Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-05-20


I deeply regret my inability
to be present at the opening of
the extraordinary session of
congress. 1t still seems to be
my duty to take part in the
counsels of the peace confer
ence and contribute what | can
to the solution of the innumer-
able questions to whose settle
ment it has had to address it
self: for they are questions
which affect the peace of the
whole world and from them.
therefore. the United States
cannot stand apart. | deemed
it nv duty to call the congress
together at this time because 1t
was not wise to postpone long
er the provisions which must
be made for the support of the
government.
Funds Needed.
Many of the appropriations
which are absolutely necessary
for the maintenance of the
government and the fulfillment
of its varied obligations for the
fiscal year 1919-1320, have not
yet been made: the end of the
present fiscal year is at hand;
and action upon these appro-
priations can no longer be
prudently delayed. 1t is nee
essary therefore, that | shoulu
Immediately call your attention
to this critical need. 1t is
hardly necessary for me to
urge that it may receive your
prompt attention. | shall take
the liberty of addressing you
on my return on the subjects
which have most engrossed our
attention and the attention of
the world during these last
anxious months, since the ar
mistice of last November was
signed, the international set
Elements which must form the
subject matter of the present
treaties of peace and of our
national action in the immedi-
ate future. It would be pre-
mature to discuss them or to
express a judgment about them
before they are brought To
their complete formulation by
the agreements which are now
being sought at the table OF the
conference. I shall hope to
lay them before you in their
many aspects so soon as ar
rangements have been reached.
Labor Most Pressing Problem.
| hesitate TO venture any
opinion or press any recon-
mendation with regard to do
mestic legislation while alb
sent from the United States
and out of daily touch with in
innate sources Of information
and counsels.
am conscious that | need.
after so long an absence from
Washington to seek the advice
of those who have remained in
constant contact with domestic
problems and who have known
them close at hand from day
to day; and l trust that it will
very soon be possible for me
to do so. But there are sew
eral questions pressing for
consideration to which | feel
that I may, and indeed must.
even now direct your attention
if in only general terms. In
speaking of them | shall, |
dare say. be doing little more
than speak your own thoughts.
! hope that / shall speak your
own judgment also. The ques-
ton which stands at the front
of all others in every country
amidst the present great
Awakening is the question OF
labor; and perhaps ] can speak
of it with as great advantage
while engrossed in the consid-
Grafton of interests which af-
feet all countries alike as
could at home and amidst the
interests which naturally most
affect my thought, because they
are the interests OF our own
people.
Urges Help for Workers.
BY the question of labor I do
not mean the question of eff
cient industrial production the
question of how labor is to be
obtained and made effective in
the great process of sustaining
populations and winning sue
cess amidst commercial and in
dustrial risk rivalries. l mean
that much greater and more
vital question. now are the
men and women who do the
daily labor of the world to OBJ
tain progressive Improvement
in the conditions of their labor.
to be made happier, and to be
served better by the communi-
ties and the industries which
their labor sustains and ad-
vances? How are they to be
given their right advantage as
citizens and human beings?
Must Change Course.
We cannot go any further in
our present direction. We
have already gone too far. We
cannot live our right life as a
nation or achieve our proper
success as an industrial com
munity If capital and labor are
to continue to be antagonistic
instead of being partners; If