The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1919-05-22
Presidents First Message to a
Republican Congress Is
Read to Both Houses.
LABOR IS FIRST ISSUE
Asks Repeal Of Ban on Beer and Wine
Effective July f.--RevisIon of War
Taxes urged-AppeaI Made
for Suffrage.

Washington, May 20.-President viii
sons message to the Goth congress-,
read, after It had been cabled from
Paris by the nations chief executive
was as follows:
! deeply regret my inability to be
present at the opening of the extraor-
binary session OF congress. II still
seems to be my duty to take part In
the councils of the peace conference
and contribute what l can to the solu.
ton OF the innumerable questions OF
whose settlement 1t has had to address
itself; for they are questions which az
feet the peace OF the whole world. and
from them. therefore, the United
States cannot stand apart. deemed
1t my duty to call the congress togeth-
or at this time, because 1t was not
wise to postpone longer the provisions
Of the government.
Many of the appropriations which
are absolutely necessary for the main
tenance of the government and the
fulfllment Of its varied obligations for
the fiscal year 1S19-1920 have not yet
been made; the end OF the present fis-
cal rear Is at hand, and action upon
these appropriations no longer can be
prudently delayed. It is necessary,
therefore, that I should Immediately
call your attention to this critical need.
1t IL hardly necessary for me to urge
that It may receive your prompt atten-
ton.
shall take the liberty OF addressing
you on my return on the subjects
which have most ~engrossed our atten-
ton and the attention OF the world dur
ing these last anxious months, since
the armistice of last November was
signed. the international settlements
which must form the subject matter OF
the present treaties of peace and OF
our national action in the immediate
future.
1t would be premature to discuss
them or to express a judgment about
them before they are brought to their
complete formulation by the agree
ments which are now being sought at
the table OF the conference. / shall
hope to lay them before you In their
many aspects so soon as arrangements
have been reached.
"out Of Touch at home.p
hesitate to venture any opinion or
press any recommendation with regard
to domestic legislation while absent
from the United States and out of daily
touch with intimate sources OF infor.
nation and counsel. l am conscious
that I need. after so long an absence
from Washington. to seek the advice
Of those who have remained In con
slant contact with domestic problems
and who have known them close at
hand from day to day; and | trust that
It very loon will be possible for me
to do %.
But there are several questions
pressing for consideration to which I
feel ! may, and indeed must, even now
direct your attention, II only in gem
eral terms. In speaking OF them 1
shall, l dare say, be doing little more
than speak your own thoughts. I hope
that | shall speak your own judgment
also.
Calls Labor First Issue.
The question which stands at the
front OF all others In every country
amidst the present great awakening Is
the question OF labor; and perhaps /
car speak OF it with as great advantage
while engrossed in the consideration OF
interests which affect all countries
alike az I could at home and amidst
the interests which naturally most at
feet my thoughts because they are the
interests of our own people.
BY the question of labor I do not
mean the question of efficient indus
trial production, the question OF how
labor is to be obtained and made eff
fective In the great process or sustain
populations and winning success
amidst commercial and industrial rival.
ries. mean that much greater and
more vital question, how are the men
and ONE to do the daily labor OF
the world and obtain progressive i'm
pr0yement In the conditions OF their
labor, to be made happier and to be
served better by the communities and
the interests which their labor sustains
and advances. How are they to be
given their right advantage as citizens
and human beings?
Must Choose New Course"
We cannot so any further in our
present direction. We have already
g0ne too far. We cannot live our
right HE asa nation or achieve our
proper success as an Industrial com
munlty X capital and labor are to con-
1fnue antasonistic instead Of being
partnors; X they are to continue to
dlstry11k one another and contrive
how they can st the better OF one
anofh6f.
Or, what perhaps amounts to the
namo thing, calculate BY what form
and degree Of coercion they can man
age 70 extort on the one hand work
enough to make enterprise profitable,
~ The other justice and fair treat
mont enough 10 make life toIerable.
That bad road has turned ont ! blind
alley. II A 10 thoroughfare 70 real