New Britain herald., 1918-12-03
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

No executive in the history of the
Omitted States ever presented to Con-
Bress a message of greater magnitude
or of greater Importance than that
delivered yesterday by President Will
son. Foreign and domestic policies
that must be dealt with were elucidat-
ed and the entire gamut of problems
with which the nation is face to face
were enlarged upon in a thorough
manner and the people know today
what is expected to be accomplished
within the next few months.
From the standpoint of oficialdom,
the message was dark and dreary
failure. President Wilson did not
open his heart and explain in detail
what he intended to do in Paris
end the silence that greeted his words
is testimony that his reticence was
resented by memb ers of Congress.
The distance between the White
House and the Capitol cannot now be
measured simply by that paved
length of Pennsylvania avenue; it is
an abyss over which there can be no
bridge. Congress, piqued by the past
attitude of the executive, is now open
ly in rebellion if it's acts yesterday
can be considered as a criterion of
what can be expected in the future.
Interest was conferred by profession
HI politicians and the public on what
President Wilson might say concern
ing the peace conference. Without
going underneath the surface on the
purpose Of his unique departure, the
President said: THE conclusion that
1T was my paramount duty to go has
been forced upon me by considera-
tions which I hope will seem as con-
elusive TO you as they have seemed
to me-" Later he asserted: 1T is
now my duty to play my full part in
making good what they fthe army
and navy offered their life's blood to
obtain. I can think of no other call
to service which could transcend
this" He also asserted: THE Allied
governments have accepted the bases
gress on the eighth of January last,
as the Central Empires also have,
and very reasonably desire my per-
sonal counsel in their Interpretation
and application This is the sum
total Of any explanation of why
President Wilson will attend the
peace congress. 1t is>an explanation
which, though far from satisfactory to
n the professional. must be accepted
II the Allied governmen ts desire the
4 Presidents attendance in order to in
Il terpret his terms II must be patent
20 all that duty calls him across the
Atlantic. despite the many doubts
that existed and do exist concerning
tho wisdom of such q venture.
Next in Importance were domestic
affairs. The President stated what all
should know but which few have
stopped to realize-while we have
been talking for three weeks of the
i problems of reimbursement to peace
\ conditions, the manufacturers of the
y country have been proceeding on
their own programs with a great de-
gree of success. Industry is being re-
B adjusted without the assistance Of
Congress.
President Wilson gave promise of
improved railroad service in the flu
ture when he appealed for legislative
action that would make impossible
@ the return to old methods and waste
81 full competition. Cooperation and
the prevention Of overlapping author
a ity must be the keynote before the
traffic lines are restored to private
ownership.
An energetic naval program, the
construction of more fighting units to
mother our merchant marine, was
also promised This sets at rest any
apprehension that q vigorous sea pol
ICY was not to be adopted.
President Wilson expressed a vain
hope when he appealed for the EN-
enlargement" and united support
of Congress III dealing with these
"deIicate tasks. He will receive
neither announcement nor support
from Congress, whose super-sensitive
belief in it's own infallibility has been
cut to the quick.
Tt would not be too severe to say
that the picture presented in Wash