River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-01-02
v|RG|N|A'S GREETING
ALL TURN OUT TO WELCOME
HOMECOMING OF NATIVE
SON.
SHAKES SEVERAL HANDS.
Wilson Spends Night in the Room
Where He Was Born SO Years
Ago-Mrs. Wilson
AIonQ.

Staunton, w. Va, Dec 30-Virginia
welcomed home Governor Woodrow
Wilson, the eighth of her native sons
to be chosen president of the United
States. From the moment the presi.
dent-elect crossed the state line at
Alexandria in the afternoon after he
had ten-minute glimpse of the ma.
tional capital until he reached the
little parsonage here where he was
born just Sc years ago, the reception
given him was one of great enthusi.
asm, noisy demonstration and specta.
cular display.
Troops Escort Him.
Escorted by troops of cavalry, mill.
tia companies and a torchlight pro.
cession in which practically the whole
town participated, the governor and
Mrs. Wilson motored through the
streets of Staunton to the home of
Rev. DR.. A. N. Fraser, pastor now of
the Presbyterian church where the
Rev. Jos. N. Wilson, father of the
president-elect, lived in 1856.
With Mrs. Wilson, the president.
elect paused for a minute on the il
Illuminated portico of the house and
greeted DR.. Fraser. The band struck
up Dixie" the governor turned and
waved his hat to the crowd and spon.
taneous shout of welcome echoed in
the winter air.
IT'S fine to be back again." ex.
claimed the president-elect as he
stepped indoors. Suffering still from
the effect of his cold, he retired i'm,
mediately to the room in which he was
born to rest for the morrow when the
chief program of the jubilee will be
carried out.
Gay Scenes Outside.
Outside the crowds hurried from the
streets which were alive with colors
and flags and electrical display From
far and wide, native children of Staun.
ton had come to greet their fellow
townsman. Except for an informal
visit year ago, Mr.. Wilson had not
been here since he was three years
old. Staunton was not alone in cele
brating the arrival in Virginia of the
distinguished visitor. Bonfires blazed
the way, fireworks shot across the
skies and red lights threw a festive
glare at all stations along the route
though the train glidded by most OF
them without stopping.
Mrs. Wilson stood with her husband
on the rear platform of the train and
enjoyed the demonstrations, too.
Harry Smith, Jr., and Speaker r. e
Bird of the house of delegates, both
of them classmates of Governor Viii
son at the University of Virginia law
school, greeted the president-elect
here. He thanked them warmly for
their efforts in his behalf in the prep
arations for his welcome.
Philippine independence.
Staunton, Va-President-elect Will
son favors a provisional government
for the Philippines for eight years and
independence thereafter, according tC
representative William A. Jones oil
Virginia, chairman of the house in
sular affairs committee, who discussed
the Philippine situation with him or
the train.
The president-elect announced mere
ly that he had talked with Mr. Jones
about the general situation in the
Philippines" Asked particularly if he
had talked about the bill being press
ed by Representative Jones in con
gress, proposing provisional govern
ment for eight years and independ
ence afterward, Mr.. Wilson replied:
f'Oh, we talked about that at Sea
Girt last summer"
Representative Jones, however, had
nc hesitancy in saying that Governor
Wilson already had heartily endorsed
tc him the pending BILL