Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-12-03
The most can do for my friend
IS simply to be his friend.-THoEEAU.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
WILSON, in his
- p,assaga t0 TOppreSS sa ddliDe

@RESIDENT WILSON, in his
message to Congress. saddling
upon 1.-The government respon-
sibility for much of the unrest now
prevalent in the country, should not
forget that the government includes
the President himself as well as the
Senate, and that if it is the duty of
the Senate to get quickly down to
a peace-making basis, it is the duty
of the executive to meet that body
halfway There can be no ques-
ton that the final settlement of the
war, so far as we are concerned. and
the resumption of peace-time rela-
tions abroad will help considerably
in the return TO normal conditions,
but it is evident that there must be
concessions on both sides before that
desirable end can be reached.
The Presidents message deals
generally with labor legislation, the
tariff, assistance for soldiers and the
protection OF the dye and related
chemical industries from German
a aggression. and his remarks on this
Iast-named subject indicate that he
is not SO certain as some of his other
utterances might seem TO indicate,
about the effectiveness of his League
of Nations in keeping the peace of
the world. Indeed. he makes it very
clear that he would have the coun-
try we'll prepared for eventualities
of a worldwide character.
Most of the Presidents address
Is. as usual, of an academic nature
He writes well and in manner 10
win the approval of his readers until
they begin to analyze the document
for practical suggestions. Then they
find that he has few 10 offer. He is
a past master in the gentle art of
essay writing and as an author of
glittering generalities he is the su
perior even of Lloyd George in the
politics of to-day. But he has made
a practical recommendation of more
than passing importance when he
advocates the creation of perma-
nent government body for the arbi-
tration of all disputes between cap
ltal and labor, and he certainly has
the support of a great majority of
the people of America when he as
serts that the government always
must be superior TO any class and is
justified in stepping in at any time
to protect the paramount rights of
the public. And he is in full accord
with public opinion when he says
that privilege in America can never
be permitted to transcend the rights
of the people as a whole.
The Presidents advocacy OF the
budget system for the government
goes back to the time of President
Taft, and smacks strongly Of the
recommendation urged upon Con-
Eress by Senator Penrose in vigor-
Gus address last Spring. 1t is timely
and ought to have the early con-
sideration of the legislative bodies.
Mr. Wilson speaks also in the Ian
guage of Senator Penrose, as chair
man of the finance committee OF the
Senate. when he pleads for the re-
vision and simplification of the in
rome and excess profits tax laws,
and urges Congress to give early
thought 20 the changes that must
be made for the safeguarding OF
business in peace times against the
rigors of wartime legal regulation.
That is Republican doctrine, pure
End simple. Evidently Mr. Wilson.
while shut up in his room. has kept
mis- ears open TO the sentiment of the
country and has gone to consider
able pains to prepare his message
accordingly.