The Oskaloosa herald., 1918-12-05
PRESIDENT WILSON
ADVISES CONGRESS
DELIVERS HIS MESSAGE IN JOINT
SESSION TODAY.
EXPLAINS HIS PEACE TRIP
Urges the Adoption of the Woman
Suffrage Amendment, comprehen-
siVe Road Laws and Other Meas
ures for Reconstruction.
(By Robert J. Bender. }


Washington, Dec. 2.-President Will
son early this afternoon delivered Il
message to congress, that answered
the criticisms of his peace conference
plans, and postwar activities.
The attitude of number of mem
bers of the senate were such as to
make the Presidents appearance at
this time short of dramatic.
He faced the necessity of replying
in some measure either directly or in.
directly to the criticism of his plan to
attend the peace conference as well
as clearing up his position on railroad
rand wire control and opening of ma
tional resources and he accepted the
challenge.
Brings Smiles From Republicans.
In his message he declared that
present government agencies can
handle the question of readjust-
ments of the country and pointed out
the needs of the country for develop.
ments of railways, highways and coun.
| try roads. .... .c,.r
The old system of handling rail.
roads brought conditions which made
some new policy necessary. 1t was
necessary to have some protection for
the stockholders" he said
Il frankly turn to you for counsel" !
he said, at which the republicans in
the joint session of the senate and
house laughed. /
Explains His Peace Trip.
He explained his peace trip as his
duty. May / not hope that in the deli
cate tasks l have to perform that |
may have the encouragement and add
ed strength of your support"
The president declared he believed
that the final peace would be complet- :
ed by spring. In the meantime, he said, |
American business men, with their |
quick initiative, are going ahead with !
readjustment..
Cheers Greet Declarations.
1.-The great men of our armed forces
fought for ideals of their country. |
owe it to them to see that those ideals !
are not mistaken at this time. 1t is my |
duty to play my full part in making |
good what they offered their lives to +
protect. | can think of no better call |
to serve than this"
The presidents reason for attending
the peace conference brought loud
cheering and applause from demo
cratic members of congress and from
the audience in the galleries.
Tribute to Women.
In speaking of woman suffrage, the
president said:
What should we say of the women?
OF the way in which they have quick
ened every task they have undertake.
en-? Their capacity for discipline has
enhanced everything they have at
tempted. They have quickly adapted
themselves to tasks to which they
have never been accustomed. They
have added new lustre to the annals
of American womanhood.
"The least tribute We can pay them
is to make them equal to the men in
political rights, and as they have prov
ed themselves equals in every field
of WORK, both for themselves and
their country"
The Presidents Program.
President Wilson's REIMBURSEMENT
policy includes the following:
Passage of the woman suffrage
amendment.
Use of present government agen-
cies to effect reconstruction.
Immediate resumption of public
works to provide employment for re-
turning soldiers.
Ratification of the Colombian treaty
to bring about PanAmerican under
standing.
Immediate plans for taxes for
1918, 1919 and 1920, to lift the tax
burden from the population.
Distribution of American material
for the benefit of stricken European
countries.
Complete fulfillment of the three
year naval program.
Reclamation of swamp and arid
lands.
Urges that railroad control qdes.
tons be studied by congress immed
lately to quickly remove doubt of their
future.
Peace based upon international jas.
tice and not merely domestic safety.