St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1915-05-15

smiled gratefully.
8, At Convention Hall Mr.. Wilson
found Secretaries Wilson and DAM.
Iels on the platform. The hall was
Idensely packed. Little Aemrican
flags were held by thousands and the
hall was decorated profusely with the
national colors.
Let us unite in singing America, :
were the words spoken with a dis
tinct German accent with which May
or Blankenburg opened the meeting
The President stood with crowd and
Joined in the singing. Everywhere
there was enthusiasm.
The Rev. Henry M. Couden offered
prayer after which speeches began.
Prays for Stronger Peace.
| DR.. Couden prayed that peace be
made stronger than war and love
stronger than hate" and also that
the people Of the United States might
stand behind the President in his
religious endeavor to lead the nation
rightly
Mayor Blankenburg called atten-
ton to the fact that like other aliens
he had come from foreign shores to
find in the United States home"
Let me beseech you,'' he said, ito
be Americans first, last and all the
time, no matter what may happen in
the world at large.
mo matter what our personal feel
ings for the country we left behind
our first allegiance is to the country
Of our adoption. / cannot impress
this too strongly on account of the
occurrences of the last eight months
Thank God we have man in THO
White House who knows, who is JUS.
a man who knows what to do"
The crowd interrupted with tu-
multi of cheers, arose en- masse and
waved the Stars and Stripes. It was
a remarkable demonstration of APP
| plause.
: i am perfectly willing, : the mayor
went on, ITO leave the conduct of the
great problem now confronting us in
the hands of our great President
The mayor introduced United
States Judge Joseph Burlington and
Secretary of Labor Wilson.
Let Reason Rule Passion.
Secretary Wilson declared that new
citizens must do more than simply
obey the laws Of the United States.
Our passions must not be allowed
to oevrthrow our reason" he said.
IF We can without sacrifice of our
honor and dignity preserve our peace
with other nations, we shall be in
better position to help when the war
shall end
While Secretary Wilson was speak
ing baby child of a new citizen be-
gan crying and the president smiled.
Those who have taken oath of al
legiance to the United States can
have no dual allegiance. Like you,
Mr.. Mayor. and the guests here to-
night, am one of those who was
born abroad and has sworn allegi-
ance to the UNITED States,' said Sec
Rotary Wilson.
Prior to the. Presidents speech
moving pictures showing leading
events in the lives of Presidents
Washington and Lincoln were thrown
on a screen.
A sudden, spontaneous outburst Of
applause greeted the president when
he arose to speak. Every one pres
ent leaped up waving American flags.
Waves of cheers broke over the hall,
rising and falling The President
bowed time and again. AS he rose
the band played the tStar Spangled
Banner"
Introduced by Mayor Blankenburg
who spoke in a distinctly German ac-
cent, the president carried forward
the idea of the welding Of foreign
blood in the makeup OF America by
pointing out the true goal of right
American citisenship to be q loyalty