The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-12-02
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Text of President Wilson's Address

will permit me 10 speak once more
vt the unratiiied treaty OF friendship
and adjustment with the republic OF
Colombja. very earnestly urge upon
them an early and favorable action
upon that vital matter. believe that
they will feel with me. that the stage
Of affairs is now set for such action
as will he not only Just. but generous
and IN the spirit Of the new age upon
which we have so happily entered.
Domestic Problems.
$50 FAR as our domestic affairs are
concerned. the problem OF our return
to peace IS problem Of economic and
industrial readJusiment That ptoS-
lem is less serious for Ms than Il may
turn out 10 be for the nations which
have suffered the disarfangements
and the losses OF war longer than We
Our :eople, moreover. do not wait 10
he coached and led. They know their
own business. are quick and resource
fol at every readjustment. definite in
purpose and seli-reliant in action
Any leading strings we might seek to
put them In would speedily become
hopelessly tangled because they
would pay no attention tn them and
70 their own way All that we can
do as their legislative and executive
servants is to mediate the process OF
change hesc, there and elsewhere,
as we may. | have heard much
counsel as 10 the planj that
should be formed and personally con-
Quoted to a happy contamination, but
from no quarter have ! seen any gen
eral scheme Of Reconstruction"
emerge which ! thought it likely We
could force our spirited business men
and seii-reliant laborers to aeeep,
with due pliancy and obedience.
Special War Agencies.
While the war lasted we set NJ
many agencies by which TO direct tn,
industries Of the country in the serv
ices il was necessary for them u
render, by which to make sure OF al
abundant supply OF the material
needed. by which TO check undertak
ings that could foy the time Re dis
posed with and stimulate those tina
we're most seryiceable in war. b.
which to gain for the purchasing de
paftmentS cf the government Ger
tain control over the prices OF es
sential articles and materials, b,
which TO restrain trade with alier
enemies, make the most OF the avail
able shipping and systematic iinancia
transactions. both public and private
so that there would be no unnecessary
conflict or coniusion-by which. "
short, 20 put every material energy oI
the country into harness 10 draw The
common load and make Of us on,
team in the accomplishment OF a grea'
task. But the moment We knew IN,
nmistice to have been signed we tool
the harness off. Raw materials upon
which the government had kept it'
hand for fear there should not b,
enough for the industries that sup,
Piled the armies have been released
and put into the general market again
Great industrial plants whose whole
output and machinery had been taker
over for the uses Of the government
have been set free TO return TO thc
uses TO which they we're put teiorc
the war. Il has not been possible ,c
remove so readily or so quickly IN,
return Of ioodsiuiis or shipping. he,
cause the world has still 20 be fed
from O r granaries and the ships ar,
still needed 10 send supplies to our
men oversee and 10 bring the mer
back as fast as the disturbed condi.
ions on the other side Of the water
permit but even there restraints ar,
being relaxed as much as possible and
more and more as the weeks go by
Never before have there beer
agencies In existence IN this country
which knew so much Of the field Of
supply, OF labor and Of industry as the
war industries board. the war trade
board, the labor department, the food
administration and the fuel admins
tralion have known since their laborS
became thoroughly systematired and
they have not been isolated agencies
they have been directed by men who
represented the permanent depart.
menls Of the government and also
have been representative in action
"rhe policy Of the executive,
therefore, since tn Afmistiee vas
assured (which 10 In effect q com
plete. submission Of the enemy 10
put the knowledge Of these bodies
At the disposal Of the business
men Of the country and TO offer
their Intelligent mediation st
every point and In every matter
where II was desired. II 10 sur
ptising how fast the process Of
return 10 q peace feotinf has
moved In the three weeks sincs
the fighting stopped. II promise,
TO outrun any inquiry that may
be instituted and any aid that may
be offered. II will not be sasy to
direct II any better than II will
direct itself The American bus-
iness mss II Of quick initiative.
The Employment Problem.
The ordinary and normal ptoeesse,