Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-12-06
PRESIDENT WILSON
TALKS TO CONGRESS
SAYS EUROPEAN TRIP FIRST
DUTY TO NATION, PRINCIPLES
OF PEACE BEING AT STAKE.
Promises to Keep Congress Fully In
formed and Asks Support in Mis-
sion. = Recommends Careful
Study of Railway Problem.

Washington.-In an address to con-
gress in joint session on December 2,
President Woodrow Wilson formally
announced his intention to go to Paris
for the peace conference. saying the
allied governments have accepted prin-
ciples enunciated by him for peace and
it is his paramount duty to be present
The president said he will be in
close touch by cable and wireless and
that congress will know all that he
does on the other side.
Asks Cooperation. :;
Referring TO his announcement that
the French and British governments
had removed all cable restrictions
upon the transmission of news of the
conference to America, the president
said he had taken over the American
cable systems on expert advice so as
to make unified system available.
He expressed the hope that he
would have the cooperation of the
public and of congress, saying that
through the cables and wireless con-
slant counsel and advice would be
possible.
The Railroad Problem.
Much of the address was devoted to
the railroad problem, for which the
president said he new had no solution
to offer
He recommended careful study by
congress, saying it would be dis
service to the country and to the rail
roads to permit a return to old con-
ditions under private management
without notifications.
The president declared he stood
ready to release the railroads from
government control whenever satis-
factory plan of REIMBURSEMENT could be
worked out.
Expects Peace by Spring.
The president said he hoped to see
a formal declaration Of peace by
treaty "by the time spring has come.
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 a future world policy as yet
undetermined.
Advocate Suffrage for Women.
Paying tribute to the peoples con-
duct in war he spoke particularly OF
the work of women and again .ap-
pealed for woman suffrage by federal
amendment
Declaring he had no private
thought Of purpose" in going to
France. but that he regarded 1t as his
highest duty, the president added;
sit is now my duty to play my full
part in making good what they
(America's soldiers) offered their life's
blood to obtain"
Reconstruction Program.
No definite program of reconstruc-
ton can be outlined now, Mr.. Wilson
said. He expressed the hope that
congress would not object to con-
ferring upon the war trade board or
some other agency the right of fixing |
export priorities to assure shipment
of food to starving people abroad.
Future Taxation
AS to taxation, the president in
dOrsed the plan Tor leVylns slA piillon
dollars in 1919 and for notifying the
public in advance that the 1920 levy
will be S4,000OO0,000.
The president concluded after speak
ing forty-two minutes and left the
chamber amidst applause limited to
the Democratic side. Interruptions OF
the address for questions which had
been threatened by some Republican
members of the house, did not ma
terialize.