Evening journal., 1918-12-03
fcnntirNei from nage NO.

(ContiLued from page two.)
therefore, that rne development Q
public works OF every sort should b
promptly resumed, IN order that op
portunlties should be created for un
skilled labor In particular, and tina
, plans should be made for such devel
opments Of our unused lands and ou
natural resources as we have hitherto
lacked stimulation TO undertake.
Would Reclaim Land For Soldiers.
u particularly direct your attentio'
10 The very practical plans which th'
Secretary Of Interior has developed II
his annual report and before your com
mittee for the reclamation Of arid
swamp and cutover lands which might
II the States were willing and able tC
cooperate, redeem some 300,00000t
acres OF land for cultivation. There
are said 20 be IS or 2O0O00.O0 acres OF
lsnd In the West. at present arid, for
whose reclamation water Is available
II properly conserved. There are about
two hundred and thirty million acres
from which the forests have been cul
which have never yet been cleared for
the plow and which lie waste and DESC
late. These lie scattered all over the
Union, snd there are nearly eight mil
lion acres OF land that lie under swamps
or subject 10 periodical overflows, or
too wet for anything but grazing, which
II is perfectly feasible 30 drain and
protect and redeem.
The Congress can at once direct
thousands OF the returning soldiers to
the reclamation Of arid lands. It IS
possible in dealing with our unused
land 20 effect a rural and agricultural
development which will afford the best
opportunity 30 men who want TO help
themselves, and the Secretary of In
terror has thought out the possible
methods In way which Is worthy of
you'd most friendly attention.
i have spoken OF the control which
must yet for a while, perhaps for a
long while, be exercised over shipping
because Of the priority Of service TO
which our forces overseas are entitled
aGd which should also be accorded the
shipments which are TO save recently
liberated peol les from starvation and
many devastated regions from perma-
nent ruin. May / not say a special word
shout the needs OF Belgium and north
ern France2 No sums OF money paid
by way Of indemnity VIII serve Of
themselves 10 save them from disad-
vantage for years TO come. Something
more must be done than merely find
the money. II they had money and raw
materials in abundance tomorrow they
could not resume their place In the
Industry Of the world tom0rrOw-the
very important place they held before
the flame OF war swept across them.
Many OF their factories are razed to
the ground. Much OF their machinery
Is destroyed or has been taken away
Their people are scattered and many Of
their best workmen are dead Their
markets Will be taken by others, If
they do not get some special assistance
In rebuilding their factories and re-
placing their lost instruments Of man
ufacture. They should not be left TO
the vicissitudes Of the sharp compe-
titlon for materials and for Industrial
facilities which Is TO set in. ] hope,
therefore, that the Congress will not be
unwilling II Il should become neces-
sary TO grant to some such agency, as
the war trade board, the right 20 es-
tablish priorltIes OF export and supply
for the beneft OF these people whom
we have been so happy TO assist In saw
ing from the German terror and whom
we must not now thoughtlessly leave
20 shift for themselves in pitiless
competitive market. For the steadying
and faciiitatlon OF our own domestic
readiustment nothing Is more
important than the Immediate deter
Of the taxes that are to be
levied for 1918, 1919 and 1920. AS much
nf the burden Of taxation must be lift
ed from business as sound methods OF
financing the government Will permit,
and those who conduct the great es-
sential industries OF the country must
be sold as exactly as possible what
TO the government they will
be expected 10 meet In the years Inn
nediately ahead OF them. II viii be
pf serious consequence TO the country
bo delay removing all uncertainties In
lhis matter a single day longer than
bhe right processes Of debate justify.
Il Is idle 10 talk OF successful, con-
ndent business reconstruction before
those uncertainties are resolved. II the
war had continued Il would have been
necessary 30 raise at least eight billion
dollars by taxation payable In the year
1919; but the war has ended and l agree
with the Secretary Of the Treasury that
a. will be safe 10 reduce the amount to
elk billions. An Immediate rapid de-
cline in the expenses OF the government
is not TO be looked for. Contracts made
for war supplies will indeed be rapidly
cancelled and Inundated, but their I'M