Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-12-02
Stands Firm in His
Desire to Sit at
Peace Table
CHEERED ONLY
BY DEMOCRATS
Republicans Silent
When President
Outlines Plan
BY associated Press

Washington, Dec. 2.-In an ad-
dress to Congress in Joint session to-
day President Wilson formally an
nounced his intention TO so to Paris
for the peace conference, saying the
Allied governments have accepted
principles 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.
No Censorship
Referring to his announcement
that the French and British govern
ments had removed all cable re-
Strictions upon the transmission of
news Of the conference to America.
The President said he had taken over
the American cable systems on ex-
pert advice so as to make a unified
system available.
lie expressed the hope that he
would have the cooperation of the
public and of Congress, saying
through the cables and Wireless CON
Stant counsel and advice would be
possible
Has No Suggestion
Much of the address was devoted
TO the railroad problem, for which
the President said he now had no
solution to offer. He recommend
ed careful study by Congress, say
ing it would be a disservice to the
country and to the railroads to per-
nit return to old conditions un-
der private management without
notifications
The President declared he stood
ready to release the railroads from
government control whenever a sat
isfaCtory plan of readjustment could
he worked out.
Has No Program
The President said he hoped to
see formal declaration of peace
by treaty by the time spring has
come
No definite program of recon-
Struction can be outlined now, Mr..
Wilson said, but as soon as the
armistiCc was signed. government
C0ntTOl of business and industry was
released as far rs possible. He ex-
pressed the hope that Congress
would not object to comforting upon
the war trade board or some other
agency the right of fixing export
priorities to assure shipment of food
10 starving people aboard.
Heavy Tax Levy
AS to taxation, the President en-
dorsed the plan for levying six bill
lion dollars in 1919 and for notify
ing the public in advance that the
1920 levy will be four billion dol
lars.
The new three-year building pro
gram was endorsed because. the
President said, it would be unwise
10 attempt to adjust the American
program to future world policy as
yet undetermined.
Paying tribute to the peoples con-
duct in the war, he spoke particu-
larry of the work of women and
again appealed for women suffrage
by Federal amendment.
Republicans Silent
Declaring he had no private
thought or purpose" in going to
France. but that he regarded it as
his highest duty, the President
added; 81 is now my duty to play
my full part in making good what
they (America's soldiers) offered
their lfe's blood to obtain"
Democratic representatives arose
and applauded vociferously when
the President announced his inten-
ton of going in person to the peace
conference. The Republican side
was silent and so were many sena-
tors on both sides of the chamber
Chccrcd by Democrats
The President concluded after
speaking AZ minutes, and left the
ChamSe amidst applause limited to
the Democratic side. Interruptions
of the address for questions which
had been threatened by some Re-
publican members of the House did
not materialize.