Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-04-22
At Annual Luncheon of the As.
ISOLATED Press He Outlines
His Ideas of True Neutrality
for This Nation.
FUTURE To Be DIFFICULT
United States Has Great Duty
to the World and Must Pre-
pare Itself to Help Both Sides,
When European War Is Over
and Peace Makers Meet.

New York, April 9.--President Wilson
| day gave definite and clear state
! ment Of tho neutrality which Is guiding
! his administration during the war In Eu-
rome He chose the occasion or the an>
nual luncheon of the Associated Press
for what he said he regarded as state
ment Of sravest importance to the Amer
lean people The influence Of the news
paper in moulding public opinion, Mr.
Wilson said. prompted him to max" Gear
his ideas Of true neutrality and In doing
80 to impress upon his hearers the i'm
portance OF adhering strictly to truth
fulness and honesty in the dissemination
OF the news.
Mr. Wilson seemed 10 weigh individually
each word ne uttered. The Importance
he attached to his abatement was re-.
! Elected in a request that no attempt I've
made to para phrase his speech or 70 give
1t publicity until the official white House
! stenographer had transcribed il In full.
AS the only great nation not engaged
in the war or suffering under the immed-
late influence OF the war zone. Mr.. Will
son declared that a great distinction
awaited the United states when the hour
Of readjustment should come, provided
this nation should prove to the world its
self control and selma stery The past
had been difficult. he pointed out, but the
future would he more difficult.
NO NATION FIT TO JUDGE OTHERS.
America the President said, never
| would attempt to sit in Judgment upon
another nation. No nation was Tit to
do that. he AIDED. But America free from,
hampering ambitions as a world power.
free of lust for territory. calm, cool
and without self-interest, must he APP
pealed to to assist in the reconstruction
processes OF peace.
The neutrality OF the United States, Mr..
Wilson said had higher basis than a
petty desire to keep out Of trouble.
There is something much greater
to do than fight" he said. Let us think
of America before we think OF Europe,
in order that America may be fit TO be
Europe's friend when the day OF tested
friendship comes The test Of friendship
Is not sympathy with one side or tho
other. but getting ready to help both
sides when the struggle is over
The President, greeted with cheers
when he appea red at the luncheon. con-
stantly was interrupted by applause and
expressions OF approval.
Mr. Wilson was introduced by Presi-
dent Frank r. Noyes, Of the Associated
Press, and was the only speaker at the
luncheon
NEWS WITHOUT BIAS.
We are gathered here to-day" said
Mr. Moves, the membership Of what is
believe. In scope and Importance OF
activities. the greatest cooperative. non
| nj zot tn
THE function Of the Associated Press
is to furnish its members a service OF
world news that shall be untainted AM
without bias OF any sort
ITO ensure this We have formed an or
ganization that is owned and controlled
by It's members and by them alone. one
that is our servant and not our master
so we are here to-day, democrats an6
republicans Protestants. Catholics ant
Jews: conservatives and radicals vets
and drys; differing on every subject or
which men differ, hat all at one in de
ma nding that so far as is humanity pos
sible no trace OF pa rtisanship and no hin,
Of propa ga nda shall he found In our new.
report.
FURNISHED with the news We are quite
able and more than willing Individual,
, to supply the necessary views.
Thus by easy steps l have come &c
the fact that because Of it's traditions and
Its code and perhaps also because Of the
never cea sing watchfulness of nine hun
dred members It has come to pass that
few people on earth are capable Of Civ
ing the management OF tho Associated
Press any points on maintaining a strict
though benevolent neutrality on all ques
tons on which We can be neutral ant
still be what We ars--ioyai Americans.
. We point with pride to the years and
the occasions through which we hav,
balanced on every diseoverNble fence.
We know too-none better-that tn,
genuine neutral. the honest neutral, Il
always the target OF every partisan ant
We find some solace that this fact Il
now being demonstrated to tho work.
at large,
To-day, however. we willingly lowe
our crest to one who has demonst ra te.
In these agonizing times his mastershil
OF the principles OF true neutrality ant
who. fully realizing the dreadful con
sequences of any departure from thes
principles. has nobly borne his terribl
burden Of responsibility in guarding tn
peace, the welfare. and the dignity o
our common country.
Our distinguished guest who so honor
us to-day may surely know that In tn
y perplexities and trials Of those days g.
black for humanity he has our thorough
loyal and afectionate support
God grant him continuing success Il
, his high aims for the peaceful progress
OF the people Of the United States
AT these annual gatherings IL Ia on
, custom to offer but one toast:
. II ask YOU to drink TO the health o
a Woodrow Wilson, the President of tn
n United States"
A The toast was drunk standing,
I ASSOCIATED PRESS