The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-12-06


70 me b that II b not fair. either TO the pub
ic or to the owners Of the railroads. to leave
he question unanswered, and that 1t will
presently become my duty to relinquish con
srol of the railroads, even before the expira'
ion Of the statutory period. unless there
should appear some clear prospect in the
meantime Of q legislative solution. Their re
lease would at least produce one element Of
, solution, namely, certainty and . quick
stimulation Of private initiative.
Three Courses Open.
believe that 1t will be serviceable for me
10 set forth as explicitly as possible the al.
tentative courses that lie open to our choice
We can simply release the roads and go back
to the old conditions Of private management
unrestricted competition and multiform regu.
lation by both state and federal authorities
or we can go to the opposite extreme and es.
tablish complete government control. accom-
panied. II necessary, by actual government,
ownership; or we can adopt an intermediate
course Of modified private control, under 9
more unified and affirmative public regula.
will permit wasteful competition to b
avoided and = considerable degree Of uni
fication Of administration to be effected-as
for example, by regional corporations under
which the railways of definable area would
be in effect combined In single systems.
New Policy Needed.
The one conclusion that am ready te
state with confidence is that 1t would be Q
disservice alike to the country and to the
owners of the railroads to return to the old
conditions unmodified. Those are conditions
of restraint without development. There Is
nothing affirmative or helpful about them
What the country chiefly needs is that all its
means Of transportation should be developed
a. I'll, I'D
its countryside roads. Some new element OF
policy, therefore, Is absolutely necessary
necessary for the service of the public, neces.
sary for the release of credit Do those who
are administering the railways. necessary for
the protection of their security holders. The
old policy may be changed much or little, but
surely 1T cannot wisely be left as 1t was.
and impartial study of the whole problem
instituted at once and prosecuted as rapidly
as possible. I stand ready and anxious to
release the roads from the present control
and must do SO at a very early date if by
waiting until the statutory limit of time is
period Of doubt and uncertainty which is
hurtful to every interest concerned
Duty to Go.
welcome this occasion to announce to the
congress my purpose to join in Paris the
representatives of the governments with
which we have been associated in the war
against the central empires for the purpose
of discussing with them the main features Of
the peace treaty. I realize the great incon-
veniences that will attend my leaving the
country, particularly at this time, but the
conclusion that It was my paramount duty to
go has been forced upon me by considerations
which I hope will seem as conclusive to you
as they have seemed to me.
Iiod
basis Of peace which outlined to the con-
gress on the 8th of January last, as the GEN.
trail empires also have, and very reasonably
desire my personal counsel in their interpre-
tation and application, and it is highly de-
sirable that should give it in order that the
sincere desire of our government to contribute
without selfish purpose of any kind to settle
ments that will be of common benefit to all
the nations concerned may be made fully
manifest. The peace settlements which are
now to be agreed upon are of transcendant
Importance both to US and to the rest of the
world, and know of no business or inter
est which should take precedence Of them.
The gallant men of our armed forces on land
and sea have consciously fought for the
ideals which they knew to be the ideals OF
their country have sought to express those
ideals they have accepted my statements Of
them as the substance of their own thought
and purpose, as the associated governments
to it. so far "a in me lies, that no false or
mistaken Interpretation is put upon them
and no possible effort omitted to realize
them. It is now my duty to play my full!
part in making good what they offered their
LIES blood to obtain. D can think of no call
to service which could transcend this.
Censorship Removed.
shall be in close touch with you and with
Affairs on this side Of the water, and you
will know all that do. At my request, the
French and English governments have abso-
utely removed the censorship of cable news
which until within fortnight they had
and there Is now no censorship
whatever exercised at this end except upon
countries. It has been necessary to keep an
open wire constantly available between Paris
md the department of state and another be-
;ween France and the department of war.
In order that this might be done with the
east possible interference with the other
,ses Of the cables, have temporarily taken
,ver control of both cables. in order that
hey may be used as q single system. did
10 at the advice of the most experienced
able officials, and I hope that the results
will justify my hope that the news of the
,ext few months may pass with me utmost
reedom and with the least possible delay
rom each side Of the sea to the other.
ASKS Tor AlQ.
May I not hope. gentlemen Of the congress
hat in the delicate tasks shall have to per
orm on the other side Of the sea, in my
fforts truly and faithfully to interpret thu
principles and purposes Of the country W.
owe, may have the encouragement and thu
dded strength of your united supportf il
ealize the magnitude and difficulty Of thu
uty am undertaking; am poignantly
ware of its grave responsibilities. I am
he servant Of the nation. can have nc
'rivate thought or purpose Of my own II
'erforming such an Grand go to give thu
est that is in me to the common settle |
nents which must now assist in arriving |
t in conference with the other working |
eads of the associated governments. shall |
cunt upon your friendly countenance ant
shall not be inaccessible |
he cables and the wireless will render mi
valuable for any counsel or service which
on may desire of me. and shall be happy |
n the thought that am constantly in touch |
With the weighty matters of domestic polio, |
nth which we shall have to deal. ! shal |
make my absence as brief As possible ant |
hall hope to return with the happy assur' /
nee that it has been possible to translat /
nto action the great ideals for which Americs
as striven.
Gift Brought Punishment. |