The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-02
PRESIDENT ASKS
CONTINUED ir,m Page One,


We are about to give order and organiza-
ton 10 this peace not only for ourselves
but for the other peoples of the world as
well, so far rs they will suffer us to serve
them. 1t is international justice that we
seek, not domestic safety merely. Our
thoughts have dwelt of late upon Europe,
upon Asia. upon the near and the far
cast. very little upon the acts Of peace and
that WILT Ti. s9 6e
our relations with the rest of the world,
is it not of capital importance that we
should clear away all grounds of misunder-
standing with our immediate neighbors and
give proof of the friendship really feel ?
hope that the members of the senate
Will permit me to speak once more of the
unrntified treaty of friendship and adj
lustment with the republic of Colombia.
/ very earnestly urge upon them an early
ter. believe that they will feel, with me.
that the stage of affairs is now set for
such action as will be not only just. but
generous and in the spirit of the new age
upon which we have so happily entered.
Problem of Adjustment.
So farms our domestic affairs are con-
cefned, the problem of our return to peace
is n problem of economic and industrial
readjnstmcnt. That problem is less ser
1ouS for us than it may turn out to be for
the nations which have suffered the dis
arrangement and the losses of war longer
than we; Our PEOPLE moreover do not wait
own business. quick and resourceful
Mt every reimbursement. definite in purpose
and self-reliant in action.
zAny leading strings we might seek to put
them in would speedil. become hopelessly
tangled, because they would pay no atten-
tlon to them and go their own way. All
that we can do as to their Legislative and
executive servants Is to mediate the process
of change here. there ami elsewhere we
may | have heard much counsel as to the
plans TINT should be formed and personally
conducted to happy ronsumnation. but
from no quarter have l seen any general
scheme of reconstruction emerge which l
thought 1t likely could force our spir-
tied business men and self reliant labor
10 accent with dine Infancy and IL
ence.
L. s. Set Up Agencies.
While the war lasted We set up many
agencies by which TO direct the industries
of the country in the services 1t was neces-
sary for them to render. by which to mare
sure of On abundant supply of the mater
ials needed. by which to check undertaE- :
ings- that could for the time be dispensed
with and stimulate those that were mos t
chasing departments of the government a
certain control over the prices of essential
articles and materials by which to rcstr nm
trade with alien enemies, make the most Of
the available shipping and sy stematize fl
nancial transactions. both public and
private so that there would be no unneces-
sary conflict or confusion--by which III
short, to put every material energy of the
load and make of use one team in the AZ
comblshment of great task. But the mo-
ment We knew the armistice to have been
signed we took the harness off.
~ Release Raw Material.
Raw materinls upon which the govern
ment,. had Kept its hand for fear there
should pot he enough for the Industries
tLat supplied the armies have been released
and put into the general market again
Great Industrial plants. whose whoie out
put and machinery had been taken over for
the uses Of the government. have been -
free to return 70 the uses to which they
were put before the war. Ii has not been
possible to remove so readily or quickly
the control Of foodstuffs. and of shipping
because the world has still to be fed from
our Eranartes and the ships are still needed
10 send suuplihs To md
to bring the men back fast the dis.
turbed conditions on the other side Of the
water permit: but even there restraints
are being relaxed as much us possible, and
more and more as the weeks go by.
Never before have there been agencies
in existence In this country which knew
SO mich of the field or supplies. of labor
and of industry as the war industries
boar'I the war trade board. the labor de
partnlent. the food administration and the
fuel administration have known since theil
labors became thoroly. systematized; and
they have not been isolated agencies: they
have been directed by men which repre-
scented the permanent departments of the