The Washington herald., 1919-03-04

l wish that could promise
myself the pleasure and the profit
OF taking part in your deliber-
ations. I find that nothing de-
liberate is permitted me since my
return. have been trying un-
der the guidance of my secretary.
Mr.. Tumulty. to do months
work in a week, and l am hoping
that not all of it has been done
badly. but inasmuch as there is
a necessary pressure upon my
time I know that you will excuse
me from taking a part in your
conference, much as l should be
profited by doing so.
My pleasant duty is bid you a
hearty welcome and to express
my qualification that so many
executives OF cities and of States
have found the time and the in
clination to come together on the
very important matter we have
to discuss.
Seeks Conferees' Aid.
The primary duty OF caring for
our people in the intimate matters
that we want to discuss here, of
course, falls upon the States and
upon the municipalities. and the
function of the Federal government
is to do what it is trying to do in
a conference of this sort-draw the
executive minds OF the country to-
gether, so that they may profit by
each others suggestions and plans,
and so that we may offer our serv-
70 20 in
any way that they may deem it
wise to coordinate. In other
words, it is the privilege OF the
Federal government in matters OF
this sort to be the servants of the
executives of the States and mu-
inequalities and counties, and we
shall perform that duty with the
greatest pleasure If you will guide
US with your suggestions.
l hope that the discussions Of
this conference will take as wide
a scope as you think necessary.
We are not met to discuss any
single or narrow subject. We are
met to discuss the proper method
of restoring all the labor condi-
tions of the country to a normal
basis a. soon as possible, and to
effect such fresh ALLEGATIONS of
labor and industry as the Circum-
stances may make necessary. I
think l can testify from what I
have seen on the other side OF
the water that we are more for
tunate than other nations in re-
speCt to these great problems.
Our industries have been dis
turbed and disOrganized-disor-
ganized as compared with a
peace basis-very seriously in
deed by the war. but not SO seri-
Ously as the industries of other
countries; and it seems to me,
therefore. that we should ap-
proach these problems that we
are about to discuss with a good
deal of confidence-with a good
deal OF confidence that If we have
a common purpose We can real
ize that common purpose with
out serious or insurmountable
difficulties.
Business of Government.
The thing that has impressed
me most. gentlemen, not only in
the recent weeks when have
been in conference on the other
side of the water. but for many
months before 1 went across the
water, was this: We are at last
learning that the business of gov
ernment is to take counsel for the
average man. We are at last
learning that the whole matter OF
the prosperity of peoples runs
down into the great body Of the
men and women who do the work
OF the world. and that the pro-
cess of guidance is not COM
pleted by the mere success OF
great enterprises-it is completed
only by the standard of the benc-
fit that it confers upon those who
in the obscure ranks of life con-
tribute to the success of those en-
terprises.
The hearts Of the men and won-
en- and children of the world are
stirred now in a way that has
never been known before They
are not only stirred by their indi-
vidual circumstances. but they are
beginning to get a vision OF what
the general circumstances of the
world are. and there is for the
first time in history an interna-
tional sympathy which is quick
and vital-a sympathy which does
not display itself merely in the
contact of governments, but dis
plays itself in the silent inter-
course of sympathy between great
bodies that constitute great ma
tiOns, and the significance of a
conference like this is that we are
expressing in it. and will, I be-
lieve, express in the results of this
conference, our consciousness that
we are servants of this great si-
lent mass of people who consti-
tute the United States, and that
as their servants it is our busi-
ness, as il is our privilege. to find
out how We can best assist in
making their lives what they wish
them to be. giving them the on
pOrtunities that they ought to
have. assisting by public counsel
in the private affairs upon which
the happiness OF men depends.
Aims of Meeting.
And SO I am the more distress