Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1919-01-22
LAWMAKERS GIVEN
Philip MESSAGE
GOVERNOR MAKES REcoMMENDA-
TIoNS AT OPENING OF WIS
CONSIN LEGISLATURE.
Advises Creation of State Board to
Aid in Wage Adjustments Is OPP
posed to Teaching of Foreign Ian
guages in Graded Schools.

Madison, Wis.-Gov Philips mes
sage delivered to the Wisconsin leg
islature at a joint session of the SEN
ate and assembly reads in part as fol-
lows:
The Legislature of 1917 was CON
frOnted with the problems of the war
How to raise men and money and at
the same time carry on the industries
and expand agriculture, in order to
increase the food production, and the
numerous other activities that needed
TO be carried on that Wisconsin might
do her full share in the great world
war, We're problems that confronted
US at that time.
l am happy to be able to report that
the people of this commonwealth met
every demand made upon them by the
federal government completely, prompt
ly and with enthusiasm That this
state has made a reputation for patri-
otto cooperation in support of our
government and the sOldierly quill
ties of the men that we furnished for
the army and navy that is second to
no state in the Union, is now general
ly admitted.
| ask you to pass resolutions recog
nizing the services rendered by our
Wisconsin soldiers and our civilian
population, laying particular stress
upon the valor Of our soldiers and the
patriotism of our people, in order that
the splendid work which has been ac-
comphshed will be made a permanent
record and placed in the archives of
this state for the information of future
generations.
Reconstruction.
The question of what should be done
for the returning soldier is being
widely discussed by the press and
public men of the country. For those
who have been wounded or otherwise
disabled the course to be pursued is
quite clear They will need to be re-
tanned in the hospitals and receive the
attention of doctors and nurses until
they have recovered, or at least as
nearly so as medical skill can ac-
complish their recovery.
1t has been suggested by the Secre-
tary of the Interior that the abie-bod-
led men who are now being discharged
be given an opportunity to secure land
and engage in farming. I agree with
the Honorable Secretary that it would
be very desirable from the standpoint
of the soldier and the state if such an
opportunity were given to returning
soldiers who desire it.
It has been suggested that the state
lands be opened TO homesteads for
this purpose 1t viii, however, be i'm
possible to adopt this suggestion for
the reason that practically all of the
so-called state lands are merely held
in trust for the benefit of the various
school funds and must, therefore, be
sold to the highest bidder in the inter
est OF the fund to which the land be
longs All this land that is good for
agricultural purposes could be pur-
chased as no doubt could the cutOvet
lands owned by private parties. The
state will, however. be unable to do
this for the reason that there is q con.
stituuonal prohibition against the
contracting of debts by the state ex-
cept for war purposes, TO suppress in
surrection and repel invasion.
l have suggested to the Secretary of
the Interior that the lands be purchas-
ed by the United States Government
and that in addition to the land there
be advanced to each soldier who de
sires to engage in farming sufficient
sum of money to enable him to clear
at least forty acres and erect the nee
essary buildings and purchase the live
stock that he requires, the govern.
ment to own the land and other prop
erty and give the soldier a reasonable
time to earn the money to pay his in
debtedness to the government.
In my judgment the most difficult
problem of reconstruction is to bring
all prices down to a normal basis.
There is an abundance of work in
sight for all for years to come. Public
and private building has been delayed
and railroads require the expenditure
of vast sums of money in bettermentS
and in the building of new extensions.
However. much of this necessary work
will be delayed until it can be done
for normal prices. In the end it will
he better for all concerned if the re-
duction in the cost of production will
be brought about by an understanding
between capital and labor than to
have it forced upon US by stagnation
in business and enforced idleness.
The reduction in the cost of produc-
ton must necessarily carry with it a
corresponding reduction in the cost of
living. and to meet this situation fair.
Nv. which / believe must be done, the
employers profit, the employees wage,