The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-03-03
TAKECOUNSEL
FROM PEOPLE
Wilson Impresses Up s Gov
ernorS and Mayor Ne
= CeSStiy of That 0 ~.
WELCOMES CONE ,NTIoM
Primary Task Of restoring
Labor to Normal Basis Falls
on States and Cities.

Il washing tOn,s Mafcn S.-'We are at
last beginning to learn the business
OF government, which is take counsel
from the common man." declared
| President Wilson, in four minute
address here today before the recon-
struction conference or governors and
mayors in the east room OF the
White House. The president de-
clared that it is the duty of govern
ments to learn what the plain people
| want and that in Paris ne had been
| impressed with the fact. that the
| great leaders were there not as mas
ters of the people but as their SER
wants.
1t had been expected that the
president would deliver lengthy ad-
dress and that he would go rather
fully in his ideas in reconstruction.
| However, he entered the east room
half an hour before he was scheduled
to speak, and spoke Immediately. 1t
was his duty to welcome the COVER
nors, he said, and regretted that he
could not devote more time to the
conference. However, he said he was
trying to do a months work in a
week, and he hoped he would be sue
cessful. Because of the pressure ON
his time he could do no more than
welcome the governors, he empha-
sized.
Duty Falls, on States.
The primary duty of restoring
labor to it's normal conditions falls
to the states and municipalities of
the country, 1.-THE president said, and
it is the duty of the federal govern
ment to draw together the executives
that they may cooperate IN policy
to bring this about-in other words,
to be servant of the states and the
municipalities. He emphasized the
necessity for approaching the prob
lem from a broad viewpoint.
America, be said, while her. inlns-.
tries have been disturbed and dis
organized to certain extent, has not
suffered to the extent than European
industry has.
1--WE must approach this problem
with confidence and guided by a
common purpose" he asserted.
The president impressed upon the
governors the necessity of taking
counsel from common man.
He said that the hearts or the COM 4
mon people of the United States have
been stirred by the individual cir
cumstances of the suffering overseas,
which opened to them a Vision OF III :
general circumstances affecting the
world.
These circumstances have aroused
intense sympathy and have given rise
to a silent intercourse of sympathy
extending throughout the land, tho
president said. The governors must
serve this silent mass of plain peo-
pie 1t is the business and the priVi-
lege of the government TO give Its
best assistance in making the lives of
these plain people what the plain
people wish them to be.
What People Want.
The president then called attention
that success of the plain people does
not stop at the success or an enter
prise but that what the plain people
want must be recognized. 1t is the
present business of the government
to understand what the plain people
do want, he reiterated.
If the peace conference in Paris |
fails in it's purpose of getting the |
people what they want, the members |
of the conference will have proved |
themselves candidates for lasting dis
grace, The president declared.
Text of Speech:
The text of the presidents ad-
dress follows:
''Mr. Secretary and Gentlemen ok
the Conference wish that l could
promise myself the pleasure and
the profit of taking part in your
deliberations. / find that nothing
deliberate is permitted me since
my return. l have been trying,
under the guidance of my secTe-
tary, MI. 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
necessary limit upon my time, L
know that you will excuse me from
taking part in your conference,
much as I should be profited by
doing SO.
MY present duty is to bid YOU
a very hearty welcome and to eX-
press my qualification that so many
executives of cities and states nave
found the time and inclination TO
come together on the very impor-
tant matter we have TO discuss.
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 ltuti al BONNAhlilN -
what it is trying to do in a con
ference of this sOrt-draws the
executive minds of the country to-
gether so that they may profit by
each others suggestions and plans,
and so trat we may offer our ser
vices TO coordinate their efforts
i'm any way that they may deem IL
wise to coordinate. In other
words, it is the privilege OF the
federal government in matters OF
this sort. to be the servant 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.
No Single. Narrow subject.
Il hope that the discussions OF
this conference will take as wide
scope as you think necessary. We
are not to discuss any single or
narrow subject We are met TO
discuss the proper method OF re
storing all the labor conditions or
the country to a normal basis as
soon as possible. and to effect such
ALLEGATIONS of labor and industry as
the circumstances may make neces-
sarv. 1 think l can testify from
what have seen on the other SIDE
of the water that we are more
fortunate than other nations In re-
spect to these great problems.
Our industries have been dis
turbed and organized-disorgan