Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-28
GET TOGETHER"
FOR SAFETY, Is
WILSON'S PLEA
Fails to See How Ameri-
leans Can Differ Over
National Defense
TALKS FOR PREPAREDNESS
President Tells Railway Busi-
ness Men He "Has Learned
Something in ID Months"

NEW YORK. Jan. 2S,
Speaking to 1900 members and guests
OF the Railway Business Association IL
the grand ballroom of the Waldorf
Astoria last night President Wilson made
the first of his appeals to the American
people in behalf OF preparedness.
How can mercans differ about the
safety of American" asked the President
OF these manufacturers of railway ma
terials and equipment, contractors in rail-
way construction and dealers in railway
supplies. whose guests included many
men in high political office.
As the applause which greeted this de-
mand died away Mr.. Wilson added call
60 Americans to put aside partisan pre-
possession and draw together for the
successful prosecution of peace" as the
bellgerent nations of Europe have put
aside partisanship for the successful pros
ecution Of the war.
ADMITS a CHANGE OF MIND.
Frankly admitting that la' year he
had not looked upon preparedness as a
vital or pressing question, the Pres
fdsnt declared that he would be ashamed
OF himself II he hadn't learned some
thing i'm IA months" He added that an
other thing he had learned within that
time was to come to be In favor OF
Tariff Board At this the railway men
Droke into the sincerest applause OF the
e-ening, for to most of the program for
preparedness they listened politely but
without enthusiasm.
When he defended the Administrators
attitude toward the Mexican problem,
Mr. ilson won not handicap, though
he earnestly protested that to intervene
in Mexico would mean the alienation of
1.-THE rest of the Americas" and affect
every international relationship the
United States had. There was applause,
however, when he declared that he had
no fear as to the outcome in Congress
OF the preparedness program, and when
he described as his own desire IAN i'm
mediately available national reserve Of
100000 men,
This Is a year of political accounting"
said Mr.. Wilson, as he drew to the close
OF his +5-minute talk, land Americans
are rather expert accountants. For my
part, / hope that every man in public
life will get what's coming to him"
The President spoke with marked de-
liberation to his audience. His address
was only in general y that which
he had decided several days ago he would
make. During the two hours n spent
at the University Club during the after
noon he recast his argument entirely,
and, II is understood, laid greater stress
on the character of the opposition to
which he is being subjected in his sup
port of the project.
This understanding has led to lively
sue during his swing around the circle
OF the Middle West on which he VIII
start tonight from Washington, where
he returned with Mrs. Wilson last mid
might. The expectation of those who
have followed his plans most closely is
that he will grow more vigorous still in
his appeals for a reorganization of the
army, and perhaps for an Increase of
the navy. although that was matter
upon which he purposely touched last
night.
PLEA FOR THE RAILROADS.
George a. Post, president of the Rail-
way Business Association, made but pass
ing reference to military preparedness In
the brief speech with which he introduced
Mr. Wilson. He made the program an
argument for an attitude of all citi-
zens" toward the railroads which should
be one of appreciation of their needs
and an understanding of the impotence
of our country in time of peril If they
shall be impoverished in resources and
Inadequate in equipment"
Among the resolutions adopted by the
association at its business sessions there
was no reference to preparedness, though
especial attention was paid to matters
now pending before Congress.
Mrs. Wilson was but one OF several
women who thrOnged the galleries of the
ballroom at the close OF the dinner. When
she came in at o'clock the diners arose
and waved their napkins at her, and
some one started a rebel veil that swept
the room. The President smiled and
blushed and waved his hand at his bride.
More than 5000 applications had been
received for the 1872 places that were
available at the tables in the ballroom
Finally additional tables We're spread in
the first gallery, and then still more were
put in the anterOoms and in the AstOr
gallery itself, until considerably more
than 1900 found accommodations.
Before the President arose a g:35
O'Clock TO deliver his address tables were
cleared from the centre Of the floor un-
Ill all found places within earshot of
him.
A Liederkranz chorus, wearing ribands
of the Americn tricOlor. sang during
the dinner, and when the President was
introduced everybody Joined in two stan
Eas OF america" The grand ballroom
never displayed so many American flags
and two of them. one at each end OF the
Presidents table, were whipped out on
the breeze from concealed electric fans.