Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-12-07
EVENTS OF A WEEK

EVENTS OF A WEEK
The opening of the congressional short session on
Monday, December ?, was marked by the delivery by the
president of the address which is one Of the usual
features on such occasions. It is a notable, and not an
entirely pleasant fact that on this occasion. when the
nation was just emerging from the war with everything
won for which it had contended, and with the profound
influence of the president ofsthe United States on world
thought everywhere recognized, he was greeted at this
time with less Of enthusiasm and with more of aloofness
and reserve than ever before since he first began to ad-
dress congress.
This attitude was not confined to the Republicans
Of the two houses. 1t was shared in full by not a sw
Democrats, and in a measure by most of them, for it re-
quired considerable coaching to bring forth from even
the Democratic side applause other than that demanded
by the cold necessities of courtesy which latter, of course,
was shared by members Of all parties. Among the causes
to which this lack of cordially may, in part, at least,
be attributed, are the bitterness aroused by the presi-
dents intensely partisan appeal for partisan support just
before election, the unquestioned unpopularity in con-
gress of his present European trip, and his secretive-
ness with reference to the things which he expects to lay
before the peace conference at. Paris as the principles
for which tn American nation stands. .
The presidential address contained some surprises.
Its presentation of the railroad problem may be taken
as a solar plexus blow to the policy of government owner
ship Of railroads in this country from which that policy
is not likely to recover for some years. 1t has been
known that Mr.. McAdoo, who has been in charge of
the railroads since their acquisition for war purposes by
the government was not in favor Of their permanent re-
tention. While the president has given no intimation
of his opinions on the subject, he has been supposed by
many to be in favor of permanent government ownership
of the railroads. Hence a good many people must have
been shocked when they learned from his address before
congress that he is emphatically opposed to making the
railroads a part of our government establishment. His
opposition to this course is without qualification or modi-
fication, and his reason for his attitude is that he be-
leves that the country can be better served by the roads
under private management than under the direct control
of the government.
While the president was entirely frank in stating
to congress that he had no special plan to recommend,
and that he laid the whole subject before the senators
and representatives, he also made it plain that he con-
sidered the inadequacy Of the roads under the private
management of that time to cope with the problems Gre
ated by the war to be due in no small part to the unwise
legislative restrictions which had been imposed on the
roads, and that the return of the country to the former
conditions was not to be regarded as a proper solution.
The president is obviously in favor of private ownership
0AO u LIE Idu1OdQS, with government SUPER
vision, and with arrangement for concerted action where
such action is needed in the public interest.
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In another direction the presidents address would
be a shock to those who have expected and hoped that
the chief magistrate would stand forth as the arch
apostle of a system of state Socialism, making a step
ping stone of the government control enforced by the
needs OF the war. There were many who entertained
this belief but all that is dissipated by the presidents
reference to the business problems Of reconstruction. In
the paragraph devoted to that subject the policy Of re-
construction under government paternalism is distinctly
opposed. and the conviction is expressed that American
business and industry can be much more satisfactorily
adjusted to the needs Of the situation If free opportunity
many words the president declares his belief that this
situation will take care Of itself.
On the subject of providing employment for returned
soldiers the president expressed himself in favor Of posi-
tive action by the government in the prosecution Of con-
stfucrVe puoic works, mentioning specifically the vast
areas Of land waiting to be reclaimed and made produc-
tive. and on which a part Of the labor of returned SOL
diers may ~profitably be expended. On all Of these mat
ters the recommendations have received generally favor
able attention. Less warmth has been shown in connc-
ton with the renewed recommendation for woman suf-
frase legislation and for the ratification Of the treaty
indemnifying Colombia for her loss Of Panama
& .sH
On the subject which is just now foremost in the
thought OF the world. thai, Of peace and world recon.
struetion and reimbursement, the president was as silent
as the sphynx. informing congress merely that he was
about to visit Europe in order to aid in DEFINING the
peace principles which he had formerly enunciated. but
not condescendins to inform the legislative branch Of
Farmers OrSan;xe longing to the %.