Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-12-10

to face, therefore. with this unan-
swered question, What is right that
we should do with the railroads in the
interest of the public and in fairness
TO their oxvners2
Several Plans Possible
! believe that il will be SerViCeable
for me to set forth as explicitly as pos
sible the alternative courses that lie
open to our choice. We can simply re-
lease the roads and go back TO the old
conditions Of private management, I'M
restricted competition and multiform
regulation by bClh state and federal
authorities; or we can go TO the oppo-
site extreme and establish complete
government control, accompanied, if
necessary, by actual government own
erShip; or we can adopt an interme-
diate course of modified private con-
troll, under more united and affirma-
tive public regulation and under such
alterations of the law as viii permit
waSteful competition to be avoided
and a considerable degree of unifica-
ton of administration to be effecte d,
as, for example, by regional corpora
tons under which the railways of de-
Unable area would be in effect COM
bined in single systems.
The one conclusion that l ana ready
to state with confidence is that it
would be disservice alike TO the coun-
try and to the owners of the railroads
TO return TO the old conditions unmod-
flied. Those are conditions of res
traint without development. There is
nothing affirmative or helpful about
them. What the country chiefly needs
is that all its means of transportation
should be developed, its railways, its
waterways, its highways and its coun-
tryside roads.
New Policy Necessary
Some new element of policy, there
fore, is absolutely ecessary-neces-
sary for the service of the public. nee
essary for the release of credit to
those who are administering the rail
ways. necessary for the protection of
their security holders. The old policy
may be changed much or little, but
surely it cannot wisely be left as it
was.
/ welcome this occasion to announce
to the congress my purpose TO join in
Paris the representatives of the gov
ernments with which we have been
associated in the war against the cen
trail empires for the purpose of dis
cussing with them the main features
of the treaty of peace. | realize the
great Inconvenience that will attend
my leaving the country, particularly
at this time, but the conclusion that
it was my paramount duty to go has
been forced upon me by conSidera-
lions which | hope will seem as con-
elusive to you as they have seemed to
me.
Accept U. S. Bases of Peace.
The allied governments have ac-
copied the bases of peace which | out
lined to the congress on the Stlr of
January last, as The central empires
also have, and very reasonably desire
my personal counsel in their interpre-
tation and application, and it is highly
desirable that l should give it in order
that the sincere desire of our govern
ment to contribute without selfish pur-
pose of any kind to settlements that
will be of common benefit to all the
hn "a,
manifest.
The peace settlements which are
now to be agreed upon are of tran
Scendent Importance both to us and
to the rest of the world, and I know
of no business or interest which should
take precedence of them. The gallant
men of our armed forces on land and
sea have consciously fought for the
ideals which they knew to be the
ideals of their country; I have sought
to express those ideals; they have ac-
cepted my statements of them as the
substance of their own thought and
purpose, as the associated govern
ments have accepted them; owe it to
them to see it, so far as in me lies,
that no false or mistaken interpreta-
ton Is put upon them and no possible
effort omitted to realize them.
1t is now my duty to play my full
part in making good what they offered
in their life's blood to obtain. | can
think of no call to service which could
transcend this.
Praises War Agencies.
Never before have there been agen-
cies 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 trade board,
the labor department. the food admin
istration and the fuel administration
have known since their labors became
thoroughly systematized; and they
have not been isolated agencies; they
have been directed by men who rep
resented the permanent departments
of the government and so have been
the centers of unified and cooperative
action. 1t has been the policy of the
executive, therefore, since the armis-
tice was assured (Which is in effect a
complete submission of the enemy to
put the knowledge of these bodies at
the disposal of the business men of
the country and to offer their inteIli-
gent mediation at every point and in
every matter where it was desired. 1t
is surprising how fast the process of
return 10 peace footing has moved
in the three weeks since the fighting
stopped. 1t promises to outrun any in
quiry that may be instituted and any
aid that may be offered. 1t will not be
easy to direct it any better than it
will direct itself. The American bust
ness man is of quick initiative.
The ordinary and normal processes
of private initiative will not, however,
provide immediate employment for all
of the men of our returning armies.
Those who arc af trainod no0ooi+r