The Tomahawk. [volume] (White Earth, Becker County, Minn.) 1903-192?, 1918-12-12

waste and 0eSOlat6. 1Aoso Az
tered all over the Union. And there
are nearly SO.OO0,O00 acres OF land
that lie under swamps or suDJect 10
periodical overflow or too wet Tor
anything but grazing which 1t IS per-
fect!y feasible to drain and protect
and redeem.
"The Congress can at once d1recs
thousands of the returning soldiers to
the reclamation of the arid lands
which it has already undertaken, II It
will but enlarge the plans and the ap'
preparations which it has entrusted to
the Department of the Interior. 1t Is
possible in dealing with our unused
land to effect a great rural and agr1-
cultural development which will al
ford the best sort of opportunity to
men who want to help themselves and
the Secretary of the Interior has
thought the possible methods out In
way which is worthy of your most
friendly attention.
Pleads for Belgian Aid.
II have spoken Of the control which
must yet for a while, perhaps for
long while, be exercised over ship
ping because of the priority of service
to which our forces overseas are enti-
tied and which shsald also be accord"
ed the shipments which are to save
recently liberated peoples from star
walton and many devastated regions
from permanent ruin
MAY I not say a SPECIAL word
about the needs of Belgium and North
ern France? No sums OF money paid
by way of indemnity win serve OF
themselves to save them from hope
less disadvantage for years to come.
Something more must be done than
merely find the money. If they had
money and raw materials in abund-
ance tomorrow they could not resume
their place In the industry of the
world tomorrow-the very important
place they held before the fame OF
war swept across them. Many of their
factories are RACED to the ground.
Much of their machinery is de"
stroyed or has been taken away. Their
people are scattered and many of their
best workmen are dead. Their mar
kets will be taken by others if they
are not in special way assisted to re.
build their factories and replace their
lost instruments Of manufacture. They
should not be left to the vicissitudes
| of the sharp competition for materials
and for industrial facilities which 10
now to set in.
81 hope therefore that the Congress
will not be unwilling, if It should be-
come necessary, to grant to some such
agency as the War Trade board the
right to establish pFiorities of export
and supply for the benefit of these
people whom we have been 80 happy
to assist in saving from the German
terror and whom We must not now
thoughtlessly leave to shift for them
selves in a pitiless competitive mar
ket.
viii Keep Close Touch.
II shall be in close touch with you
and with affairs On this side the wa.
ter. and you will know all that lido.
At my request. the French and Eng
lsh governments have absolutely re.
moved the censorship of cabled news
which until within a fortnight they
had maintained and there is now no
censorship whatever exercised at this
end except upon attempted trade COM
munieations with enemy countries. It.
has bssa necessary to keep an open
wire constantly available between
Paris and the Department Of State
and another between Frence and the
Department Of War.
In order that this might be deno
with tho least possible interference
with the other uses Of the cables, have
| temporarily taken over the control OF
both cables In order that they may be
used as = single system. l did so at
the advice OF the most experienced
cable officials and hope that the re-
suits will justify my hope that the
news Of the next few months may pass
with the utmost freedom, and with the
least possible delay from each side OF
the sea to the other.
Asks Aid Of Congress.
MAY l not hope, gentlemen Of the
Congress-, that in the delicate tasks
shall have to perform on the other
side Of tho So. in my efforts truly and
faithfully to interpret the principles
and purposes of the country we love.
l may have the encouragement and
the added strength of your united sup
port! I realize the magnitude and 11f-
hculty Of the duty am undertaking.
l am poiEnantly aware of its grave ne
sponsibilitiss. I am the servant Of the
ration. oan have no private thought
or purpose of my own In performing
such An errand. "
II 10 to give the best that is in ne
to tho common settlements which 4
must nav assist In arriving at n eo0-
ference with the other working head1
Of the associated governments. shall
not be inaccessible. The cables and
the wireless will render me Sraaeseo
ter any counsel or service YOU nay d.
sire of nae, and shall be hapDJ n
the thought that I am constas1E IN
touch with the weighty matters q %.
nestle poliey with which we ana1l