Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-11-17
OVATION T0MR.WIS0N
Trains and Steamboat Transport
Alexandrians to Washington to
Greet President.

The citizens of Alexandria, Win
out regard to political afiliation or
previous condition, last evening as
sisted in giving President wilson d.
ovation and welcome back 70 tte
White House of which any man mignl
he snroud Careful estimates give the
number who participated IN the gen
eral parade in Washington at l5,ooO
while others say the number was
much larger. But it was large
enough, and Alexandria city and ad-
Joining territory contributed at least
thousand or more.
Upon the arrival Of the parade at
tho White House grounds President
Darr of the Wilson and Marshall
Democratic Association made the fol-
lowing brief address to President
Wilson on the north portico of the
White House:
"Mr. President: In the name of
your friends and neighbors of Wash
ington and of the counties of Mary
land and Virginia adjoining the Capl-,
tai, I congratulate you, and extend
to you a hearty welcome home.
President Wilson replied as follows;
"Please say to the people of Wash
incton, my friends and neighbors,
and to my friends in the counties of
Maryland and Virginia, that sin
5cerely appreciate the hearty welcome
extended to me tonight.
With the President were Mrs. VIII
son, Miss Margaret Wilson, Secretary
Of the Treasury McAdoo and Mrs.
McAdoo, Mrs. William Boiling,
mother of Mrs. Wilson, and Col.
House, a close personal friend of Mr..
Wilson. AS the marchers passed
amid the strains of popular march,
the President holding his hat in his
hand, bowed and smiled.
There were five divisions in the big
parade, Alexandria being given a
place in the second. The Washington
Post of, this morning says:
The .aut-of-town section: acempesef
the second division. 1t was especlai1
ly strong numerically and had Fir1
ginia, a Maryland and, odd as ~
may seem, Missouri section.
Alexandria marched strong, thes
entire population of the neighbo1s
city apparently being in line. They
exhibited an elaborate scheme oil
banners with proud slogans.
AS the paraders started up thd
driveway to the White House AM
aeroplane flew over, dropping en-
plodng bombs as a presidential sal
lutte of 81 guns. Then a chorus Of
800 voices sang old Virginia meloE
dies as tribute to both the Presi
dent and Mrs. Wilson, who are ma +
tives of the Old Dominion. Through;
out the demonstration there was d
display Of fireworks in the ellipsa
back of the White House, colored
rockets shooting forth red, blue.
green and yellow lights continuous
ly.
With the President and Mrs. Viii
son We're nearly all the members OF
the cabinet and their wives. In. front
Of the White" House, as at inapgura-
ton time, were grand stands filled
with some of the highest officials of
the government and diplomatists.
PENNSYLVANIA :,venue between Fif-
teenth and Seventeenth streets was
decorated and designated as court
of honor.
The marchers carried torches and
American flags, parading twenty
abreast and carrying banners bear
ing Democratic notices; pictures :ot
the President and the Vice Presi-
dent and such slogans as: l"Wel-
come Back Woodrow" eve Wanted
You Four Years More and Now We've
Got You" "Peace, Prosperity and
Preparedness" "Hurrah for an Eight
Hour Day." and Eight Hours' Pay,
Eight Hours Play, Eight Hours
Hay"
Thousands of Spectators.
Pennsylvania avenue was lined witt
spectators from the Peace monument
to Seventeenth street, the sidewalks
being packed on each side and win
dows and other available places be-
ing crowded full of. people. In one
section there were a thousand au'
tomobiles draped with flags and ban
ners and carrying torches of col
ored fire. Banners of various style:
and colorS, with flags, torches of
white lights and red and green fire
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