New-York tribune., 1918-12-19
Two Years May Be Necessary
for Complete Dcmobiliza-
ton, Governors Are Told
Urges Increased Navy
Sec. Wilson Backs Purpose
of Presidents Trip to E,.-
rope to Gain U. S. Aims

year, possibly two years, must pass
before the nation can return to norma
peace conditions, and 1--WE will be fortu
nate if conditions abroad make demob-
llization possible at so early a date,
said Secretary of the Navy Daniels
Of state Governors.
The navy, said the Secretary, must
be increased and strengthened to en-.
able the United States to contribute as
many units ar any other nation to an
international police force, but. he
added:
~ look to see the peace congress
put an end to competitive big navy
building.
"But in q navy strong enough to en-
force the decrecs of an international
tribunal the United States should con-
tribute as many units as any other ma
tion. 1t lost less by the war than any
other great nation. 1t is the richest
nation, and has the longest shore line
1t should, therefore, contribute to the
international police large and power
full force.
No New Departure Asked
"The American navy is the pride OF
the people. 1t must be increased in
strength. I am asking Congress not
to make any new departures, but to
gramme."
In the beginning of his address Sec
retary Daniels said: "This country
thinks the war is over, but those of
us who are in official positions know
that while the fighting has ended the
problems growing out of the war are
moro complex and more difficult Of
adjustment than the conduct Of opera
tions by civilian administrators.
1--WE had organized plans for the
successful prosecution of war. They
were well in hand with full speed
ahead as the watcnworu; everybody
enlisted and everybody eager to serve
and to sacrifice. With the signing of
the armstice there was relaxation Of
effort and differences Of opinion as to
readjustment attendant upon the diff
ficulties that are inseparabe from go
ing from q war basis to peace foot
ing.
at will be at least a year--it may
be two years-beforc we can come
back to normal conditions, and we
will be fortunate if conditions abroad
make demobilization possible at so
early date It required a year and
q half, with ability to contract with
British ships, to carry 100000 sol
diers to France. and it would be fine
organization that could land them
home in q year"
Secretary Daniels opened the way
for discussion OF future Federal regu-
lation of public utilities. He said dur
ing the war we did not hesitate at any
action, however radical it might have
other times
Discusses Government Ownership
Are we to hesitate now in the
measures Of peace, to take direct and
unusual routes to the goal Of the com
mon welfare?" he asked eve have
made transportation and communica-
tlon for the period of the war gov
ernment monopoly. 1t was necessary,
what will we do with the railroads.
the telegraph and the telephone in
peace? | nave not come to be a
Prophet. nor an advocate, but Of one
thing | am sure-the American people
will do with them what they believe is
best for their country, regardless of
the bugabOo of government ownership.
which scares some timid people or the
oelief in the principle by those who
would prefer to carry out their theory
than to abandon it for better course.
L 40 not care rap for the argu-
ment that government ownership is
IS dangerous. All I am concerncdl
about is. which system will give us
cheaper transportation"
Ihe Secretary pointed out that the
tneory OF perpetuation Of the party in
power has been exploded, He citsd +hn
national election Of 1912, when hc
SAID tho maj ority of Federal emyloves
voted against former President Taft.
Speaking Of the demobilizinp Of war
industries, Secretary Daniels said: ~
more complicated duty than demobil-
lizlng armies and navies is the demob- .
'ilzatlon or war industries, the chang.
ing Oh plants making munitions into
factories for weapons Of peace. with
out injury to business and without
.enying employment to willing labor
%hich had worked faithfully and done
IT'S part to make victory possible. We
nad entered into contracts for all the
war weapons the country could nro-
auce. Machines and men we're turninn
.hem out with a celebrity that provaJ
americas capacity and rcadinoss ~
70 Whatever its people were col}oI
upon to perform.
Can't Stop at Once
You COULD not stop these machines
and yet it was waste
VI puDllc money to go on making punq
ana proJectiles and mines when wa
had more of them than STORAGE co,'id
be provided. "s' 'ooio
The authorities at WASHINGTON ~
vested with large powers for war did lid
a; no. hesitate when the .lmistice was
signed to voluntarily divest themselves
IL these powers and lead the wav hv
%hlch " business would flow in natnraI
'.an nnels. Your democracy gave novyer
u autocracy for war purposes Tbosa
tpon whom such powers were cnn
,erreo exercised them solely for Tho
common good and hastened - hona 'na
mem back to the people without ''.'
'clntilla of abuse ora hint of ,auJ. scauds, :,
Secretary of the Interior Iana ,',L
'aSo addressed the conference, referred
% ene .exceiIent cooperation of state
..lancnes OF the council of national d.
ence", and said: at Is necassar,- au
nay nay the national sense. activity and