradle farms, in the depths of coal
mines land iron mines and copper
mines, wherever the stuffs of indus
try were to be obtained and pre-
pared, in the shipyards, on the rail-
ways, at the docks, on the sea, in
every labor that was needed to sus-
tain the battle lines, men have We'd
with each other to do their part and
do it we'll. They can look any man.
alarms in the face and say, I'VE al
so strove to win and gave the best
that was in us to make our fleets and
armies sure of their triumph.
Gives Praise to Women.
And what shall we say of the
women-of their instant intelli-
gence, quickening every task that
they touched; their capacity for or
ganization and cooperation, which
gave their action discipline and en-
HANGED the effectiveness of every
thing they attempted; their aptitude
at tasks 10 which they had never
before set their hands; their utter
self-sacrihce alike in what they did
and in what they gave?' Their con-
tributon to the great result is be-
yond appraisal. They have added a
new lustre to the annals of Ameri-
can womanhood.
The least tribute we can pay them
is to make them the equals of men
in political rights, as they have
proved themselves their equals in
every field of practical work they
have entered. whether for them
selves or for their country.
These great days OF completed
achievement would be sadly marred
were we to omit that act of justice.
Besides the immense practical serv-
ices they have rendered, the women
of the country have been the moving
spirits in the systematic economies
by which our people have voluntar-
lily assisted to supply the suffering
peoples of the world and the armies
vi a every. front with food and
everything else that we had that
might serve the common cause. The
details Of such a story can never be
fully written, but we carry them
at our hearts and thank God that
we can say that we are the kinsmen
of such.
Have Gained Sure Triumph.
And now we are sure of the. great
triumph for which every sacrifice
was made. 1t has come, come in its
completeness. and with the pride and
inspiration OF these days of achieve
ment quick within us we turn to the
tasks of peace again-a peace sure
against the violence of irresponsible
fmonarchs and ambitious military
coteries-and make ready for new
order, for new foundations of justice
and fair dealing.
We are about to give order and
organization to this peace not only
for ourselves, but for the other
peoples of the world as we'll, so far
as they will suffer US to serve them.
1t is international justice that we
seek, not domestic safety merely.
Our thoughts have dwelt of late
upon Europe, upon Asia, upon the
near and far east, very little upon
the acts of peace and accommoda-
ton that wait to be performed at
our own doors.
Refers to Colombian Treaty.
While we are adjusting our rela-
tons with the rest of the world is 1T
not of capital Importance that we
should clear away all grounds Of
misunderstanding with our imme-
date neighbors and give proof of
the friendship we really feel? | hope
that the members of the senate will
permit me to speak once more OF
the unratihed treaty of friendship
and adjustment with the republic of
Colombia. | very earnestly urge
upon them, an early and favorable
action upon that vital matter. |
believe that they will feel, with me,
that the Stage of affairs is now set
for such action as will be not only
Just. but generous and in the spirit
of the new age upon which we have
so happily entered.
So far as our domestic affairs are
concerned, the problem of our re-
turn to peace is a problem of eco
nomic and industrial readjustment.
That problem is lesslserious for us
than it may turn out to be for the
nations which have suffered the dis
arrangements and the losses of war
longer than we. Our people, more
over, do not wait tovbe coached and
led. They know their own business,
are quick and resourceful at every
adjustment, definite in purpose and
self-reliant in action.
No Leading Strings Possible.
Any leading strings we might
seek to put them in would speedily
become hopelessly tangled because
they would pay no attention 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 personal
ly conducted to a happy consumma-
ton, but from no quarter have l
seen any general scheme Of, recon
struction" lemerge which | thought
it likely we could force our spirited
business men and self-reliant labor
-ers to accept with due pliancy and
obedience.
While the war lasted we set up
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