Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-03-04
Governors Optimistic
Continued from Page One)

pleasure if you will guide us with
Your suggestions.
II hope that the discussions OF this
conference will take as wide a scope
as you think necessary. We are not
met to discuss any single or narrow
subject. We are met to discuss the
proper method of restoring all the la
Dor conditions Of the country to a
normal basis as soon as possible and
to effect such fresh ALLEGATIONS of la
Dor and industry as the circum-
stances may make necessary. l think
/ can testify from what l have seen
on the other side of the water. that
we are more fortunate than other ma
tions in respect to these great prob
lens. Our industries have been dis
turbed and DISQUALIFICATION
lied as compared with peace basis,
very seriously, indeed. by the war,
but not so seriously as the industries
Of other countries: and it seems to
me therefore. that we should APP
proach these problems that we are
about 20 discuss with n good deal OF
confidence--with a good deal OF con-
n,rpose we can realize that common
purpose without serious or lnsur-
mountablc difficulties.
1.-THE thing that has impressed me
most. gentlemen, not only in the re
cent weeks when l have been N
conference on the other side OF inc
water, tut for many months be1ore
went across the water. was this:
We are at last learning that the bus
mess of government is to take coun-
sci for The average man. We are az
last learning that :nc whole matter
Of the prosperity Of peoples runs
down into the great body OF the men
and women who do the work OF ire
world. and that the process or gulo-
ance is not completed by the mere
success of great enterprises-it Is
completed only by the standard OF
the benefit that it confers upon those
who in the obscure ranks of lie
contribute to the success OF those en-
terprises.
1.-THE hearts Of the men and women
and children Of the world are stirred
now in a way that has never been
stirred bv their individual circum-
stances but they are beginning to get
a vision Of what the general clrcum-
stances of the world are. and there
is for the first time in history an IN
ternational sympathy which is quick
and vital-a sympathy which does
not display itself merely in the con-
tact of governments but displays It
self in the silent intercourse Of SYM
pathy between great bodies that
constitute great nations: and the
Significance Of a conference like this
is that we are expressing it. and
will. I believe, express in the results
of this conference, our CONSCIOUSNESS
that we are servants OF TINS great
silent. mass of people who constr
tute the United States. and that as
their servants it is our business. as
it is our privilege. to find out how
we can best assist in making their
lives what they wish them 10 De-
giving them the opportunities tnat
they ought to have. assisting by pup
lie counsel in the private analrs up
on which the happiness OF men de-
ponds
, "And so I am the more distressed
that I cannot take part in these coun-
ellis because my present business IS
to understand what plain men ev-
erywhere want. 1t is perfectly UNDER
stood in Paris that we are not meet
ing there as the masters OF any
body-that we are meeting there as
the servants of, I believe it Is. about
zoo .OOo, 900 people. and that unless we
show that we understand the busi-
ness Of servants we will not satisfy
and we will not accomplish the peace
of the world, and that if we show
that we want to serve any interests
hut theirs we will have become can
didates for the most lasting discred-
II that will ever attach to men IN
history
"And so it is this profound feeling
of the significance Of the things you
are undertaking that 1 bid you well
come, because l believe you nave
come together in the spirit winch l
have tried to indicate and That we
will together concert methods OF CO.
oneration and individual notion
which will really accomplish what we
wish to see accomplished in steady
ing ana easing and facilitating the
whole labor processes OF the United
States