Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-03
PRESIDENT Wants
BEST NAVY FOR u. S.
Tells St. Louis 1t Should Be
"Greatest in the
World"
SAYS A U-BOAT CAPTAIN
MAY SET WORLD ON FIRE
Tumult of Cheering by $4,000 Peo-
pie Interrupts Speech by the
Chief Executive.

| Cnle1 Executive.
ST. LOUIS. Mo, February 3.
President Wilson, who arrived
this morning from Kansas City,
told an audience OF 5000, which
swaved with a tumult of cheer
ing, today that the United States
should have the greatest navy. in
the world.
Il believe the navy OF the
United States should be uncon-
querable," he said. The great
est in the world
Danger From Submarines.
| The President declared that submarine
comma nders abroad have instructions
which for the most part conform with
international law, but that the act Of one
commander might set the world afire, in
cluding America.
| the ocean tneTe are HuIuIc0S VI
cargoes of American goods he said.
Cotton grain and all the bountiful sup
plies America is sending out to the world
I-and any one Of those cargoes. any one
| of those ships. may be the point OF con-
tact that will bring America into the
war;
For the first time during the tour the
President told how zone set OF belligerents
was cut off from the world. He said this
kept the United States from helping them
Hko 10 do . a a . en-
ir trying to show that the United States
was really neutral.
At Business Mems Breakfast.
He spoke at breakfast of the St.
Louis Business Mems League before
going to the Coliseum for his main ad-
dress.
Gov. Major of Missouri sat next to
the President The room was decorat-
ed with American flags. Enthusiastic
applause greeted the President as he
rose to speak.
ITS just as well to shed speeches
as YOU GO" he said. There are many
| things l would like to speak. but now
only is it necessary to mobilize the
military forces of the nation. but also
the economic forces Of the nation. 90
...T am not looking forward to war,
but to times of peace! Peoples do not
hate each other, and therefore they
will do business again together"
The President spoke of the necessity
of representing the facts of business
and the truth are mightier than any
other force.
az. s. Must Help Heal
America has been shy at going out
in competition he said. IT am ready
to match the business of America
against that of the rest of the world
He explained that the United States
must keep out of the war IL possible
in order to help in the healing proc
esses."
The President declared that such a
war can never come again; that it will
never come again, and that the war
will put forward the time of universal
peace better than anything else could.
When he spoke of his conviction that
a toriff board should be created the ap-
plause was enthusiastic. He then spoke
Of national defense.
Thousands Turned Away.
An hour before the time set for the
President to speak the hall was crowd
ed and the jam of those outside extend
ed several blocks away. The crowd at
the door choked the streets. Many
thousa nds were turned away.
Five hundred policemen and 300 fire.
men kept the crowd inside in order.
The Coliseum was decked out with
which radiated in festoons from the
center of the roof City employees had
a half holiday and all the schools were
dismissed for the day. A school chorus
t,rOH ad in,
national airs
AS the President entered. the crowd
cheered wildly. The band stilled the
applause with the strains Of The Star
song came from the big chorus and the
audience caught the air. The whole
gathering, with countless small hags
duttering, stood and sang, the Presi-
dent joining in.
Middle West for Preparedness.
The President opened with the state
ment that he had Come seeking some
thing in the middle west and found it,"
He said he had been told the middle west
was against preparedness. but did not be-
| lieve it
| II knew the people of the middle west
were just as patriotic as the rest of the
nation he said.
"I did not come out to learn how you
thought but to tell you what was going
on. 1 came out that there may be alb
solute Qualification Of the issues We are
now confronting.
| What is the situation? The situation
| is that America is at peace with all the
| world and wishes to remain at peace 1t
| is not shallow peace; it is a genuine
peace. based on some Of the most fund
amental things of international law.
America is at peace with all the
world because she is the friend Of all
the world. The friendship Is genuine. We
are the friend of all the world because
we are made up of all the world and
| understand all the world.
| How America Shows Friendship.
at would tear the heartstrings of
America to be at war with any other
nation.
| I'VE believe we can show our friend
ship for the world better by keeping out
of this struggle than by getting into il.
do not misread the spirit CT America,
| Il have no indictment Of any form of
government.
mo man can lead America anywhere
| that her people do not desire to be led. l
| believe II to be my duty 10 subordinate my
individual feelings to the conscientious at
tempt to interpret and express in these
international affairs the genuine spirit Of
my fellow citizens.
| so far as America is concerned no
man need go amongst us preaching
L