The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-12-05
ashinston, d. C, Dec. ?:-II.o
preS'dent's speech in full follows

gentlemen of the congress-
The year that has elapsed since
L stood before you to tulfiil my
constitutional duty to give to tins
congress from time to time irtor-
nation on the state of the union,
a been so crowded with great
events, great processes and great
results that / cannot hope to give
you an adequate picture OF Its
transactions or Of the far-reaching
changes which have been wrought
IN h life OF our nation and OF
the world. You have yourselves
Witnessed these things as i have.
IL is too soon to assess them: and
we who stand in the midst Of them
n are part of them are less quail
iiieu than men of another genera
tion Will be to say what they mean.
OF even what they have been.
but some great outstanding
Iacts are unmistakable. and con-
stltute III a sense part of the public
business with which it is u duty
10 deal. To state them is to set
the stage for the legislative and
executive action watch must grow
ont OF them, and which we have
Yet to shape and determine.
years NsCofus
A year ago we had sent 145.91S
men overseas. Since then we have
sent l,950,5l3, an average OF 1872
bi2 each month; the number. In
fact, rising In May, last, 10 245.951;
in June to 27S,760, in July % 387,-
1872. and continuing to reach SINH
lar figures in August and Septem-
ber--in August. 2S8,57O. and in
September, PSI, 438. No such move
lment of troops ever before took
place across 5000 miles of sea fol-
lowed by adequate equipment and
supplies and carried safely through
extraordinary dangers of attack
dangers which were alike strange
and infinitely difficult TO guard
against. In all this movement only
75S men were lost by enemy at
tack--G30 of whom were upon a
single English transport which
vas sunk near the Orkney Islands.
Were Apt Pupils.
Il need not tell o what lay
back Of this great movement OF men
and material. 1t is not invidious to
say hat back Of it lay II support
ing organization of the industries OF
the country and OF all Its produc-
tive activities more complete. o
H tuc OuSI III IlctflOu dlst
result, more spirited and unani-
nous in purpose and effort than
any other great be~iligerent had
been able to effect. We protited
greatly by the experience Of the q
tons which had already been en-
gagged for nearly three years in tho
exigent and exacting business, their
every and every executive
proficiency taxed to The utmost. we
were their pupils. But we learned
quickly and acted with u prompt
ness and a readiness that justify
II great pride that we were able to
serve the world with unparalleled
energy and quick accomplishment.
But II is not the physical scale
and executive efficiency Of prepara-
ton, supply, equipment and dis
patch that | would dwell upnn, but
the mettle and quality Of the OFF,
GERS and men we sen over ard OF
the sailors who kept the seas, and
the spirit Of the nation that stood
behind them. No soldiers or sail
ors ever proved themselves more
ready for the test OF battle or
cquitted themselves with moro
splendid courage and achievement
when put to the test.
Tribute to SoId,srs.
Those Of us who played some
| part in directing the great proc
esses by which the war WaS pushed
irresistibly forward TO tne final
triumph may forget all tjat
and delight L thoughts with the
story OF what u men DID. Their
officers understood the grim ana
eyacting task they had undertaken
and performed it with 81 audacity,
| - ~ o, ,,.l -, 1N q so ~
that touch the story of convoy and
battle with impcrishaolc distinc-
tinction at every turn. whether the
enterprise was great or small.
from their great chiefs. FershlnS
and Sims, down to the youngest
lieutenant: and their men were
WORTHY of them-such men as
hardly need to he commended,
and go to their terrible adventure
Ibljthely and with the quick intelli-
lgence OF those who know inst what
bt is they would accomplish. am
proud to be the fellow Countrymau
Pf men of such stuff and valor.
Traoso Of US who stayed. 1T home
Hid our duty; the war could not
have been won or the gallant men
WHO fought ii given their oppor-
tunity to win ii otherwise: but
FOR many a long day we shall think
ourselves 'accurs'd we were not
There and hold our manhood cheap
while II speaks that fought" with
these at st. Mihiel or ThlerrY. The
t%lenaory of those days OF triumph
INT hattie will 60 will, these for
Inate men to their graves; and
zach will have his favorite mem
Sry.
old men forget: yet ali shall he
hrgot, but he'll remember with adj
fAntaCes what feat9 he did that
Iyi"
What we all thank God for with
tapest gratitude Is that our men
TENT in force into the line Cf battle
at the critical moment when
b. whole fate of the world seemed
hang i'm the balance and threw
loir fresh strength into the ranks
freedom In time 70 turn the
hole tide and sweep OF the fateful
truggle-turn il once for all, 50
hat henceforth it was back. back.
. bck for their enemies: always
Bcle, never again forward!
!, thfter that il was only q scant
. lar months before the couIman-
hr1 OF the central empires knew
> mselves beaten. and now their
I Try empires are in liquidation:
: Mad throughout it al how fine
h. spirit of the nation was; what
!. lily of purpose, what uuttrtnS
8 III!
Long a Memory.
What leaVen of purpose ran
n tough all its splendid display OF
length, its untiring ACCOMPLISH
\ Int. | have said that those of us
p DO STAYED at home TO do h work
is organization and supply will
" Ways wish that we had been with
In whom we sustained by our
10 bor. but we can never be
49,. Ia 49,. knAxa- m Ia. L VI ar