The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1916-09-08
PRESIDENT WILSON DECLARES FOR
big AMERICA" IN ACCEPTANCE

blu MtMM IN AIIllANIl
Long Branch, N. President Will
son Saturday formally opened his cam
paign for reelection with speech ac-
cepting the Democratic nomination, in
which he characterized the Republican
party as practical and moral fail.
ure," defended his Mexican and Euro
pean policies, recited the legislative
achievements of his administration,
and declared for ''big America"
In his speech President Wilson was
unsparing in his criticism Of the Re-
publican party as a party of mastery
inactivity and cunning resourcefulness
in standing pat to resist change" and
said that the old leaders still select its
candidates, but he did not mention
Charles E. Hughes, the Republican
candidate by name.
The President spoke from the ver-
anda Of his summer home to a crowd
which filled 5000 chairs and over
flowed to the lawn.
Speaking in the open, his voice
could be heard by only small part of
the crowd, but those who did hear him
constantly interrupted with applause.
Once when he said, II neither seek the
favor nor fear the displeasure of that
small alien element amoungst us
which puts loyalty to any foreign pow
er before loyalty to the United
States, (" the crowd stood and cheered
The notification ceremonies were
brought to close when more than a
score of American flags attached to
parachutes were fred into the air by
mortars and unfolded over the Presi-
dents head as band played "Amer-
ica."
Afterward Mr.. Wilson stood more
than an hour on the veranda and shook
hands with several thousand men, wo-
men and children.
Senator James, Of Kentucky, chair
man of the notification committee, in
troduced the President. When he de-
clared that Mr.. Wilson had kept Amer
lea at peace the crowd responded in
stantly and applauded several minutes.
He concluded by handing the Presi-
dent copy of the st. Louis platform.
Reading from printed copy of his
speech and frequently looking up to
emphasize particular points, Mr.. Will
son spoke of the Democratic platform
as "a definite pledge" Reviewing
the achievements of the administration
he said: "Alike in the Democratic
field and in the wide field of commerce
of the world, American business and
life and industry have been set free to
move as they never moved before.
"We have provided for national de-
fense upon scale never before seri-
ously proposed upon the responsibility
of an entire political party"
Concluding his list of measures
passed by congress in the last three
years, the President said:
''This extraordinary recital must
sound like platform, list Of san
guine promises, but it is not. 1t is a
record of promises made four years
ago and now actually redeemed in con-
structive legislation.
The President made a bid for the
Progressive vote by saying that 1--WE
have in four years come very near to
carrying out the platform of the Pro-
gressive party, as well as our own, for
we are also progressives.
Further along, rebuking foreign
born Americans who are not loyal to
the United States, he said: II am
the candidate of party, / am above
all things else an American citizen"
When Mr.. Wilson declared that the
revolution in Mexico is right and
that SO long as its leaders represent,
however imperfectly, struggle for
freedom. he is ready to serve their
ends, the crowd applauded. Applause
also greeted his declaration that Amer
lea must do its part in laying the found
atiion for world peace.
The policy of the United States in
dealing with violations of the rights of
Americans as result of the European
war, the President outlined thus:
"The property rights can be vindi-
Gated by claims for damage when the
war is over, and no modern nation can
decline to arbitrate such claims, but
the freedom rights of humanity can
not be"
The audience which listened to the
Presidents address of acceptance was
made up largely Of residents of New
Jersey coast towns, but included
Democratic leaders from every section
of the country and delegations from
New York, Pennsylvania and other
nearby states.
When President Wilson was told
that the eight-hour bill was ready for
his signature, he said:
''It is the climax Of very happy
day."
Officials said it would be legal for
the President to sign on Sunday.
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