The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-28
United States Will Never
Acquire Inch of Territory
by Conquest, Says Pres
ident in His Speech
SIGNIFICANCE OF
STATEMENT BEARS ON
MEXICAN PROBLEM
Thousands Hear Woodrow Wilson
Plead for Closer Relations With
Latin-American Countries.
President Spends Busy
Day in Mobile
by HUGH w. RonEaTs


Mobile. October 27.-(speciaL)-"I
ed States will never again acquire an
inch of territory by conquest.
This WINS the most significant state
ment made today by President VIII
son. He was addressing the opening
session of the Southern Commercial
congress.
More than century ago an inspired
statesman under the stress of patriotic
zeal dramatically exclaimed, "a million
Tor defense; NOT a penny for tribute"
In effect that expression was para
phrased by the President.
a million for Defense" he really
meant, But not a cent for conquest"
Who knows but like the fervid declara-
Ping statement of the President will ring
down throughout all the years until it
becomes the unwritten policy of the Am
ercan nation?
With the President, Oscar W. Under
wood shared the honors of the day. At
. breakfast this morning the floor leader
. of the dominant party in Congress was
| given a splendid demonstration. He en-
tered a moment later. His appearance at
. the door of the dining room caused
tumultous applause in which the Presi-
dent participated. Later, Mr.. Wilson.
standing, reached across the table to
shake hands with the great Alabamian.
AT the Lyric theatre, where President
f Wilson delivered an address, which in
. view of the serious nature of the Mexi-
can situation, is considered unusually sig-
nifcant and where Governor O'Neal
spoke in splendid form in delivering Ala
| bama's welcome to the delegates and to
. the nationals chief executive, Mr.. I'm
. derwood received his second demonstra-
ton. DIR. Clarence Owens simply an
nounced the programme for tonight. When
| the name OF Underwood was mentioned
the floor leader was applauded to the
echo.
The President began his journey east
again shortly after IL O'clock Secretary
Josephnx Daniels left at midnight.
Mobile. October 27.--While avoidins
Iaany mention specifically of Mexico, OF
Many European influence connected with
R'the Mexican situation. President
woodrow Wilson delivered a speech
. here today which appeared to be
. freighted with significance and which
served to point with further direct
ness the policy of the United States
not only toward Mexico but toward
/ all Central and South American re-
publics.
Mr. Wilson spoke before the Southern
Commercial congress and the big au-
dience which heard him constantly was
swept with cheers and applause. The
| President smilingly took his hearers
/ into his confidence when he explained
he must speak with moderation and
without indiscretion."
Diplomats Present
A score of South American Latin
American diplomats sat just behind
the President while he spoke and many
of his remarks were addressed in con-
versational tones to them There were
those in the audience who thought the
President might take advantage OF
the opportunity afforded by his speech
here to say something regarding the
Mexican crisis. Mr. Wilson. however
spoke only in general terms, but many
of his sentences We're pointed with a
meaning so clear as to leave little
doubt of their intent.
Material interests phrase much
in use internationally of late in char
acterizing the attitude of foreign ma
Rttions toward Mexico-frequently was
employed by the President. He de-
clared the American republics long had
suffered from the hard bargains forced
upon them by concessionaries seeking
material interests" in the countries af-
fected. The President declared that
through motives of morality and not
expediency" the United States desired
to help the Latin american republics
to "an emancipation from the subord-
|nation which has been inevitable to
foreign enterprise"
The Presidents speech was uttered
with confidence WHICH bespoke the
dominant part the United States ex-
poets to play In the future of the Amer
|lcan republics. Not through any idea
of material interest" he carefully ex-
planned, but through love of the prin-
ciple of constitutional liberty.
Seeks No Territory
The United States will never again
seek to obtain one additional foot OF
|
CONTINUED on Page FOurfeen)