The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-12-02
TRIP ABROAD
HIGHEST DUTY
WILSON SAYS
IN ADDRESS
Goes to France to Carry Out
Purposes for Which Sol
diers Gave Their Lives, He
Tells Congress.
PROGRAM FOR FUTURE
(By Associated Press)

WASHINGTON, Dec. I'm an ad-
dress to Congress in joint session to-
day, President Wilson formally an
nounced his intention to go to Paris
for the peace conference, saying the
allied governments have accepted the
principals enunciated by him for peace
and it is his paramount duty to be
present. The president said he would
be in close touch by cable and wire
less and that congress will know all
that he does on the other side.
Referring to his announcement that
the French and British governments
had removed all cable restrictions up
on the transmission of news of the
conference to America, the president
said he had taken over the American
cable system on expert advice so as
to make unified system available.
He expressed the hope that he would
have the cooperation Of the public AMI
congress, saying through the cable and
wireless constant counsel and advice
would be possible.
Discusses Railroad Problem.
Much of the address was devoted
to the railroad problem for which the
president said he now has no solution
10 oner. He recommended careful!
study by congress, saying it would be
good service to the country and to
the railroads to permit return to
Old conditions under private manage.
ment without notifications.
The president declared he stood
ready to- release all roads from gov
ernment control whenever a satisfac-
tory plan OF adjustment could he
worked out.
Ine president said he hoped to see
formal declaration of peace by
treaty by the time spring has come"
Endorses Tax Plan.
NO oe1lnlte program of reconstruc-
uon can be outlined now, Mr.. VIII.
son said, but as soon as the armistice
was signed government control of
business and industry was released as
iar as possible. He expressed the
nope that congress would not object
to comforting upon the war trade
board or some other agency the right
or fixing export priorities to assure
shipments OF food to starving people
abroad
AS to taxation. the president en-
dorsed the plan for levying 6 billion
dollars in 1919 and for notifying the
public in advance that the 1920 levy
will be four million dollars.
The new three year naval building
program was endorsed. because. the
president said. it would be unwise to
attempt to adjust the American pro
gram to future world policy as We,
undetermined.
Appeal for Suffrage.
Paying tribute to the peoples con.
duct in war. he spoke particularly of
the work of women and again appeal
ed for woman suffrage by federal
amendment
Declaring he had no private
thought or purpose" in going to
france, but that he regarded it as his
highest duty, the president added:
1t is now my duty to play my full
part in making good what they (the
American soldiers) offered their lives
blood to obtain
democratic representatives rose and
applauded vociferousfy when the
president announced his intention of
going in person to the peace confer
ence. The republican side was silent
and so were many senators on both
sides of the chamber.
The president concluded after speak
ing AZ minutes, and left the chamber
amidst applause limited to the demo
cratic side. Interruption of the ad-
dress for questions which had been
threatened by some republican mem
bers of the house. did not materialize