Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-05-20
vii S0NT0 RETURN RAIL ROADS TO OWNERS

desiring to enter upon course OF re-
taliation." he said. I'VE must frankly
face the fact that hostile legislation
by other nations Is not beyond the
range OF possibilities and II may have
to be met by counter legislation"
"Altho the United States will gladly
and unhcsitatingly join In the program
OF international disarmament. IL Will.
nevertheless. be pslicy of obvious
prudence to make certain of the sue
cessful maintenance of many strong
and well equipped chemical plants"
Text Of Message.
The presidents message follows:
Gentlemen of the congress: deep
ly regret my inability to be present at
Tie opening Of the extraordinary ses-
sion of congress. II still seems to be
my duty to take part in the councils
of the peace conference and contribute
what ! can to the solution of the in
Vulnerable questions to whose settle
ment 1t has had to address itself, for
they are questions which AFFECT the
peace of the whole world, and from
them, therefore, the United States can
not stand apart. deemed it my duty
to call the congress together at this
time because II was not wise to post
pone longer the provisions which must
be made for the support Of the gov
ernment. Many of the appropriations
which are absolutely necessary for the
maintenance Of the government and
the fulillment OF its varied obligations
for the fiscal year 1s1s-1s20 have not
yet been made. the end of the present
fiscal year is at hand; and action upon
these appropriations can no longer be
prudently delayed. It is necessary.
therefore, that / should Immediately
call your attention to this critical
need. 1t is hardly necessary for me to
urge that 1t may receive your prompt
attention.
Promises Peace Me.sass Later.
II shall take the liber:y of address,
ing you on my return On the subjects
which have most engrossed our at
tention and the attention of the world
during these asst anxious months. since
the armistice Of last November was
signed-the international settlements
which must form the subject matter
Of the present treaties @! peace and of
our national action in The immediate
future. 1t would be premature to dis
cuss 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 20 lay them before you In
their many aspects so soon as arrange
ments have been reached.
AxelGe Domestic Qusstion.
II hesitate to venture any opinion or
press any recommendation with regard
to domestic Legislation while absent
from the Upited States and out of
daily touch with the intimate sources
OF in1esmaAion md, ,0ouncil. I am con-
scious that need AftnE 90 long an abb
sy5SjUD D1olli tvasNingf6n, TO seek the
advice of those who remained in con-
slant contact with domestic problems
and who have them close at hand from
day to day; and I trust that it VIII
very soon be possible for me to do so.
But there are several questions press
ing for consideration to which feel
that may. and indeed must, even now
direct your attention If in only gen.
eral terms. In speaking of them l
shall, I dare say. be doing little more
than speak your own thoughts. hope
that shall speak your own judgment
also. The question which stands at
the front Of all others in every coun-
try amidst the present great awaken
ing is the question Of labor; and per-
haps I can speak Of 1t with as great
advantage while enKrossed in the con-
siderations Of interests. which effect all
countries alike as / could at home and
amid the interests which naturally
most affect my thought because they
are the interests of our own people.
The Labor Problem.
''By the question Of labor I do not
mean the question Of efficient indust-
rial production, the question OF how
labor is to be obtained and made ef-
fectfve in the great process OF sustain
ing populations and winning success
amidst commercial and. industrial
rivalries. mean that much greater
and more vital question, how are the
men and women who do the daily
labor OF the world to obtain progress
sive improvement in the conditions OF
their labor, to be made happier. and
to be served better by the commune
ties and the industries which their
labor sustains and advances. How are
they going to be given their right ad-
vantage as citizens and human beings ::
1--WE can not go any further in our
present direction. We have ALREADY
gone too far. we can not live our right
life as q nation OF achieve our proper
success as Industrial community IL
= ~ kr ho rto
onistic instead Of being partners: II
they are to continue to disturb one
another and conceive how they can get
the better Of one another Or wnat
perhaps amounts TO, the same thing.
calculate by what form and degree. Of
co operation they car, manage to ex-
tort, on the. one hand work enough to
make enterprises profitable, on the
other Justice and fair treatment enough
to make life tolerable. That bad road
has turned out a blind alley. 1t IL no
thoroughfare to. real prosperity. We
must find any. leading in another di-
rection and to a very different destina :
ton. It must lead not merely to ac-
commodation but also.t to a genuine CO.
operation and partnership based upon
q real community Of i1ttest and par
Iticipatiori in control, ~ ~
SSss hsw Conditions.
"There Ii now in fact q real commune
ity OF interest between capital and
labor but 1t has never been. made evil
dent in action. II can be made opera
tive and manifest only in new organ
ization Of industry. The genius Of our
business mon and the sound practical
sence Of our workers can certainly
work such q partnership out when once