The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1919-12-05
WILSON'S MESSAGE
TOCONGRESS CITES
CURES FOR UNREST
Would Give Labor Fair Play, but
Uphold the Law.
NATIONS HOUR OF TRIAL
Declares No Ore Glass Can Rule
People Must Give Earnest Thought
to Solution of Grave Prob
lems-Revise Tariff, Re
duce Taxes.


concentrations on legislation to COM
bat the cost of living, labor unrest.
radicalism and a reimbursement of the
nation to peace-time basis were the
features of President Wilson's annual
message to congress.
The peace treaty, the president told
congress, will be discussed in sepa-
rate message later, as will the rail
road question.
For the second time only, since the
president established the practice Of
addressing congress in person, his
message was read by the clerks.
The presidents principal recommen-
datiOns were:
Establishment of a budget system
for the national finances.
Reorganization Of the taxation sys-
tenn with simplificatiOn of the income
and excess profits taxes.
Readjust Tariff System.
Reimbursement of the tariff system,
If necessary, to meet changed world
conditions and make the system con-
form with the fact that the United
States is "the greatest capitalist in
the world"
Recognition and relief for veteran
soldiers of the world war particularly
In the way Of government farms as
proposed by Secretary Lane.
Proper measures to foster the dye
.stuffs industry built up during the war
to keep the United States independent
Of foreign supply.
An enlarged program for rural de-
velOpment, in recognition of the farm
ers' part IN the war.
Measures which twill remove the
causes of political restlessness in
our body polite"
at this point the president made
his most extensive reference TO the
peace treaty by saying the causes for
the unrest "are superficial rather than
deep seated and that they 'arise
from or are connected with the fail
ure on the part of our government to
arrive speedily at a just and perma-
nent peace, permitting return to nor
nal conditions, from the TRANSMISSION
OF radical theories from seething Eur
opean centers pending such delay,
from heartless profteering resulting
from the increase of the cost of living,
and lastly from the Vaccinations of
passionate and malevolent agitatOrs.
With the return to normal conditions
this unrest will rapidly disappear"
mendations for legislation to deal eff
fectively with "those persons who by
violent methods would abrOgate our
ttme-tested institutions"
To Cut Cost of Living.
Several recommendations, some re-
newals Of previous ones, were made
by the president to- bring down the
cost of living. Among them were ex-
tension of the food control law to
peace times for the emergency; reg
ulatiOns for transportation of foods
in intestate commerce; a cold stor-
age law modelled after the law in New
Jersey.
A long portion of the message was
devoted to the discussion Of the condi-
ton and rights of labor.
"a definite program to bring about
an improvement in the conditions of
labor" and bring about a genuine
democratizatiOn of industry" was rec
commended.
"The only way to keep men from
agitating against grievances is TO re-
move the grievances" said the pres
iGent'S message. At another point
repression"
"The establishment of the princi-
pies regarding labor, laid down in the
covenant of the League of Nations"
said the message offers us the way
to industrial peace and Cancellation.
No other road lies open to us. !.
Governments must recognize the right
of men to bargain collectively for hu-
name objects. Labor no long
er must be treated as commodity.
'HThe right of individuals to strike
is inviolate," continued the message.
"and ought not to be interfered with
by any process of government, but
there is predominant right, and that
is the right Of the government to pro-
tect all of its people and TO assert it's
power and majesty against the chal-
ienge Of any class
The president was referring to the
governments recent injunction against
the coal strike.
The message closed with pointed
reference to radicalisrn, and red doc
trines and referred to Russia today
with it's blood and terror" as pain
ful object lesson of the power OF mi
nortties."
There are those in this country"
said the message, 'swho threaten dir
rect action to force their viii upon a
majority It makes little diff
ference what minority It is; whether
capital or labor, or any other class:
10 sort of privilege will ever be per