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been met in a way that assures the effectiveness of American armies, and the war-making branch of the Government has been abundantly equipped with the powers that were necessary to make the action of the nation effective.

I believe that it has also in equal degree, and as far as possible in the face of war, safeguarded the rights of the people and kept in mind the consideration of social justice so often obscured in the hasty readjustment of such a crisis.

It seems to me that the work of this remarkable session has not only been done thoroughly but that it has also been done with the utmost dispatch possible in the circumstances or consistent with a full consideration of the exceedingly critical matters dealt with. Best of all, it has left no doubt as to the spirit and determination of the country, but has affirmed them as loyally and as emphatically as our fine soldiers will affirm them on the firing line.

WOODROW WILSON.

PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING A "LIBERTY LOAN" DAy, OCTOBER 12, 1917

[EDITORIAL NOTE: Participation by the United States in the war, on a scale commensurate with its resources and with the efforts put forth by other belligerents, required the expenditure of vast sums of money. The United States was not only to finance its own enormously increased army and navy, its shipbuilding and aviation programs, but it also undertook to advance to its allies the huge sums of money required to pay for their war supplies purchased in the United States. The first Liberty Loan (June, 1917), of $2,000,000,000, had been oversubscribed. This Second Liberty Loan, closed on October 27, attracted 9,500,000 subscribers, and $3,808,766,150 in bonds were issued.]

The Second Liberty Loan gives the people of the United States another opportunity to lend their funds to their Government to sustain their country at war. The might of the United States is being mobilized and organized to strike a mortal blow at autocracy in defense of outraged American rights and of the cause of liberty. Billions of dollars are required to arm, feed, and clothe the brave men who are going forth to fight our country's battles and to assist the nations with whom we are making common cause against a common foe. To subscribe to the Liberty Loan is to perform a service of patriotism.

Now, therefore, I, Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States of America, do appoint Wednesday, the twenty-fourth of October, as Liberty Day, and urge and advise the people to assemble in their respective communities and pledge to one another and to the Government that represents them the fullest measure of financial support. On the afternoon of that day I request that patriotic meetings be held in every city, town, and hamlet throughout the land under the general direction of the Secretary of the Treasury and the immediate direction of the Liberty Loan Committees which have been organized by the Federal Reserve Banks. The people responded nobly to the call of the First Liberty Loan with an over subscription of more than 50 per cent. Let the response to the second loan be even greater and let the amount be so large that it will serve as an assurance of unequalled support to hearten the men who are to face the fire of battle for us. Let the result be so impressive and emphatic that it will echo throughout the empire of our enemy as an index of what America intends to do to bring this war to a victorious conclusion.

For the purpose of participating in Liberty Day celebrations all employees of the Federal Government throughout the country whose services can be spared, may be excused at twelve o'clock, Wednesday, the twenty-fourth of October. WOODROW WILSON.

Two MESSAGES TO BRAZIL, ON OCCASION OF ITS ENTRY INTO THE WAR

[The republics of Latin America began to line up against Germany soon after the United States entered the war. From April to December, 1917, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Uruguay, Guatemala, and Costa Rica severed diplomatic relations with the German Government, while Cuba, Panama, and Brazil actually declared war.]

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Dr. Wenceslao Braz, President of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro: Allow me, speaking for the people and the Government of the United States, to say with what genuine pleasure and heartfelt welcome we hail the association with ourselves and the other nations united in war with Germany of the great Republic of Brazil. Her action in this time of crisis binds even closer the bonds of friendship which already united the two Republics.

WOODROW WILSON.

November 15, 1917.

His Excellency the President of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro:

On this anniversary of the independence of Brazil I extend to Your Excellency and the people of your great Republic cordial greetings. The United States has welcomed with applause and admiration the entry of Brazil in the great struggle which confronts us. The day you now celebrate marks your country's achievements of independence. To-day our two countries are engaged in a war for the maintenance of world independence and for the rights of humanity and the life of Democracy. We are both making sacrifices for this common cause. United to Brazil by this strong bond of Democracy and still more by antagonism against a mutual foe, I hope and feel assured that the United States and our sister Republic of South America will at the close of the present conflict stand even closer together in victory. WOODROW WILSON.

THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION

NOVEMBER 7, 1917

It has long been the honored custom of our people to turn in the fruitful autumn of the year in praise and thanksgiving to Almighty God for His many blessings and mercies to us as a nation. That custom we can follow now even in the midst of the tragedy of a world shaken by war and immeasurable disaster, in the midst of sorrow and great peril, because even amidst the darkness that has gathered about us we can see the great blessings God has bestowed upon us, blessings that are better than mere peace of mind and prosperity of enterprise.

We have been given the opportunity to serve mankind as we once served ourselves in the great day of our Declaration of Independence, by taking up arms against a tyranny that threatened to master and debase men everywhere and joining with other free peoples in demanding for all the nations of the world what we then demanded and obtained for ourselves. In this day of the revelation of our duty not only to defend our own rights as a nation but to defend also the rights of free men throughout the world, there has been vouchsafed us in full and inspiring measure the resolution and spirit of united action. We have been brought to one mind and purpose. A new vigor of common counsel and common action has been revealed in us. We should especially thank God that in such circumstances, in the midst of the greatest enterprise the spirits of men have ever entered upon, we have, if we but observe a reasonable and practicable economy, abundance with which to supply the needs of those associated with us as well as our own. A new light shines about us. The great duties of a new day awaken a new and greater national spirit in us. We shall never again be divided or wonder what stuff we are made of.

And while we render thanks for these things let us pray Almighty God that in all humbleness of spirit we may look

always to Him for guidance; that we may be kept constant in the spirit and purpose of service; that by His grace our minds may be directed and our hands strengthened; and that in His good time liberty and security and peace and the comradeship of a common justice may be vouchsafed all the nations of. the earth.

Wherefore, I, Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States of America, do hereby designate Thursday, the twenty-ninth day of November next, as a day of thanksgiving and prayer, and invite the people throughout the land to cease upon that day from their ordinary occupations and in their several homes and places of worship to render thanks to God, the great ruler of nations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done in the District of Columbia this seventh day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and seventeen and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and forty-second.

By the President:

WOODROW WILSON.

ROBERT LANSING, Secretary of State.

WILSON'S ADDRESS BEFORE THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR, BUFFALO, N. Y., NOVEMBER 12, 1917

[In this address to representatives of organized labor, the President first describes the way in which the German Government has gained control not only of German industries and commerce, but also of vital affairs in Austria-Hungary, the Balkan states, Turkey, and Asia Minor. Then he shows the impossibility of peace with the present German Government. Finally-with specific reference to tension in labor circles, due to shortage of man power, rising cost of living, and actual or threatened strikesthe President makes a special plea that there shall be no interruption of the processes of labor, so necessary for the successful prosecution of the war, until all the methods of conciliation and settlement have been exhausted.]

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