The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-04
WILSON ASKS STATE
HEADS TOGUIDE HIM
Tells Governors Conference
Federal Government VIII
Be Their Servant.
EXECUTIVES OPTIMISTIC
Secretary Wilson Denies
Aliens Are Being Deported
for Strike Activities.

WASHINGTON, March s.--Governors OF
States and Mayors of municipalities,
meeting to-day in the White House to
discuss alienation of unemployment,
heard President Wilson In a short ad-
dress emphasise tho principle that Gov
ernors should serve in the interests OF
the people. The Governors also reported
on unemployment in their respective
States. a majority reporting that there
communities out OF work to Justify ser-
GUS apprehension.
All the speakers advocated immediate
action by State. county and city govern
ments to promote road building and
other public works. thus furnishing
buffer reservoir of employment during
the period when soldiers are being dis
charged and war industries are convert
ing.
Most States already have adopted
programmes OF road building. II APP
peared, but several Governors reported
they had fficulty In convincing local
authorities and private industries to go
ahead with improvements now without
awaiting an expected reduction In wages
and material costs
Presidents Address.
President Wilson's address follows:
II wish that l could promise myself
the pleasure and the profit OF taking
part In your deliberations. md that
nothing del. berate Ia permitted me since
my return. ] have Seen trying under
- dnn - NJ a.
ty. to do a months work in a week. and
] am hoping that not all OF It has been
done badly. but inasmuch as there 10 a
necessary pressure upon my time know
that you will excuse me from taking a
part in your conference, much as l
should be pronted by doing SO.
My pleasant duty Is to bid you hearty
welcome and to express my qualification
Ahat % many executives Of cities and Of
States have found the time and the incli-
nation to come together on the very i'm
portant matter we have to discuss
The primary duty of caring for our
people in the intimate matters that
We want to discuss here. of course,
falls on the States and upon the
municipalities, and the function OF the
Federal Government is to do what II
10 trying to do In a conference OF this
sort-draw the executive minds of the
country together 50 that they may
profit by one another's suggestions and
plans. and SO. that we may offer our
services to coordinate their efforts In
any way that they may deem It wise
to coordinate. In other words, Il is
the privilege of tho Federal Government
IN matters of this sort to be the SER
wants Of the executives Of the States
and municipalities and counties, and we
shall perform that duty with the treat
est pleasure II you will guide us with
your suggestions.
Wide Scope Needed.
Il hope that the discussion Of this
conference will take as wide a scope al
you think necessary. We are met to
discuss tho proper method of restoring
all the labor conditions of the country
to normal basis as soon as possible
and to effect such fresh ALLEGATIONS OF
abor and Industry as tho circumstances
may make necessary l think l can tes-
tify from what l have seen on the other
side OF the water that we are more
fortunate than other nations In respect
TO these great problems Our Industries
have been disturbed and disorganized-
disorganized as compared with a peace
basis very seriously. indeed-by the war.
but not so seriously as the Industries OF
other countries; and II seems to me,
therefore. that we should approach these
problems that We are about to discuss
with good deal OF confdence-with a
good deal of confidence that IL we have
common purpose We can realize that
common purpose without serious or in
surnountable difficulties"
Help for Average Man.
ThA
most, gentlemen, not only in the recent
weeks when l have been IN conference
on the other side OF the water, but for
many months before I went across the
water. was this: We are at last learn
Ing that the business OF Government is
TO take counsel for the average man.
We are at last learning that the whole
matter OF the prosperity OF peoples runs
down into the great body OF the men and
women who do the work OF the world
and that the process Of guidance Is not
| completed by the mere success OF great
| enterprises; II is completed only by the
standard OF the beneht that it confers
| upon those who in the obscure ranks OF
life contribute to the success OF those
enterprises.
Many Hearts stirred.
The hearts of the mon and woner
and children of the world are stirred
now in a way that has never been
known before. They are not only stirred
by their individual circumstances but
they are beginning to get a vision OF
what tho general circumstances Of the
! world are, and there Is for the first time
In history an international sympathy
which is quick and vital. sympathy
which does not display itself merely II
the contact OF Governments but display.
itself in the silent intercourse OF sym
J patty RetweAaN 5reat bodies thA~ns.A.
tute great nations. and the slgnlfcanc,
OF conference like this is that we ar,
expressing in Il, and will, believe. ex
press in the results OF this conferenc,
our consciousness that We are servant.
OF this great silent mass of people who
constitute the United States. and that a!
their servants It Ia our business, as Il I!
our privilege. TO find out how We car
49, La l. III.