Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-12-03
ADVICE FROM THE PRESIDENT.

Again Mr.. Wilson has addressed the con-
gress, offering advice and suggestions as to
the state of the union and with reference to
what he conceves to be prudent policy for the
immediate future.
Disappointment is due those who had ex-
pected specific and definite recommendations
as to how certain vexatious conditions are to
be met. The president confines himself to gen
eralities in his treatment of industrial and po
litical problems, expressing views from which
no dissent is taken, but giving no counsel, other
than to be patient as to how to remedy the
critical situation. Referring to the causes of
unrest as superficial and not deep-seated,
ascribing the turmoil to the presence of Eu-
ropean agitators, and asking for continuation
of the ineffective means already in the gov
ernments hands for controlling the social life
of the county, he places final blame for all the
trouble on failure on the part of our govern
ment to arrive speedily at just and permanent
peace, permitting return to normal conditions"
This presumably refers to the defeat of the
peace treaty by the senate
His further reference to the relations be-
tween this country and Europe brings up his
free trade proclivities. In order that Europeans
may buy Our goods and pay what they owe us.
we must buy from them. This appears funda-
mental, but it does not explain why we should
open our home markets to foreign competition
on equal terms with our own manufacturers.
Why we should buy abroad those things we
can make at home is not clear to the average
citizen however comprehensive the plan may
be to the international mind Americans may
far better submit to deferred payment of the
European debt than to surrender the richest
market in all the world
Treatment of the labor and returned soldier
questions is the same vague and inconcusive
style that marked his messages of last summer
The Lane plan for employing soldiers in rec
lamaEon of waste lands in which they may
later have homes to be purchased from the
government is also commended. Labor's in
voable right to strike is again set forth, in
dcating the attitude of the administration to-
wards the anti-strike feature of the Cummins
bill. Repression of disorder to be ac
complished by removal of the causes for dis
content is strongly urged but the form of cure
proposed is only that which has so far pro-
duced no sign of improvement.
Two points of which the president lays great
stress will commend themselves to all. These
are economy in expenditures, and reduction Of
taxation. The adoption of budget system for
control of appropriations is recommended As
this already is under way in the house, with
very good prospects of passage, the relief is
looked for. Republicans long have favored the
movement, which was nearly brought to eff
fective application by Mr.. Wilson's predecessor,
but quickly abandoned when the democrats
came into power. Two years ago solemn
pledge was made by the democratic house that
single committee should handle all appropria-
ton bills, but this was completely forgotten
when actual work OF spending money began,
and there ensued riot of extravaganza from
which the country will suffer for many year
to come
Mr.. Wilson promises to later discuss the
railroad question, as we'll as the peace treaty
In the meantime the house has passed the Esch
bill, which is now up to the senate in connec-
ton with the Cummins bill, the unfinished
business before that body. Recommendations
from the White House to be of service must
soon be made.
In reading the message one must keep in
mind that it comes from sick man, who has
been prevented by illness from giving that close
personal attention to details that has charac
terzed the course of the president. He is
also writing to congress that has already over
ridden two of his vetoes, and may not be dis
posed to accept definite instructions from him.
Even with this allowance the general wish will
be that Mr.. Wilson had been more explicit on
certain points he has lightly passed over
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